TeamSpeak client sounds go suddenly quiet

[Org]

I'm using TeamSpeak 3 64 bit client V3.0.8.1 Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card (latest 64 bit driver from Asus), Plantronics headset with 3.5mm plugs. I've used TeamSpeak 3 without any issues for a long time.

Suddenly, without any driver, plugin or setting changing in my system, the audio output of TS went extremely quiet. I have trouble hearing others, and I have trouble hearing the TS client audio messages like "microphone muted" or "user joined channel". Most other audio in the PC works normally with normal volume levels, including the Windows system sounds, games and various music and video players. I'm not using any plugins in TS client. My microphone works normally. Everyone else can hear me with normal volume.

If I push Windows audio and TS all the way up in audio mixer, I can only barely hear others. TS suddenly resumes to use normal output volume level if I enable Dolby headphone support in Asus Xonar control panel. It was never active before the problems started. Activating Dolby headphone support is not good solution, since it makes all normal sounds ugly. I've tested all combinations of TS settings, including Directx and Windows modes, etc, etc.

Any idea what could have caused this? Any idea how to fix this?

Could this be the same problem as this? http://forum.teamspeak.com/showthrea...et-almost-mute

[dante696]

We have 2 volume settings (slider) for other users talking and sound playback under Settings > Options > Playback
and you are 100% sure that the windows sound mixer did not reduce the volume for Teamspeak only?

[Org]

Yes, I tried everything with both sliders and with Windows sound mixer. If I keep sound at normal levels, TS is as good as muted, volume is so low. If I push everything to absolute maximum, I can hear TS, but it's still too quiet. If I enable Dolby headphone support in Xonar STX driver panel, TS volume returns to normal levels, but sound is ugly.

[dante696]

Can you try another setup for Mono sound Expansion under Settings > Options > Playback?

[Org]

I tried all mono expansion choices: no change. I get normal volume only if some DSP mode is enabled in the sound card control panel.

I'm beginning to think that this is sound card issue, not TS issue. It seems weird anyway.

[Wheedie]

I had this same problem, I searched for answers and could not find any on this or other forums.. BUT.. yes.. I have good news.. I did fix my problem and hopefully it will work for you too

right click your sound and click playback devices, click your headset and click properties, click the levels tab and then click balance. Now you have 2 sliders, both are probably at 100.. move 1 slider to 0 and leave the other at 100 and your problem should be solved.

[SilentStorm]

that just makes the sound come from one side only

[Wheedie]

that just makes the sound come from one side only

The sound still comes from both headphones for me. I only used the "should fix it" solution and still have sound from both sides just fine. Now the sound is clear, it isn't distorted, it doesn't sound like everyone has their hand over their mic so I see it as a solution to the problem, or at least it was for me. TeamSpeak turns mono to stereo doesn't it? either way, it works so if this problem still persists try this

[Org]

Amazingly enough, this fixes the problem in TS for me. I can't believe it, but it works. Logically this makes no sense. In my system, the labels in the Windows balance window are "left" and "right". I can put either one of them to zero and all volumes work perfectly in TS without enabling any of the sound card DSP modes. It seems to also work if I use left=41, right=33, in other words, if the balances are different. Weird, weird stuff. I wonder if this is TS problem, Windows problem or sound card / driver problem? What ever it is, now I have high quality audio again.

Thanks Wheedie!

[nwerensteijn]

Thank you for this information. It is weird that this started happening for you for no reason. Might it be possible that windows update updated your drivers? Go to that audio device's properties, in the general tab under "controller information" press properties and select the driver tab. Please tell us what driver date & version appear there

[Org]

No driver updates when this started. The only update at that time was regular Flash update from Adobe. I was using the very latest official 64 bit Asus Xonar driver version 7.12.8.1794, but when I was searching for solutions, I tried this driver:

http://brainbit.wordpress.com/category/uni-xonar/

Switching to this tweaked driver didn't change anything. I'm still using it. It's unofficial tweaked driver. Properties say:

ASUSTeK
20.12.2011
7.12.8.1800
Not digitally signed

Edit: Note that I'm using Asus Xonar STX and Wheedie has Realtek HD Audio. Two different audio chips, two different set of drivers. That would suggest that this is not problem with audio driver. It could be related to how Windows 7 uses microphone.