Audio Configuration

This section provides recommendations for your audio configuration, it also covers a few bugs, known issues which may impact your experience.

Microsoft Windows

• Microsoft has released several updates which impacted clarity and volume of audio for example being dampened or muffled.
  • Microsoft KB4515384
    • Microsoft has received reports that audio in certain games is quieter or different than expected after installing this update. At the request of some of our audio partners, we implemented a compatibility change that enabled certain games to query support and render multi-channel audio. Due to customer feedback, we are reverting this change as some games and some devices are not rendering multi-channel audio as expected. This may result in games sounding different than customers are used to and may have missing channels.
    • Resolution see Microsoft KB4517211

Recommendation

1. Disabled Audio/Signal Enhancements
2. Enable Exclusive Mode
3. Increase Windows volume (Speakers and System Sounds) to 100% and decrease volume ingame or applications
4. Disable the Sound Communications Option which automatically reduces sound in some circumstances.
   • Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Communications > Set to Do Nothing
5. Set Output to Headphones instead of Speakers (may require driver)

REALTEK HD Audio

Recommendation

1. Download and install the latest REALTEK HD AUDIO driver
   • Download REALTEK HD Audio Driver
   • Note: If the software ends up in a loop of trying to uninstall the old driver, uninstall the driver first from Device Manager then launch the Setup application.
2. Open the REALTEK Audio Console, go to Device Advanced Settings and ensure your audio input (front or backpanel) is set to Headphones instead of speakers.
   • Note: This will change everytime you unplug your headset, so you need to do it each time