Audio stuttering/slowdown

Constant audio stuttering/slowdown in game.
Occurs since install of FFXIV 6.0, made worse and more constant in FFXIV 6.01. Did not occur prior to install of FFXIV 6.0.

■Date & Time: 2021-12-24 0221 US-EST
■Frequency: Constant
■World name: Midgardsormr
■Character name: Smoking Tongue
■Retainer name: N/A
■NPC name: All
■Monster name: All
■Class/Level: All
■Party or solo: Both
■In-game time: Constant
■Area and coordinates: Everywhere
■Housing: Everywhere
■Platform: Windows

■Steps to try to fix the issue (none have worked):
1. Changed from DX11 to DX9 and back.
2. Changed in-game equalizer settings.
3. Changed Windows audio bitrate and frequency.
4. Changed audio positioning from character to camera and back.
5. Changed Windows power settings.
6. Changed FFXIV application priority in Windows Task Manager.
7. Reinstalled drivers.
8. Installed Immerse Gamepack for FFXIV.
9. Rebooted machine.
10. Other methods proposed on SE forums and Reddit forums

0. System specifications and other information
Using the 6.0 benchmark on maximum settings with nothing else running on my computer except mandatory Windows 10 background processes, I get a score of: 8714 with total loading time of 24.203s (rated High)

Using the 6.0 benchmark on maximum settings with my usual applications running in the foreground of FFXIV, I get a score of: 8069 with total loading time of 27.579 (rated High)

CPU model (AMD FX-6300 6core 3.5Ghz) is 9 years old (released Oct 23 2012)
CPU has been in use since Oct 2015

Using the Immerse Gamepack for FFXIV installed, audio stuttering is minimized, but still occurs when transitioning from one zone to another as well as in instanced fights, albeit at a reduced rate from the normal/default setting without the gamepack.
See description in separate forum post here:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...dback-and-help

1. What are your Character and Object Quantity current set to?
Maximum, but audio stuttering also occurs with the same frequency and severity on minimum

2. What other applications do you have running in the background while playing FFXIV?
Chrome and Discord generally plus usual Windows 10 background processes, but it also runs with only FFXIV and mandatory Windows 10 processes running as well, including with FFXIV given high or realtime priority through Windows Task Manager

3. Is your audio device set as the Default Device?
Yes

4. Would the issue persist when playing the game in DirectX 9?
Significantly minimized, but it does happen, albeit to a level as with DX11 and the Immerse Gamepack for FFXIV installed

5. If you use a gamepad, does the issue persist when you unplug the gamepad?
N/A (I don't use a gamepad)

6. Does the issue persist when you have the in-game Equalizer Mode set to Standard?
Yes (though only somewhat less than with using non-standard equalizer modes)

7. Does the issue persist when the Listening Position is set closer to the Character?
Yes; same issue persists at full-camera position, full-character position, and any point in between, though changing it to anything besides full-camera *and* swinging the camera around briefly seems to "reset" or lightly alleviate the stuttering, but only briefly and only slightly before resuming at full strength, and that only sometimes depending on other actions nearby

8. Please copy/paste your system information.


-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

MyDocument C:\Users\sam\Documents
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE Z:\FFXIV\SquareEnix
Immerse Gamepack FINAL FANTASY XIV Edition version 1.0.3.20 S:\Immerse Gamepack FINAL FANTASY XIV Edition\
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn Language 1 Region 2
ProxyEnable 0
ProxyServer unspecified
ProxyOverride unspecified


-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
SYSTEM_CPU AMD FX(tm)-6300 Six-Core Processor (6 CPUs), ~3.5GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 6 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 3
SYSTEM_BIOS 2501
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 16283.512MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 18715.512MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 111.236GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 5.539GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE S:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.496GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 831.605GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE Z:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.387GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 525.008GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 4043.625 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 8141.756 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 30.00.0014.9729
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 12/14/2021 19:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY2
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 4043.625 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 8141.756 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_0bc9105c62ca22fb\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 30.00.0014.9729
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 12/14/2021 19:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {8BC7AFE9-CFC3-492D-A796-74F06B035BB4}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME HdAudio.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.0.19041.264
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 5/8/2020 19:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {DDCF988E-1243-4C2C-97BE-F4155A6C21E3}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME HdAudio.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.0.19041.264
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 5/8/2020 19:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND S271HL (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {E0CD0C12-FE96-4A78-BD9F-64DB408ED717}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.3.38.94
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/22/2021 19:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (3- USB Audio Device)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {7B850C15-F9A3-45F0-8145-F7A186EEE0E1}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME CMUAC.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 8.1.12.26
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/12/2015 19:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {1F73A8E0-4B4D-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME UHK 60 v1
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {1F741E10-4B4D-11EA-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME UHK 60 v1
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {DAA6A780-E588-11EB-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME G502 HERO SE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {1F746C30-4B4D-11EA-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME UHK 60 v1
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 1024 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {66479A90-6BB6-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 32 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {66480FC0-6BB6-11EA-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {A39712F0-075E-11EC-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS IO
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {DAA71CB0-E588-11EB-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME G502 HERO SE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {2BB35950-D32B-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB Audio Device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {A3976110-075E-11EC-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS IO
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 4 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 16 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {A397AF30-075E-11EC-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS IO
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {DAA743C0-E588-11EB-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME G502 HERO SE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {A397D640-075E-11EC-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB FS IO
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 16 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {DAA791E0-E588-11EB-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME G502 HERO SE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 652 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

I'd like to bump this thread. Still having this issue and it has only gotten worse since the Endwalker Pre-Patch. Open world, Cut scenes, duties, it doesn't matter where I am or what I am doing, once the stuttering is triggered it will not stop. One of my biggest draws to FFXIV is the sound design (until now) has been top notch, immersive, and truly a model for an MMORPG. This past month the game has been nearly unplayable for me unless I mute all my audio, and at that point, I see no purpose in even doing the MSQ. This needs to be put higher on the fix priority list. Please!

They seemed to have ignored us on this one. Been playing 14 since alpha 1.0 and this is the worst cr*p I've dealt with with any update or major expansion. I think this is the start of the end, the irony given the title of the expansion.