Skyrim Audio Issue: Incredibly quiet game.

To start off, yes, everything is turned all the way up (windows, keyboard, game volume, volume mixer). Also everything else I play or do has perfect volume. But when I play Skyrim, I have to crank up my speakers to the point where there is a good amount of static before I can actually hear well. Nowhere in Skyrim's options include advanced audio settings.

I feel like the problem is that Skyrim thinks I have a 5.1 system, when in reality it's just a 2.1. I have no idea if anyone else is having this problem, but from my quick google searches, I've found nothing. I was hoping someone else could shed some light on this.

Thank you,
Daniel


edit:
I wanted to add that I am using the onboard audio and it uses realtek drivers and the realtek gui. I'm certain everything is set up correctly within there, but I noticed something that could be an issue. Even though this is more of a guess, I use many of the six audio ports for other things than their original purpose. For example, the orange port is used as an audio in, and the black port is used as another audio in since Realtek asks you "what did you just plug in". I'm wondering if Skyrim sees that I'm using those ports and thinks that I am using 5.1 or something, even though those ports are assigned different roles in my Realtek settings.

I will attempt to try playing Skyrim with only the green audio out plugged in later to see if that does anything for me. Chances are it won't, but I'm getting desperate.

edit: SOLVED -Thank you again V43L1N

Quote: Originally Posted by V43L1N
The game was designed to support 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1 sound. I don't think it has anything to do with Bethesda. It is certainly unfair to blame the company when this issue does not seem to be wide spread. I will do some checking around later this afternoon and see if I can come up with anything that might help. Hopefully we can come up with something that will allow you to experience the game as it should be!

~V

Edit: After reading, it seems this issue is happening exclusively with systems using the Realtek Integrated HD Audio.

I found this on the Bethesda forums: The user (Pyide) cites unknown sources.

"I forgot where I saw this (credit to you, unknown source!) but if you have Realtek onboard sound and are using stereo speakers or headphones, switch the speaker configuration to 5.1 and uncheck the center channel / sub / rear speaker options like so: http://img507.images...0/lowvolume.png

The game's audio will be extremely loud now (you've been warned!), and you'll still hear everything behind you and such. I couldn't say if the separation is better or worse but I can at least hear people talk and the music now.
Not sure if it'll work the same for other sound and system setups, I use headphones and it definitely helped my low volume problem"

Give this a shot and let me know how this works please!

~V

Start the Task Manager (or any other window) and start Skyrim. When the game loads, don't turn up your speakers; instead alt-tab to the desktop and open the Mixer from the systray. Check the Skyrim app if the volume has been turned down from that system mixer.

Also, if you have headphones (or a webcam with its own mic) plugged into your PC, you should:
1. click the start orb and type "sound" into search, then choose sound from the list of search results under control panel
2. click on communications tab and change the setting to "do nothing". This blocks the volume from lowering when the system detects any communications activity.

It may be a good idea to quit and restart Skyrim after you do this, just in case the settings don't display any result right away.

I don't really have these problems in Skyrim at all, and I'm still using a cheap 2.1 speaker system with one jack, so the system recognizes it as regular stereo. Yes, the game is a bit quiet than what we're accustomed to in games, but for me it's not nearly as bad as for you guys. Weird.

Ive not had these issues myself, but it does seem a few have.

Have you tried this tweak?


Quote from Steam page-

How do I fix some sound issues, such as hearing static during NPC dialogue?

1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Sound
2. In the Playback tab, right click on Speakers (or whatever has a green tick next to it), then click Properties
3. In the advanced tab on this new window, select 24 bit, 44100Hz (Studio Quality) in the drop down menu

Source:
Skyrim tweaks - Steam Users' Forums