Windows 7 lowers game sound when starting skype call

[knalpot]

I have an issue where starting a call on skype (or using mumble, teamspeak etc) makes the sounds of games, music players and whatnot mute.

I have read a lot of posts on several forums saying that I should just go to the communications tab in "sound" and select "Do nothing"... This does absolutly nothing whatsoever. The volume of games etc. stays on 0%.

I first thought this was a problem with skype, but since all programs like it gives me the same issues i figure this is down to a windows issue.

I have also reinstalled my audio drivers. No luck.


Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[fireberd]

I would say its something in the Skype or other similar program, rather than Windows or the sound drivers. Windows only does what the application program tells it to do.

 

[knalpot]

This is actually not true since all programs registered as communication programs actually uses the audio volume lowering feature in windows 7 unless the setting for this is set to "Do nothing" (instead of the "lower all other sound by 80%/50%/mute"). What im wondering is if theres anything else windows does when a communication application is detected.

 

[fireberd]

Since you know how it works, there is no need for us to comment.

 

[knalpot]

I'm sorry. Of cource you know this better than I do.

So it's skype that calls the function via an API then?

I assumed that the applications registered to a handler within windows that listens for communication activity (since the communication volume functionality is a setting in windows and not in skype/mumble)


I've gone through the skype and mumble forums and have posted threads. All suggestions I get are that the problem is related to windows, not the applications themselvs.

I've checked all settings in skype and mumble but changing them does not solve my problem. I have, with the help of my friends, made an identical installation on a different computer with the same setup as mine. Same settings on skype, same version. They do not suffer from this. The only difference is that they run professional x64 and i run home x64 addition.

It would seem this is an issue that very few are suffering from.