Audio popping issue

[Jizu]

I have thought about this as well but I unfortunately subbed for a 3 month block of time just before Endwalker dropped so I am locked in to my sub until March with the extended free time they gave as compensation. In hindsight I wish I went month to month so I could just walk away until the audio is fixed. Could have avoided logging in to a diminished game. I am not playing any Endwalker at all since the beginning quest was bugged with audio issues in dialogue and music. Just leveling alt-jobs to 90 while I run out my sub. Old content is extremely audio bugged despite trying everything recommended. The only thing I refuse to attempt to fix audio is the paid spatial audio and Direct X 9. Not paying for a fix or reducing the game visual quality. Seriously who would want to play Endwalker in a diminished Direct X 9 experience?

Really just "playing" out of routine and prepaid subscription at this point and my enjoyment is minimal. One month in I am already jaded and have no hope of a fix anytime soon. My feeling is they went all in on this spatial audio in partnership with this 3rd party and cannot unwind the system at this point. I hold out the smallest of hope that it would be fixed in January.

For the first time ever I paid for a 3 month sub at the end of November, instead of month by month. I expected the servers to struggle but no one could forsee there being a lingering issue this extreme and for so long.

It's upsetting, but if the Update on the 4th doesn't even include any sort of recognition of the issue publicly, I'll try my best to get a refund for at least the 2 upcoming months.

They gave us a benchmark with which to test out systems with. I paid for something that released differently to what was advertised. To me, it's a broken product and I am willing to try my best to get my money back for something I can't utilize.

Again, if it was my system I'd be out of luck, but that's the point of a benchmark. Their last minute business adventures aren't my fault.

Also, I don't want to start a witch hunt or anything.
I want no bad blood and I'm looking forward to playing properly again. But I want to encourage anyone to be seen as a valued customer who has rights and not as an ATM who's "shit out of luck" because they payed in advance. Paying in advance should be seen as trust in a company to deliver what they promised and not be taken advantage of.

[Aeonk]

It has something to do with the camera positioning, and if there's any obstructions between the source of a sound and the listening position.

See video. And yeah, I got this off of Reddit. credit to PraggyD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLQW...&ab_channel=DP

[AsheStrachan]

Well everyone,here's to a new year! And to the start of the problem still being here in 2022

[LegolasLover2003]

I didn't notice this issue until I was farming FATES in Il Mheg last weekend. I had to shut off all sound to make it bearable. Got boring without sound...

Now though, I'm working on MSQ and am in the house at The Great Work and the steam machines seem to be causing the popping sound issue for me now. I'm not sure if it's the instance I'm in or what but I've never had sound problems with MSQ before either.

I think the update made it worse... because until that update, I was fine.

Like many others, I have Realtek too.

[Wyvrex]

I had this problem since launch, but it was only in fights. Since 6.01 it's now all the time and I have to turn off all audio to play really sad I can't enjoy the sound or music. I also noticed the frame rate dropped massively since 6.01 and I wonder if it is linked. I tried playing with settings in game to lower quality with no success on either fps or sound. I read about it being experienced only with AMD motherboards with non-AMD processors so that could be why, but buying new gear with the current global shortage is expensive or impossible.

I hope they fix it soon! In the meantime, I play with no sound so I can at least enjoy content.

[ClaraKitty]

I had this problem since launch, but it was only in fights. Since 6.01 it's now all the time and I have to turn off all audio to play really sad I can't enjoy the sound or music. I also noticed the frame rate dropped massively since 6.01 and I wonder if it is linked. I tried playing with settings in game to lower quality with no success on either fps or sound. I read about it being experienced only with AMD motherboards with non-AMD processors so that could be why, but buying new gear with the current global shortage is expensive or impossible.

I hope they fix it soon! In the meantime, I play with no sound so I can at least enjoy content.

Nah, it's everyone, AMD or otherwise. It's not a processor issue at all, my friend. It's on their end.

[MoonstalkerZ]

While I would like to thank you for the comprehensive list explaining the situation, I think perhaps yelling and swearing at people who haven't read every single post in a 77 page thread who are just trying to help is counterproductive.

[Elliah-Seraheart]

While I would like to thank you for the comprehensive list explaining the situation, I think perhaps yelling and swearing at people who haven't read every single post in a 77 page thread who are just trying to help is counterproductive.

The very same people - you included - who keep spamming this thread - are the very reason there are so many, mostly irrelevant, posts. This behavior is the very reason lists like this are needed in the first place. You are actively hurting your chances of the real issue being seen in this thread with every single low quality post you are making. Do you see the problem here, when claiming that "you cant blame people for not reading the thread?"

When you sit in traffic - YOU are the traffic.

Besides, this is the technical support forum. Posts are supposed to be centered around technical support. Threads are not there for every joe to vent about his problems with the audio issues. It's not an emotional support forum, but it's essentially used as one... drowning out the actual technical support posts. I'd have to post this list every 8 hours, because it is immediately pushed back 3 pages by people too lazy and/or focused on venting, to read anything - or go through any effort of their own before posting.

Sorry for the language - but I'm incredibly upset. Both with square, and the people posting in here. The language may be unwaranted - but the frustration is certainly not. Besides, I believe there's value in using strong language to express strong opinions.

[Nommers]

The kind of information you're asking for should be provided in a bug report, as the community managers and even Soken himself have requested several times. For my part, I included a link to MiaShino's most recent post in my own follow-up bug report, and I would strongly encourage everyone else who hasn't already submitted a bug report to do the same. Not everyone has the patience or the technical know-how to investigate as thoroughly as you two did, and at this point there's probably not much more that can (or even should) be done on our end.

As for this thread, yeah the "I think it's because I have an FX cpu" and "I tried changing the audio device and it didn't work" or "I tried Immerse and it sounds bad" posts are repetitive, but people absolutely have the right to complain about the faulty product they've been sold, and I can't really think of anywhere better to do it. They're in the same boat you are and don't deserve your ire. If nothing else, the simple fact that this thread is 77 pages long and growing (EDIT: we're also about to crack 81k views - to my mind that's even more alarming) should communicate to Square the severity of the issue and how urgently a fix is needed. If Square doesn't have people conveying the most helpful information from this thread to the devs, that's on them, not us.

[Grimno]

On a side note: Does it seem like it's getting worst for anyone else?
Even with the Spatial Audio pack that was helping it a bit, I'm noticing a lot more low bass-y rumble-crackling in areas now.

Edit: In the Firmament at Ishgard, the audio does the low bass-y rumble-crackling there.
But when Fetes are going on, different music, no crackling at all.