Game volume is extremely low : V

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:59 am

I've just played skyrim briefly and the volume is nearly inaudible at what normally is quite loud on my setup. I'm a music producer so i have a good outboard audio interface (which works fine with plenty of other games), so I know it isnt that. Plus the bethesda logo's drums are at a normal level - it's straight after (intro theme/rest of game) the output is low.

I've tried the suggested fixes of the preferences and changing the output between 44.1khz/48khz...No luck at all.

So, A) has anyone else fixed this any other way, and B ) is this going to be patched?

Thanks!

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:05 am

Having the same problem and haven't found any fix so far. I'm a headphone user and normally would use 25~26% volume but have to use like 38~40% for Skyrim and at that volume level it's painfully loud if I would listen to some music so had to take off headphones instantly (as I forgot to lower it after quitting the game).

My soundcard doesn't have loudness equalization like Realtek onboard so that's not a workaround. And I tried tweaking the ini file mastervolume past 1.0000 but this didn't raise the volume, well at least nothing noteworthy, tried up to 100.0000 but no luck so only Bethesda can fix this one it seems.

» Wed May 16, 2012 5:02 pm

Bugger...I really hope they patch it soon, will kinda kill it for me if i cant even hear it! ):

» Wed May 16, 2012 1:45 pm

I too have this problem. I cranked up the volume to 100% on my PC with realtek and it's loud enough, but certain sounds scream and that's not good for a headphone wearer.

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:56 am

i'm having this problem also

» Wed May 16, 2012 8:22 pm

Having this problem also. With headphones I get the right volume, but through my speakers the game is painfully quiet. RealTek HD Audio.

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:09 am

Same problem. Realtec hd. Very annoing

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:10 pm

I will have to wait until the fix as I'm not risking damaging my hearing in case I forget to lower the volume afterwards I've played as a headphone user. If I play with the normal volume settings I use I can still hear most of what's being said (If I stand close to them) and environmental sounds and everything but for me sound is always a huge part of the game experience why I'm not going to ruin my Skyrim experience with a low volume gameplay.

» Wed May 16, 2012 12:37 pm

I'm also having this problem but its not too bad.

» Wed May 16, 2012 9:18 am

Same here. A lot of console ports got this bug in their first week. Must be some kind of "tradition" or initiation ritual. Last game I noticed it was Deus EX: HR.

» Wed May 16, 2012 8:35 pm

Same. I have to turn my speaker to about twice their normal level to have it at a barely loud enough volume.

» Wed May 16, 2012 10:21 pm

Same here.

» Wed May 16, 2012 5:16 pm

I too have this problem. I cranked up the volume to 100% on my PC with realtek and it's loud enough, but certain sounds scream and that's not good for a headphone wearer.

Quoted for truth

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:47 pm

I have a sneaking suspicion it's something to do with surround sound (as though its forced at 5.1 therefore we're only getting an ambient volume) as not everyone is experiencing this problem.

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:46 pm

I have a sneaking suspicion it's something to do with surround sound (as though its forced at 5.1 therefore we're only getting an ambient volume) as not everyone is experiencing this problem.

I just put my realtek HD to 5.1 and now I'm at 40% volume with the PC. That was a great idea!

I sounds a lot better. Thank you kind sir, that worked.

EDIT:

I turn on 5.1 in the sound manager for realtek HD and it worked! I'm down to 40% volume with great sound. I turned off surround sound and I am only using the front speakers because I use headphones, but it worked for me.

Give it a try!

» Wed May 16, 2012 10:20 am

open SkyrimPrefs.ini in your Documents/MyGames/Skyrim folder. Search for fAudioMasterVolume and set it to 5.0000 instead of 1.0000 (or even a higher number).

» Wed May 16, 2012 9:55 pm

open SkyrimPrefs.ini in your Documents/MyGames/Skyrim folder. Search for fAudioMasterVolume and set it to 5.0000 instead of 1.0000 (or even a higher number).

Yes I've tried, even tried going up to 100.0000, no change.

» Wed May 16, 2012 3:52 pm

Same problem here. Windows 7 with Realtek HD Audio.

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:35 pm

I have the same problem (Windows 7, M-Audio Fast Track Ultra)

I don't really have a 'surround sound' option to experiment with switching on and off, I have a multi-channel setup for recording music. Judging by the above comments, I guess the game sends surround sound and stereo sound to non-standard channels?

In that case, I hope they patch it! I can't really be bothered swapping my settings or speakers around each time I play the game. For now I just turn up the volume very very loud and it sounds great... but all hell breaks loose if I forget to turn it down after playing

» Thu May 17, 2012 12:58 am

I have been playing with my volume way too loud with this game only to have things like the dark brotherhood door completely destroy my ears. I guess I hadn't even realized it would be, yet another, problem with the pc port =(.

» Wed May 16, 2012 9:40 pm

I just put my realtek HD to 5.1 and now I'm at 40% volume with the PC. That was a great idea!

I sounds a lot better. Thank you kind sir, that worked.

EDIT:

I turn on 5.1 in the sound manager for realtek HD and it worked! I'm down to 40% volume with great sound. I turned off surround sound and I am only using the front speakers because I use headphones, but it worked for me.

Give it a try!

This worked for me, too. 5.1, then turned off everything but the front two speakers. Now the sound is normal!

» Wed May 16, 2012 12:17 pm

I just put my realtek HD to 5.1 and now I'm at 40% volume with the PC. That was a great idea!

I sounds a lot better. Thank you kind sir, that worked.

EDIT:

I turn on 5.1 in the sound manager for realtek HD and it worked! I'm down to 40% volume with great sound. I turned off surround sound and I am only using the front speakers because I use headphones, but it worked for me.

Give it a try!

I got High Definition Audio Device, but I don't know where to find this sound manager. Where can I find it? Please help

» Wed May 16, 2012 9:34 am

I've noticed the same thing. Headphones is only viable option.

» Wed May 16, 2012 6:11 pm

Setting the sound quality to lower than 48000 Hz has solved the problem for some people.