Audio - help solving some issues please

[Bluegunk]

I play Skyrim SE using a set of wireless Sennheiser HDR175 headphones. I've no issues with the headphones, they work well. On board the PC I have STRIX Raid (main sound device with their Sonic Studio) outputting to a Surround Sound system and my headphones, and my screen audio output which I generally don't use.  My headphone output is set to normal stereo, and no fancy surround effects.

 

The problem is in game dialogue volume and clarity varies a lot sometimes even within one scene. A follower's voice will be clear one moment, then indistinct and faint another.

Since I have tinnitus, I really need clear dialogue!

General sound also varies hugely in game. I can walk by one river and it sounds great, but another nearby giant waterfall sounds like it's miles away. Bards vary from a murmur in a corner to normal.

The game sound used to be OK, but I must have this game audio badly set up because it ain't good now.  Sounds in other games and videos is all fine.

 

These are my audio mods:

Audio Overhaul for Skyrim

Immersive Sounds - compendium

AOS-ISC synergy patch

Some patches for the above

Louder Nature

Improved River Sound

Bass Dragons

Enhanced Waterfall Sounds

I did try True 3D Sound for Headphones but removed it because it made things worse. And I think that's now been pulled as a mod anyway.

 

Do any sound aficionados out there have any recommendations I can try, please? 

 

Many thanks!

[yorpers]

I don't have a fix, so I apologize if this is useless information to you. True 3d sound is pretty much superseded by this mod.

 

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/26916?tab=description

 

May want to give it a try

 

It does have a conflict with AOS when alternate start is enabled. You simply have to remove the .dll on game start and put it back when you get out of the starting cell.

[Bluegunk]

4 hours ago, yorpers said:

I don't have a fix, so I apologize if this is useless information to you. True 3d sound is pretty much superseded by this mod.

 

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/26916?tab=description

 

May want to give it a try

 

It does have a conflict with AOS when alternate start is enabled. You simply have to remove the .dll on game start and put it back when you get out of the starting cell.

 

Thanks! That looks well worth a try. I'm mid-game so should not be an issue running it.

Cheers!

 

 

[Just Don't]

Set everything to stereo. All I've read for other audio outputs is that Skyrim doesn't work well with them. (surround may work with some ini settings, but I haven't tried them personally).

Set the Default Format of audio device to 24 bit - 48000Hz (this is Control Panel>Sound>pick the active audio device(s) and right click>Properties>Advanced).

Try the "Loudness Equalization" setting (Windows has one and most 3rd party audio software has its own too).

 

That Binaural 3D Surround Sound mod is good, but I remember having minor issues with it too, so I stopped using it a while ago. Give it a try anyways, maybe it does more good than harm in your case.

[Bluegunk]

43 minutes ago, Just Don't said:

Set everything to stereo. All I've read for other audio outputs is that Skyrim doesn't work well with them. (surround may work with some ini settings, but I haven't tried them personally).

 

Thanks for these ideas! I've checked the Default Format and that's at the right settings. I've now set everything to Stereo.

I think Win 10 removed the Loudness Equalization? Can't seem to find it these days. But I disabled the Realtek device because it was being a right royal PITA running alongside the Strix kit. Strix has what I need anyway.

 

 

[Bluegunk]

Well, I have had a go with the above settings and the results are positive.

 

Many thanks everyone!!  This topic can be closed.