Sound quality problem

[User_X]

Win98 SE
Aureal Vortex 2 (AU8830 chipset) (20.48 drivers)
DirectX 8.1
Cable connection, no firewall
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Note that I dont have a microphone yet. I use a receiver for sound output, but I've also tried with headphones (through the receiver, as it didnt seem to work directly from the sound card). Also, I get the very same problem with my brother's computer, which has onboard audio and a computer sub/speakers.

Here's my situation. I download and install ts2_client_rc2_2028.exe and install it. Configure it, connect, everything is fine. Unfortunately, the sound quality is absolutely horrible.

I've search the whole forums, read every post that had to do with sound - none or few seemed to have my problem, but I did get good advice anyway, and I changed my settings accordingly. It didnt help me.

I will upload a short .wav file so you know what I'm talking about, if that's possible (no idea how to do it). If not, I can email one. I cant really describe the sound, but the words "jerky", "distorted" and "looping" come to mind. This is on a GSM 16.4 codec channel (default channel)


Would greatly appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.

[Edits: too many to say]

[SatanClaus]

uhm, did you try other codecs???

[User_X]

You mean joining a channel that uses another codec? I could find only one that was not passworded, using the CELP 5.1 codec. The sound was identical :(

Other bits of info:

The Vortex 2 supports Full Duplex
My bro's "sound card" is Avance AC'97 Audio for VIA (up to date drivers)

As I said earlier, both computer get the same result. The sound is choppy, it cuts every .5 seconds (or near enough), and sometimes (always?)it repeats. Sometimes, when someone plays music, I can hear decently well, but only sometimes - someone's playing some joke music right now and it sounds like *insert detrimental word here*. [Edit: the "new player" and "player left" sounds, while high quality, are echoed. Like, "PLAYER LEFT, Player Left, player left"]

Just to make sure, I'm not looking for CD-like quality sound. From what I've read on these boards, it should sound like a cellular phone, and it certainly does not for me. You ever heard interference from a taxi in your receiver/amp, or the like? It sounds just like that - you can make out 1 word on 5 at best.

I'm tempted to think the problem is my sound card, but the fact that it does the same on my bro's comp kind of says it is not. As for my settings...

In Volume Control, I removed all playback outputs except Volume Control (duh :D) and Wave Out. I've removed all recording imput except Microphone, and clicked the Gain option.

In Multimedia (if thats what its called in english, my windows in is french), in "Read" I have Aureal Vortex AU8830 Playback, and the two settings set to max quality (I've tried lower). In "Record", I have Aureal Vortex AU8830 Record, same settings. The option "Use only default peripherals" is enabled. Again, I've tried disabling it. EAX/geometrical reverb are disabled. Output rate is 48 kHz.

I have the Codec Audio Microsoft GSM 6.10 installed (came with windows). Default values, though I have tried setting it at 22kHz mono. I've tried disabling Direct Sound acceleration.

And, of course, I've messed with *every* sound setting in TeamSpeak. [Edit: I've also tried the latest developper executable]

Cant think of anything else right now. As you can see, I've tried everything (I think) mentionned on these forums. The only thing I've not done, that I know of, is download VDMSound (though it was only suggested for XP users), but I couldnt find it with a google search.

This program has too much potential to just say "screw it". I really want to get this working. Tomorow (sunday), we're switching to XP. We'll be formatting everything, too. I doubt it will help any, though.

Hey, we can attach pics? Good...let me upload some things.
...
...
Uh? My print screen button isnt doing anything. Sigh. If you know how to take screenshots of the desktop, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll post my log file.


Again, any advice/suggestion/etc is very welcome.

[User_X]

I installed my old SB Awe64 Gold and disabled my Vortex 2. Again, sound card works perfectly except in Teamspeak2. If three sound cards do the same thing...but what else? :confused:

[User_X]

I'll include a short .wav file so you know what it sounds like. It is in .txt format, but it really is a .wav file. All you need to do is rename the file(s) to .wav instead of .txt

[Edit: Sorry, looks like uploading something in Edit mode isnt possible. The file will be in the next post]

[User_X]

Please remember to rename the file.

test.txt --> test.wav

[mCn]

Originally posted by User_X

(...)
Uh? My print screen button isnt doing anything. Sigh. If you know how to take screenshots of the desktop, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll post my log file.
(...)


Basically you hit the <Print>-key to make a screenshot of your current windows desktop, then in ms word or paint or whatsoever-you-prefer you use the "paste" function.
You can make a screenshot of the active window only by using <ALT> + <Print>.
Hope that helps....

[Mobious]

the only thing that sounds really bad is the echo.. Is your mic unmuted in ur sound settings? if it is.. Mute it..

[Alias0606]

you might try some tof the following:

1) if your mic s on Voice Activation try setting it to Push To Talk (it could be that the mic is picking up the speakers sound and transmitting it over again)

2)try turning down the Volume Output Level

I have AC'97 also and I do not have that problem.

Hopefully one of these will help you out.

Good luck ;)

[User_X]

Thanks guys, all good advice. Somehow, it sounds better now. No more echo, as far as I know (save the test mode in TS2). A lot more understandable. I'm all set, except a few things that are bugging me.

Like, there is a long delay when I speak. Say, I un-mute microphone playback to hear myself. I say "Hi", and hear it around 1 or 2 seconds later. Its a little annoying. Not that I'll leave mic playback on; I mean, my teammates will hear me seconds after I've spoken. This sure wont help teamwork. I can live with it, though. It might even be normal?

Anyways, thanks again for the replies.