No Sound Effects

I am also encountering issues with sound being VERY choppy. It starts out fine and only seems to become an issue as more and more processing is needed. For example - if I stand still, there isn't an issue, but when I ride my mount, it gets choppy. When I cast spells, it's slightly clipped, but when I'm in a group, it sounds like glass breaking all around. I wonder if it is related to DirectX, as both sound and video are elements there.


EDIT: I just changed the Equalizer settings from Logitech PRO-G 50mm to just plain "Standard" and had immediate improvement. This deteriorates over time, however, as I had switched it to the Logitech equalizer to fix issues, previously. I am interested to see if I just switch back and forth to clear the issue, when it arises, if that is a workaround.

Same issues with no sound effects, only I also am not getting any of the voice-overs. Really killing my enjoyment of the expac. My bf sitting next to me has all normal sounds and voices. I have updated my Realtek and tried both speakers and my Arctis headset, and attempted a Restore to the game from the launcher (which basically re-downloads most of the game) to no avail.

UPDATE: I fixed this issue. My game normally runs through a vb-cable (virtual audio cable) and I switched it back to default in Windows mixer. Now all sounds are back, which is weird, but it worked.

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Originally Posted by Kanzer

I honestly think this is an issue with the realtek driver. I'm curious if everyone else was using that for their default sound device.

I plugged in my headset via USB instead of fiber cable and changed my default playback device to the headset. Ever since then I haven't had any issues.

Would bet money it's a compatibility issue with realtek drivers and it'll be a thing until they get an update, or something.

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Can confirm that there is something to this. I have been having the no sound fx issue, but I do not have the degredated BGM issue. Tried the DX9 workaround, and though it resolved the sound issue, the instability and crashes made it a moot point. Tried changing the Logitec pro EQ setting and that didn't change anything for me. Then switched to headphone driver and the issue persisted (headphone driver is also on my Realtek driver set though, but is the difference between optical and and aux outputs). Then I tried something crazy to give Kanzer's theory a shot...and it worked: I don't recommend my method here though, however, hopefully greater minds than I can identify something from this and pin down a better workaround: essentially I went into Windows sound settings > App Volume and Device Preferences and forced FFXIV to output to one of the third party sound drivers from one of my additional monitors and that fixed it. However...to get it to actually play through my main speakers or headphones, I have to use OBS, add that sound driver as an output source and set that source to Monitor and Output. It's a terrible workaround, but it works, and it gives a little credence to what Kanzer is saying...at least on my system...and hopefully more savvy minds than I can identify a simpler way of applying these methods.

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Originally Posted by M0xie

UPDATE: I fixed this issue. My game normally runs through a vb-cable (virtual audio cable) and I switched it back to default in Windows mixer. Now all sounds are back, which is weird, but it worked.

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Started today around 0932 PST/DST, enabled DirectX11, met with same results on the opening log-in with distorted sound. Checked the thread to see if others are still having this issue and seems to be so.

Found M0xie's post and, on a whim, checked my sound settings. Sure enough, FFXIV was blank (wasn't that way yesterday). I'll see if I can't post a screenshot. Essentially, I went to Start>Settings>System>Sound>App Volume and Device Preferences. I use (unfortunately) Windows 10.

I also used Oniji's recommendation to dump the Default Format to 16 bit, 44100hHz (CD Quality). I accessed this (on Windows 10) by Taskbar>Sound Settings>Sound Control Panel>(selected my output device: Creative SB X-Fi)>Properties>Advanced>then adjusted under Default Format down to 16 bit, 44100Hz (CD Quality).

As a side note, M0xie's fix has fixed an error I had wherein I couldn't take screenshots (through the game, GeForce Experience would still take screenshots) while in full screen mode. For some reason, Windowed mode would take the screenshots but fullscreen wouldn't. I can now take screenshots in fullscreen mode.

The volume is pretty low but, my Creative 5.1 system has a manual controller with volume, Treble/Bass dial, Front/Rear speaker dial, and Center/Side speaker dial so I just cranked up the manual volume and that's working fine so far.

I'll try bumping up the bit rate and Hz later tonight. Right now, I'm so excited to actually be able to have sound without dumping down to DX9. Hoping to be able to get off the boat and into Sharlayan.

I'm also getting this issue. And nothing suggested so far is working. It worked on my first login yesterday, but on subsequent logins it did not.
No battle effects, just menu and notifications :(

While I am getting sound effects, I am getting HEAVY stuttering for both sound effects and music any time I enter combat, and in main cities. Occasionally it happens in cutscenes with dialogue, but its rare.
I have had normal performance in say Soloing Shiva EX unsynced.

Muffled/Low Sound effect, stuttering and out of balance. Please fix it! There is probably hundreds of people posting their audio issue here, and god knows the one who have it but kept quiet and bare with it, hoping for a fix soon. Im guessing thousands...

Same here, hoping for a fix.

During a run of Ghimlyt Dark, my combat sounds cut out, then my music cut out and I had no audio at all. I was able to fix it without anything invasive. I tried the fixes from the OP, namely:

• In Windows 10: Sound Settings > Sound > Advanced Sound Options "App volume and device preferences" > Find "Final Fantasy XIV" in the list and change the "Output" device (top entry) to anything other than what it is currently set to, then BACK to what it is intended to be to.
• (For Windows) Control Panel > Sound > Playback > Find your default playback device and go Properties > Advanced > Change default format to "16 bit @ 44.1khz"
• Change client from DX11 to DX9. This can be done from the FFXIV Launcher by pressing the cog button.

None of these fixed it, and seeing that someone had success deleting the FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn folder in C:\Users\<your username>\My Documents\My Games, I did that as well and noticed it fixed the issue. So I got curious, because surely nuking everything wasn't necessary.

Here's what I did to fix it, back the FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn folder up first just in case:

1. Open C:\Users\<your username>\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\FFXIV.cfg in Notepad (or any text editor)
2. Delete the entire section under <SoundPlay Settings>
3. Save the file and relaunch the game, you should have sound

This worked for me, I hope it helps others.

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Originally Posted by Kanzer

Having the same issue, super annoying. Definitely going to ruin my enjoyment of the expansion if not fixed.

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For me every day since launch. Once the queue is more than an hour I cannot quest anymore.. ruined the game for me every single day since launch.
I've played for 6 days and just arrived on the moon..