Audio popping issue

[AsheNabuddis]

Bumping so people can see the twitter link easier.

[GorthRedsteel]

I understnad it's not easy to predict but when do you think we can expect a fix to this? I'm rather new to the game so I can only compare it to other MMOs and their dev teams on how quickly such huge issues get resolved. I'd love to play the game but in the current state it's unpleasant at best.

[AsheNabuddis]

Considering the amount of people reporting this issue (not the majority, but an acceptable size group) AND the fact that the audio director responded to a tweet in regards to this issue saying "We are aware and are working on it" (or something to that tune), I believe we CAN expect a solution to it.

The WHEN is the problem. The tweet also said that they intend to solve it before the actual release (in 2 days), but given the miriad, more pressing other issues, I don't hold much hope. After that, it's anyone's guess, but keeping an eye on the news is a good way to get some feedback regarding these types of issues. At least, in that regard (communication with players), Squeenix does well.

[Sanjoo]

Its not Realtek that is onboard audio and can be disabled, I have mine disabled and still have issues, it has something to do with the DX11 sound files, it needs to be patched client side, seems to get worse the busier the servers are.

[AluneTempest]

same problem here, its impossible to play with sound with this problem going on, i dont wanna play MSQ without hear the BGM's and VA.

[TaleraRistain]

Its not Realtek that is onboard audio and can be disabled, I have mine disabled and still have issues, it has something to do with the DX11 sound files, it needs to be patched client side, seems to get worse the busier the servers are.

But going back to DX9 doesn't fix it for everyone. That can't be the whole solution.

[Elliah-Seraheart]

I've got a theory.

Can ya'll list:
1. What driver + version you are using (Control Panel -> Hardware&Sound -> Sound -> Device Properties -> General -> Properties -> Driver)
2. Type of Device Stereo/Quadraphonic/5.1/7.1 Sound -> Configure -> Test out and set it correctly.
3. Scope of issues experiences
4. GPU (since NVidia 1080 and 1070 seem to have trouble with atmos)

I've found a post from a year ago that tricks FF14 into outputting surround sound to stereo headphones.
Apparently, when FF14 starts up it checks whether your audio device is stereo, 5.1 or 7.1. Depending on that, it decides to output surround or stereo. The post in question tricked FF14 by manually assigning their stereo device to 5.1 or 7.2, then starting FF14, then switching it back to stereo.

As an aside, these very people used to experience the exact same issues of popping/stuttering audio, or missing audio altogether. This is the exact same thing we are experiencing now. For them, it happened when they used MSI Nahimic, Sonic or other third party surround software that didnt play nice with FF14.

I also know that FF14 doesnt actually use the windows audio driver, but comes with its own driver.

All of this leads me to believe, that with the Introduction of Endwalker and crucially, Spatial Audio, we are now having issues with FF14 falsely detecting our audio capabilities. Whenever audio is "cutting out", it's trying to feed us surround sounds our drivers/devices cannot actually output (similar to test feature in Sound/Configure). Hence why we then hear messed up audio interfering/overlayed on the stereo audio. This also makes sense with the obstruction theory - since audio that is obstructed is surely modified in some way by surround/spatial. I'm not yet sure how DX9 / DX11 play into this - since I don't understand how rendering and tessellation works - but I believe the way things are rendered may make a difference, since the audio needs to know where things are in relation to the listener and what the environment looks like, to know what it has to do with the spatial/surround data.

Edit: Using Square Enix's Immersive Spatial Audio fixed everything for me. This just leads me to believe that I'm onto something with my theory.
Though it is a paid service, there's a 25 day trial. I hate how it sounds- but using the trial allows you to actually play Endwalker and gives you 25 days to wait for the audio fix.

If you are reading this and I'm right... Pls hire me Square. I work in Software Testing and always wanted to work in gaming. Willing to relocate and/or learn japanese. I'm serious.

[Elliah-Seraheart]

1. Realtek High Definition Audio (6.0.9.132.1)
2. Stereo Headphones AND 5.1 Headset
3. Audio stuttering on BGM, Sound Effects, Atmosphere, Voices
4. NVidia GTX 1070 Ti

[AsheNabuddis]

I've got a theory.

Can ya'll list:
1. What driver + version you are using (Control Panel -> Hardware&Sound -> Sound -> Device Properties -> General -> Properties -> Driver)
2. Type of Device Stereo/Quadraphonic/5.1/7.1 Sound -> Configure -> Test out and set it correctly.
3. Scope of issues experiences

I've found a post from a year ago that tricks FF14 into outputting surround sound to stereo headphones.
Apparently, when FF14 starts up it checks whether your audio device is stereo, 5.1 or 7.1. Depending on that, it decides to output surround or stereo. The post in question tricked FF14 by manually assigning their stereo device to 5.1 or 7.2, then starting FF14, then switching it back to stereo.

As an aside, people used to experience the exact same issues of popping/stuttering audio, or missing audio altogether. This is the exact same thing we are experiencing now. For them, it happened when they if they used MSI or other third party surround software, that didnt play nice with FF14.

I also know that FF14 doesnt actually use the windows audio driver, but comes with its own driver.

All of this leads me to believe, that with the Introduction of Endwalker and crucially, Spatial Audio, we are now having issues with FF14 falsely detecting our audio capabilities. Whenever audio is "cutting out", it's trying to feed us surround sounds our drivers/devices cannot actually output (similar to test feature in Sound/Configure). Hence why we then hear messed up audio interfering/overlayed on the stereo audio. This also makes sense with the obstruction theory - since audio that is obstructed is surely modified in some way by surround/spatial. I'm not yet sure how DX9 / DX11 play into this - since I don't understand how rendering and tessellation works - but I believe the way things are rendered may make a difference, since the audio needs to know where things are in relation to the listener and what the environment looks like, to know what it has to do with the spatial/surround data.

Sure, can't hurt to try.
1. High Definition Audio Device - Microsoft. Driver Version: 10.0.19041.264
2. Stereo
3. Stuttering audio randomly, but most prominent when in combat/highly intensive graphical areas. Killing every other program running does have some small effect on the issue's appearance rate.

[RobTheFrog]

It's a processor affinity issue introduced a few months ago by windows 10... It's not going away anytime soon. (Even with windows 11) Really doesn't help that the game exe still runs as a 32 bit program. (and we pay a monthly subscription for this)