This is probably one of the oddest bugs iv came across. The sound will go from being just fine to being really low and demonic sounding depending on where i stand or how i look at someone. Dialogue will be fine for one sentence then start to sound really messed up the next or even switch during a sentence. Its worse indoors than it is outdoors. But no matter where i go there is always a really annoying static sound. This doesn't happen when I'm using my on-board sound card and pos speakers. Just when i want to use my Steelseries USB sound card with the 1.2 drivers that i us for my 7h headset. And yes i disable one before using the other.

Oh, and this is only in the game. Not at the menu. Menu sounds great -.-

Somebody else reported something similar. They said the sounds would go from normal to complete gibberish, back and forth. If I can find it again, I'll post a link, but this subforum is moving like a wildfire so I'm not sure if I can find it again or not. First day and we're already well over 30 pages.

This has a fix. Go to your properties in your sound settings, and in advanced find the quality of your sound. Set it down from from 24 bit 96000 hz to 24 bit 48100-44100 hz, this stopped the static sounds for me.

Later I had sounds cutting out to silence during loud strikes and sound FX like crashes and bangs, to fix this I went from 5.1 down to quadrophonic surround sound. Now the game works fine and the sounds are fine too.

Fix worked for me as well. this needs to get sticky'd.

Good to know. I agree, I've seen this issue popping up a lot and it's hard to find the threads with the rate of problems here.

Worked! Thanks man. Really needs a sticky.

Just changed my sound setttings. This has been happening to me also (SB Audigy SE sound card here with a 7.1 setup). I just thought it was my speakers but every other game/application works fine. So came here and low and behold look what I found! Going to start up Skyrim now and see if it works. Will edit post for results. Wish me luck!

Edit: Sure enough! Went into the Inn in Riverwood and no more crazy static or NPCs sounding like ghost from scream! WEWT! Thanks guys!

Bumping topic for very helpful info. Should be stickied!