Serious Audio Issues - Caused by Ambient and Voice sound file(s)?

Fenghoang

I'm having a major audio issue. During the Prologue intro, the sound cuts off midway through the first sentence (right after "Nestled atop the cliffs that rise"), gets replaced with various screechy, static-like noises, kinda like when the audio is being cut off from a video clip (similar to the effects found in "found footage" films) except persistent or a TV with no signal. A similar problem exists once i get in game as well, though sounds a tad different. Not quite sure how to describe it in words, but they aren't a continuous sound like a TV with no signal, but more like short 2-3 second bursts every 5 seconds. Needless to say, it's high-pitched and sharp enough that it really hurts my ears, on top of being obnoxious.

After muting the various sound options, I've found that the ingame one is tied to the Ambient Volume. The Prologue intro one, however, is affected by the Voice Volume. I'm guessing there is some corruption with the respective sound files.

Is this a game bug or is it perhaps my download was corrupted? I've noticed other people have sound issues as well, but I wasn't sure if it's the same one I'm getting. Is there a way to verify the game data like on Steam?

I used the standalone BGEEInstaller to download the game. I'm using Windows 7 64-bit (updated) with a Creative SB X-Fi sound card (the XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro series card; it's the older model that uses the regular PCI slot as opposed to the newer PCI-Express ones) with all up-to-date drivers. Well technically Creative hasn't updated my sound drivers since Feb 2011 because it's considered legacy now... Either way, this is the first game i've have had this issue (doesn't occur in the original BG1 or BG2).

I might try redownloading the entire game again later tonight (uggghhhh), and see if it still occurs.

EDIT: I just remembered that i used to use ALchemy for the original BG games, but BGEE isn't detected in the supported games list... is it required? It would help if i could find the BGConfig to mess with the indepth game sound settings... (i.e. EAX, 3D sound, etc.)

Ripsvision

I've been wrestling with this same problem myself. I updated OpenAL, I updated my soundcard drivers (I have the same exact sound card as you) I have also tried the tweaked drivers out there (PAX ones I believe).

All of these have the same result, horrible screeching noises, cutting out audio, and crackling.

Now, if I set my default output device to the HDTV (through my Nvidia Graphics Card) I have hooked up to my PC it works fine. Audio is there without issues.

This leads me to believe there is a compatibility problem between X-Fi cards and this game (or at least the PCI X-FI Fatal1ty card).

Fenghoang

Well, I tried manually adding the game directory into ALchemy (just downloaded the new version released on Nov 16, 2012), but it didn't fix the problem - which wasn't surprising considering it wasn't showing up on the Installed Games list. Usually, ALchemy resolves any issues i have with EAX/OpenGL + Win7.

From what you're saying, it definitely does sound like a compatibility issue with the sound card and/or drivers (highly doubt Creative is going to update these anymore for my soundcard). It might even be narrowed down to be an EAX issue, but i'm not sure how to test it without more advanced sound options to mess with. Honestly, I can't tell if EAX is even working or not, to be honest, with the constant crackles and screeching...

Deadrat

I have the same problem. I played through the tutorial to refresh my memory. Sound would crackle now and again. After the tutorial i greated a new character, I entered the game and started the quests. I walked around in the starter area sound still crackling at times, after a while it got worse when the game changed music when entering houses and such and before i knew it the gaem compleetly froze and i had to ctrl-alt-del and shut down the program wich had stoped responding.

Im usin a creative xfi fatality pro soundcard with the latest drivers, though those drivers arnt realy that new:/

Ripsvision

Yeah, that's another thing.

I shut off the sound to play a bit but it would randomly freeze. Now, That may not be related but when playing using the HDMI sound output I have not had it freeze yet in an hour of play.

WabbitTwaks

Just to add my voice to this, I am also experiencing sound issues. Intermittent momentary sound loss, white noise, and major ambient sound chattering (only word I could think to describe what it does). I too have the SB X-Fi Fatality Pro card. The chattering was real bad when I entered the Candlekeep Inn once. So bad that I was forced to restart the game. Along with that sound issue, the game lagged horribly (like half speed). Once I left the Inn and moved far enough away, the lag stopped. However, when I walked toward it, the lag started again. A restart temporarily fixed it. It happened again when I entered the barracks a few minutes later.

Zeckul

This seems to be an issue with Creative X-Fi sound cards then. Try setting a different audio device as the default (onboard, HDMI - of course, you'll have to plug speakers or headphones in it) and see if it works as a temporary fix.

aarionn

I have the same problem described here and I have also Creative X-Fi sound card.

Deadrat

Zeckul said:

This seems to be an issue with Creative X-Fi sound cards then. Try setting a different audio device as the default (onboard, HDMI - of course, you'll have to plug speakers or headphones in it) and see if it works as a temporary fix.

Even though that might work its to much of a hassle. I cant be bothered with the crappy sound quallity of the onboard device in all my other games and enabling/disabling stuff in bios everytime i want to play bg is just.. shouldnt have to.
If anyone ellse is willing to give it a try then by all means but ill wait till they fix the real problem.

j3cwill

I have the Fatality card and had the same problems, but only in Candlekeep. After I moved on in the game, I have not had any slow down issues or audio hiccups. I just got to Beregost, and the inns/buildings there have not given me any problems.

DreadPirate_Duo

Please see this post I just made.
I have an X-Fi Platinum Card and the process I posted resolved the issue for me:
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/9178/possible-solution-for-creative-x-fi-owners-having-issues-with-static

Hope it helps...

Ripsvision

This 100% fixed my problem. I figured it had something to do with the environmental audio issues. I just wasn't sure where to get those dlls. Thanks much.

Fenghoang

DreadPirate_Duo said:

Please see this post I just made.
I have an X-Fi Platinum Card and the process I posted resolved the issue for me:
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/9178/possible-solution-for-creative-x-fi-owners-having-issues-with-static

Hope it helps...

Thank you so much! This is working for me. =D

It seems to have fixed both the Prologue and ingame sounds.

I ended up using the OpenAL32.dll from Unigine "Heaven" DX11 Benchmark (it's a free benchmark/stability test for overclocking your video card if you're curious) that I already had installed. You don't really need the OpenAL64.dll - unsurprisingly since BGEE is a 32-bit program.

I can also say that not all OpenAL32.dll files seem to work. I tried using two different ones from my STALKER games, but those didn't seem to affect anything. I also noted that they were all different in size - the one i got from the "Heaven" Benchmark was 832KB, where as the STALKER ones were only ~50KB.

I'm still curious as to why this problem seems to only affect Creative X-Fi users...