Audio popping issue

[RobynDaBank]

They've said they addressed this again.



ETA to add patch notes link: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/9325d2a5dae2ac34b9f970c803848e8fb1c3aaf7

[TojiSuzuhara]

cautiously optimistic but will need to see when servers come up

"The following issues have been addressed.
An issue wherein audio crackling and stuttering occurred under certain conditions.
* For players who continue to experience audio playback issues after the release of Patch 6.08, we ask that you consider disabling DualSense / DUALSHOCK 4 functionality."

[Midare]

Well, I'll see how things go once the servers are up... but I'm not feeling very hopeful considering I don't even use a controller...

[RobynDaBank]

Well, I'll see how things go once the servers are up... but I'm not feeling very hopeful considering I don't even use a controller...

I don't think it's about controllers too much TBH. The DualShock 4 functionality is something they added this patch, in the gamepad settings. Probably just have to disable it if you still have problems.

[Geirr]

I'm going to guess that the northbridge might have something to do with it and it isn't just a CPU issue. I say that because I've tried to help a friend troubleshoot it. They used the integrated sound at first which was southbridge. Southbridge has to go through northbridge to talk to CPU.

Had friend try to run audio off her graphics card only. Graphics card on her old motherboard has no direct CPU access, it goes through northbridge first. Still had issues.

Friend tried a 70$ soundblaster audio card. Said card still has to go through northbridge to talk to CPU and should have offloaded some work off the CPU. Still had the issue.

Maybe the changes to audio are jamming up the northbridge on older CPUs, as well as just not being good for those CPU designs.

[Puss_Kat]

I'm going to guess that the northbridge might have something to do with it and it isn't just a CPU issue. I say that because I've tried to help a friend troubleshoot it. They used the integrated sound at first which was southbridge. Southbridge has to go through northbridge to talk to CPU.

Had friend try to run audio off her graphics card only. Graphics card on her old motherboard has no direct CPU access, it goes through northbridge first. Still had issues.

Friend tried a 70$ soundblaster audio card. Said card still has to go through northbridge to talk to CPU and should have offloaded some work off the CPU. Still had the issue.

Maybe the changes to audio are jamming up the northbridge on older CPUs, as well as just not being good for those CPU designs.

IO Chipsets are irrelevant to this issue.

Sound cards do not "offload" work from the cpu,
Vista removed the hardware abstraction layer for Sound devices, only certain Creative cards can forward hardware dsound to the hardware dac/apu via openal on vista-10.


CPU utilisation is reduced considerably in 6.08, the issues should no longer manifest,

I can also no longer reproduce the exponential increase in CPU usage when muting SFX and Ambient in area's full of such effects.

[Vallek]

Ditto the above, as far as I can tell its been fixed!

[Baekho]

Just wanted to check in to say the same, first impressions are very positive! I immediately noticed the game performing better since those occasional microstutters I have had since the launch of EW seem to be gone. Visited multiple areas where I experienced audio issues, did open world combat + a trial and no crackling sounds whatsoever thus far. If any problems show up I'll report back but otherwise I am hopeful that the issue has been fixed!

Wishing everyone a good time ingame!

[Puss_Kat]

the fix will also result in reduced cpu temperatures, less spikes to CPU and better performance across all content.

[Nommers]

Early testing is extremely promising on my end. No issues whatsoever in the usual spots. I think we should probably wait a day or two for more people to do more testing before saying it's 100% fixed, but so far so good.

Side note, but does the audio actually sound better to anyone else? It might just be placebo from not having played in a month, but I'm surprised at how clear everything sounds and I think I'm noticing more small/ambient sounds in various places.