Directional Audio Issues with NPC Voicelines

[crowwww]

I don't feel like I have enough data to put together a bug report, so posting here.

While predominately felt during weekly runs of Jueno: The First Walk, I've noticed that when an NPC speaks in an instance and they're out of camera, their audio gets cut off.

I'm pretty sure this wasn't the case on release but now I'm rarely hearing such gems as:
"Go! We'll look after the girl."
"What is that!? Some kind of Tural Vidraal??"
"What!? Why only you?"

It's especially noticeable if I'm still in the previous arena and Shadowlord is pulled as I'm travelling, resulting in "I cannot die! Not until I've erad-" where the audio plays, but is cut off once I'm inside the arena, but my camera is not looking at the boss.

While this may sound silly, it does have an impact on gameplay as it's also affecting (among others) the Ark Angels' "Cowardice Binds You".

On a laggy session, Prishe's tells at least are also sent to text so you can still resolve Knuckle Sandwhich and Auroral Uppercut correctly. But when you only hear the "-s you" from Ark Angel TT it gets a bit dicey trying to react in time. Skill issue that I don't have the battle script memorised by now? Maybe, but it's still a tell.

I've tried adjusting "listening position" but so far it seems to have no effect. Have I accidentally changed a setting between 7.10 and now?

[Honisixacodow]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We apologize for the audio issues experienced when playing Final Fantasy XIV. There are a few situations that may be causing the error you are describing. Please try the following troubleshooting methods in order to resolve the issue:

- Check if your audio is playing to the audio device(s) connected and playing to the audio device(s) that you prefer such as speakers or headphones.
- Run the audio troubleshooter, in the search box on the taskbar please search and run the audio troubleshooter.
- Update your Windows Operating System using Windows Update. Make sure to install any optional updates as these aren't installed automatically.
- Update the device drivers (including graphics and sound), if the drivers are up to date please uninstall and reinstall the drivers instead.
- If possible, please try using different earphones, headphones, and/or speakers
- You may want to try plugging the audio output into different ports (both front and back) to see if one of them recognizes the speaker/headphones/earphones and allows you to use it within the game.
- Disable all programs/overlays running in the background (including Discord).
- Change the Equalizer Mode to Standard rather than custom.
- Try running FINAL FANTASY XIV as an administrator, if you use Steam this would mean running Steam as admin.
- Change 'Listening Position' to 100. Navigate to the 'System Configuration' in-game, select 'Sound Settings', towards the top select the previously mentioned setting.
- Disable all other device drivers, leaving the mouse, keyboard, and audio device as the only devices active.
- Please try switching between Fullscreen mode and Borderless Windowed mode, if you are currently using one please try switching to the other.
- Cap FPS, if the FPS in-game is not yet capped please try capping it.
- Reset System Settings, also in the config section of the FINAL FANTASY XIV launcher, there should be an option for 'Reset System Settings', please try resetting the settings.
- Also if possible, please try using a different console and/or device (this will let you know if it is specifically a settings/hardware issue or just the FINAL FANTASY XIV program issue)
- Remove any mods or injectors from the game or system (Reshade, Nvidia Freestyle, etc.). Also, remove any custom configurations made using driver-level programs (Nvidia Control Panel, Radeon Crimson).
- Perform a clean boot by doing the following: Open the Task Manager and select the 'Start Up' Tab. disable everything here and restart the PC.

Should the issue still persist after attempting all the listed troubleshooting, we advise that you reinstall the game (make sure to remove or rename the 'Final Fantasy XIV' folder in the 'My Documents' > 'My Games' folder).

We recommend that the game be installed on the C: drive, as installing it on any drive that is not the default may cause more problems.

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

[crowwww]

Came back to report this is exceptionally noticeable as I have an alt doing the MSQ "You're Not Alone".

I'm 90% sure when I did it on my main, the voice lines kept playing quite clearly until I reached the next shade, yet now they grow faint the moment I (end)walk past them, then are visible again the moment I turn back to face their spot.

--
Notable remarks from the generic troubleshooting:
changing listening position from 10 > 100 did not work.
unmodded game (for real, not just saying that because this is the official forums)
FFXIV is too big to fit on my main drive, so must run from a connected HDD. Especially since the graphics update.
Disabling overlays doesn't help.

I'll record the issue if I can and link it.

[crowwww]

Spoilers for Endwalker Zone 6:

https://va.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ster7ivtef1r9mema.mp4

NB:
- Trimmed / shrunk the video as best I could for uploading sake (it's an audio issue anyway)
- HUD disabled

Full text is "Voice from the Past: And we for our part are glad indeed to be able to welcome friends both old and new..." as you can see, by moving my character in the area and rotating the camera, the strength and volume of the NPC dialog is varying wildly.

[crowwww]

One more observation: I didn't record it - but like with my experiences in Jueno - often dialog was at full volume at first, then immediately cut out to near silent as if belatedly catching up on my position relative to the source of the sound.

[Votraftur]

Greetings, thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

We apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. At this time, the issues you are describing may be more suited for the bug report forums. Please create a new thread entry in the Bug Reports > In-Game Bugs section with the required information as shown in the main thread sticky.

Please be sure to give as much detail as possible and follow the template as outlined in the sticky thread. Additionally, this thread will be moved to the 'Separate Support Required' sub forum.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!