Audio popping issue

[ValStryder]

The in-game description of the option is "Compatible controllers can utilize rumble and playback of sound effects." It's possible disabling it may help, albeit at the cost of that functionality.

My point was they could have a physical reason why they need the functionality. It's not our place to pry, but it is what I'm going to assume based on the post they made. Someone like you or I it could be "I've done it so long I cant do it otherwise." There are people who play this game that require stuff like that no questions asked. While you're right it may help, we can't assume that they simply can disable it and enjoy the game.

[Nommers]

My point was they could have a physical reason why they need the functionality. It's not our place to pry, but it is what I'm going to assume based on the post they made. Someone like you or I it could be "I've done it so long I cant do it otherwise." There are people who play this game that require stuff like that no questions asked. While you're right it may help, we can't assume that they simply can disable it and enjoy the game.

They said they couldn't play without a gamepad. My point was that the option DOESN'T disable the gamepad, just the gamepad's own audio output and rumble functionality. I suppose it's possible they use the gamepad for audio output, in which case I can see how that wouldn't be helpful.

[megamino]

I still get it HOWEVER it's gone much better now since it's not stuttering while in the big city like OS, but it happened when pulling mobs in the dungeon... I'm still have DX9 as an option so i might stick to that for now..

For now, i might want to give a try and report back with my bug report... I don't know what to say though since it's only "Intel Integrated Graphics" so yeah might be "yeah sir, your laptop is too potato", but again "This is not happening before EW release"

Yeah kinda back and forth and then probably just hoping they will not disabling DX9 for a long term now *fingercrossed

[Puss_Kat]

I still get it HOWEVER it's gone much better now since it's not stuttering while in the big city like OS, but it happened when pulling mobs in the dungeon... I'm still have DX9 as an option so i might stick to that for now..

For now, i might want to give a try and report back with my bug report... I don't know what to say though since it's only "Intel Integrated Graphics" so yeah might be "yeah sir, your laptop is too potato", but again "This is not happening before EW release"

Yeah kinda back and forth and then probably just hoping they will not disabling DX9 for a long term now *fingercrossed

you might want to confirm the tjmax of your cpu and actual temps during game play, the cpu usage is back to if not better than 5.5 levels.

Right. After endless fiddling and fidgeting with the settings, I think I may have found a temporarily fix/reduction. I tested this right in the middle of when the sound was stuttering literally every 5 seconds and had three clean minutes of sound on trial 2 + no stuttering in The Goblet or Radz-at-Han after. All of these fixes are necessary, I tried switching from FullScreen back to Borderless and the stuttering came back. This is assuming you've applied the fixes suggested in patch notes.

1. Switch to Fullscreen Display
2. Ensure that FPS is capped 1/1 or uncapped
3. Go to System Configuration -> Sound Settings -> Wireless Controller Settings, and set Speaker sounds to None. I reduced volume to 0 and muted for good measure.
4. If you use a gamepad/controller to play, either play wirelessly, or if you connect via cable, disable the controller as a sound device in your Windows settings. To do this, connect your controller, go to Sound Settings -> Device Properties -> Additional device properties -> On the General window, right at the bottom, change Device Usage to "Don't use this device (disable)"

This combination seems to work for me so far, but I'll feed back over the course of the coming few days if the issue comes back or if the issue remains fixed like this. At the moment I have my graphics reduced to mitigate, but if the fix holds I'll gradually increase. Note that this worked with a listening position of 50.

There is a Windows 10 specific issue affecting FFXIV that is not caused by patches, nor display drivers, go through the list of running programs and close them down till the issue stops.
It's connected to something stealing focus.

[Breezelyn]

So, with SE claiming to "fix" the audio stuttering/crackling issue this in patch, decided to do test runs on different duties. Just to make sure it is fixed on MY end (even if it was SE's client doing the stuttering).

- Set "Listening Position" to 0 for this test, as it used to be 100 to help with crackling (it did little effect, but meh).
- I had all sounds activated, minus Performance, all at max 100 for this test.
- Dual Sense / DUALSHOCK 4 functionality was turned off for this test.
- Player combat effects turned off minus my own
- Was on healer role for MOST of these
- Some duties I unsynced and solo'd them to save time. However, even when I did this BEOFRE 6.08, there was still audio stuttering for a lot of them during combat/fight mechanics.

Below I will list the duties I did that have no audio crackling in (for me at least). Did a few in each expansion to be sure about it.

A Realm Reborn
- Titan Normal: Didn't experience anything, so safe to say it's good.
- Shiva Normal: Same as above.
- Sastasha (Hard): Nothing reported out of the ordinary.
- Snowcloak: No isuses during boss fights/mass pulls with audio. BGM didn't glitch out.

Heavensward
- Alexander: Soul of the Creator: No audio crackling. Did experience it before 6.08, but was crystal clear with BGM Intact.
- Ravana Normal: No audio glitching was heard!
- Sohm Al (Hard): No crackling was heard. Did have issues in big pulls with combat stuttering all over the place before 6.08.

Stormblood
- Emanation (Normal): Did experience stuttering before in this duty before 6.08 patch.. No crackling/stutter during combat; Audio was clear.
- Shisui of the Violent Tides: No audio crackling/stuttering at all. Had a bit before the 6.08 during boss fights mostly.
- Deltascape 4.0: Had audio crackling before 6.08, but now it's crystal clear! Didn't hear any radio static at all.

Shadowbringers
- Dying Grasp: No audio crackling/stuttering when I experienced it before 6.08.
- Eden's Promise: Eternity: No radio stutter at all.
- Dohn Mheg: No crackling was heard, which I experienced before 6.08 in big pulls mostly.

Endwalker
- Asphodelos: Fourth Circle: No audio crackling/stuttering during combat at all. This used to be a very bad duty to get through because of audio constantly cutting out. Glad to report I had no issues during this.
- Smileton: No combat stutter/crackling after 6.08, glad to report!
- 89 Trial: No stuttering/crackle at all! So happy about this one, because the music is NICE.

I feel they have fixed the audio stutter on my end, or at least, found what was affecting 'most' CPUs with this problem. Just wanted to report my findings for others to know about. Maybe do your own test runs to see if it's fixed for you.