Audio Issue - NPC voice lines disappearing

[Greyback]

I recently return to this game after several months of break - specifically, since TU2. After updating the game to its current version, I notice that there are occasions where NPC voice lines are disappearing. Most notably, during interaction with village and hub quest maidens, as well as nearly every NPC vendors in the game (village/hub blacksmiths, buddy plaza, trading, and item vendors). Hunter voices seem to also cut out at times, such as during the quest completion scene. Strangely, other sounds such as background music and SFX appear to play just fine even as voice lines cut out.

I have tried solutions from others that are experiencing similar issues. Most notably, this thread, which is basically my issue to a tee: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1446780/discussions/1/3725072332583078668/

I attempted to emulate (some of) the solutions posted in said thread as best as I could, but to no avail. Specifically, these are what I have tried so far:

• Verifying game file integrity - everything checks out with no issue
  
• Deleting shader cache so that a fresh shader file can be compiled - no dice
  
• Checking if there is nahimic service running in the background - no nahimic service is found
  
• Updating audio driver (realtek) - audio driver is up to date; cannot find older driver to rollback as was attempted by the threadstarter whose thread I posted above
  
• Adjusting volume, both in-game and Windows audio setting
  
• Starting new save file - doesn't fix the issue
  
• No mods - never run this game with any mod since beginning

To note, I am running a laptop with 1050ti, Intel i7 8th gen (yes, it's rather old, lol). Win10 22H2

During my troubleshooting, I discovered that using external speaker (specifically, the speaker in the wireless PS4 controller) somehow fixes the issue. And, unlike the threadstarter I referred to, the audio remains normal even as I switch back to internal speaker. However, the fix is not permanent and invariably comes back when I quit the game and boot it back up next time. There is also a specific condition for the fix - I have to boot up the game while using external speaker. If I boot the game up while connected to internal speaker, the fix won't work. Switching from internal to external speaker from Windows menu while the game is already running will not fix the issue. This behavior has been consistent so far.

As much as I'd like to say that the issue is... "resolved" somewhat, it is still rudimentary workaround, and I am hoping for a permanent fix. Considering that the latest patch deals with players being able to use voice they are not supposedly in possession of, I have suspicion that this patch is the culprit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Greyback:

There is also a specific condition for the fix - I have to boot up the game while using external speaker. If I boot the game up while connected to internal speaker, the fix won't work. Switching from internal to external speaker from Windows menu while the game is already running will not fix the issue. This behavior has been consistent so far.

That is something I have been suspecting, but was lacking confirmation since it was inconsistence among the reports. It is in line of how the game architecture works.

Originally posted by Greyback:

Considering that the latest patch deals with players being able to use voice they are not supposedly in possession of, I have suspicion that this patch is the culprit.

This is news to me. Where you have heard/read that? Is there more information about that?

I wonder ~ those laptops ~ the one you are using - does it have an integrated microphone?

[Greyback]

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[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Greyback:

Thank you for replying, and apologize for the tardiness.

Never worry about that. It is a forums board, and no live chat. I am rarely ever waiting for a reply and consider it "they might reply whenever it is convenient for them"

Originally posted by Greyback:

I read that information in the patch note in the game page in my steam library. Here is the screenshot: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XCry0IItZV7VTuG5jEZnMwpZf7mwH7y4/view?usp=sharing

Unfortunately I cannot access that link. Mayhaps it is not set to public yet?

You can share screenshots easy using a third party service - this one does not need any registration: https://imgbb.com/

Unfortunately, I don't know any more info regarding this beyond what is stated.

Originally posted by Greyback:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

I wonder ~ those laptops ~ the one you are using - does it have an integrated microphone?

Yes, it has integrated microphone.

The reason for that question was me wondering, whether it is auto-active like for some players it was the case during release. An active microphone could cause interference, so it is one of the settings which are overlooked ingame, worth checking.

[Greyback]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Unfortunately I cannot access that link. Mayhaps it is not set to public yet?

My bad. Yes, I forgot to set it to public. Please kindly try again: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XCry0IItZV7VTuG5jEZnMwpZf7mwH7y4/view?usp=sharing

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Originally posted by Greyback:

Yes, it has integrated microphone.

The reason for that question was me wondering, whether it is auto-active like for some players it was the case during release. An active microphone could cause interference, so it is one of the settings which are overlooked ingame, worth checking.

I will check this out when I get to play again later on. Although, logically, if it is mic interference, it should affect all sound instead of just select few sound clips. I will let you know when I get to it, thanks.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Greyback:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Unfortunately I cannot access that link. Mayhaps it is not set to public yet?

My bad. Yes, I forgot to set it to public. Please kindly try again: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XCry0IItZV7VTuG5jEZnMwpZf7mwH7y4/view?usp=sharing

I see. That one.
I did not make the connection since the issue you described appeared earlier before the fix in different forms. But you are right, that I cannot outrule it might be related, if the issue did not appear before for you but suddenly it does.

Did you already redeem the free voice DLC Kagami?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2133143/Monster_Hunter_Rise__Hunter_Voice_Kagami/

I was wondering if people with the voice issues have it cured when they add that to their collection and try it out. One more attempt to pinpoint what might be the cause for the issue.

However, the main suspect remains as the audio driver. The mystery is just: what game settings cause that incompatibility as it only affects the sound. Back then, if you want to look it up, people mostly had such issues as described only when the settings in the device manager mismatched the settings ingame
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2834184614
(section Common Issue: "Cave-like-Sound" )

[Greyback]

I have tried implementing the suggestions as per our last conversation, unfortunately with no positive result.

• Turning off voice chat via in-game menu did not fix the issue.
  
• Disabling the microphone via Windows menu also did not fix the issue.
  
• I have checked my audio device setting if it matches the ingame setting as outlined in the Troubleshooting guide - everything seems to match just fine.
  
• Redeeming the free Kagami voice pack did not fix the issue, as well.
  
• Changing hunter appearance and voice using character customization ticket (has been planning to anyway :)) also did nothing.

Do note that with each attempt or setting change, I always quit and reboot the game, just to be sure.

The only good thing is, the workaround that is starting off with external speaker before switching to internal speaker still work consistently so far.

Originally posted by アンジェル:

However, the main suspect remains as the audio driver. The mystery is just: what game settings cause that incompatibility as it only affects the sound.

I agree. Audio driver is the most probable suspect. Unfortunately, without access to older driver, there is no way to verify the consistency of this. The Ver.13.0.0.1 patch is a close second suspect as it deals with character voices. Then again, I had months-long break from the game so I cannot pinpoint at which patch exactly did this issue begin. All I am certain is that everything ran fine from base game to Sunbreak, up to TU1. I did not spend significant time with TU2 back then to notice with certainty if something was amiss. There is also no hardware change during that time. To note, this is the first persistent issue I have with the game so far. As insignificant as it is, it is still kind of nagging behind the mind, heh. Perhaps, at this point, I should write to Capcom feedback?

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Greyback:

I have tried implementing the suggestions as per our last conversation, unfortunately with no positive result.

• Turning off voice chat via in-game menu did not fix the issue.
  
• Disabling the microphone via Windows menu also did not fix the issue.
  
• I have checked my audio device setting if it matches the ingame setting as outlined in the Troubleshooting guide - everything seems to match just fine.
  
• Redeeming the free Kagami voice pack did not fix the issue, as well.
  
• Changing hunter appearance and voice using character customization ticket (has been planning to anyway :)) also did nothing.

Do note that with each attempt or setting change, I always quit and reboot the game, just to be sure.

The only good thing is, the workaround that is starting off with external speaker before switching to internal speaker still work consistently so far.

Originally posted by アンジェル:

However, the main suspect remains as the audio driver. The mystery is just: what game settings cause that incompatibility as it only affects the sound.

I agree. Audio driver is the most probable suspect. Unfortunately, without access to older driver, there is no way to verify the consistency of this. The Ver.13.0.0.1 patch is a close second suspect as it deals with character voices. Then again, I had months-long break from the game so I cannot pinpoint at which patch exactly did this issue begin. All I am certain is that everything ran fine from base game to Sunbreak, up to TU1. I did not spend significant time with TU2 back then to notice with certainty if something was amiss. There is also no hardware change during that time. To note, this is the first persistent issue I have with the game so far. As insignificant as it is, it is still kind of nagging behind the mind, heh. Perhaps, at this point, I should write to Capcom feedback?

It would not be wrong to request assistance from Capcom, that their developer team can check on it.

Please use this email address: [e-mail]

Do you have any "voice capture apps" running in the background while playing MHR? Something like discord?

[Janichsan]

Considering that the latest patch deals with players being able to use voice they are not supposedly in possession of, I have suspicion that this patch is the culprit.

The issue is older. The problem persists for many people (including me) since TU3 was released in November.

[Greyback]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

It would not be wrong to request assistance from Capcom, that their developer team can check on it.

Please use this email address: [e-mail]

Do you have any "voice capture apps" running in the background while playing MHR? Something like discord?

I will be sure to write to them sometime later.

Regarding voice capture app, I do not run any of such app. Discord, specifically, I only use the web version while on the computer and I do not have its app installed in the device. And I never run discord alongside my game, too.

I would also like to thank you for sticking with me for so far. I see that you have been around responding to trouble reports even when the issue is repetitive. I applaud your dedication.

Originally posted by Janichsan:

Considering that the latest patch deals with players being able to use voice they are not supposedly in possession of, I have suspicion that this patch is the culprit.

The issue is older. The problem persists for many people (including me) since TU3 was released in November.

Is this the exact same issue, as in, NPC voice lines disappearing at certain moments but other sounds are fine? Just making sure since I have been hearing other sound related bugs and glitches that are not necessarily similar to one that I am experiencing. Regardless, thanks for the info. I did not play this game at all back in November. And due to the long break from the game, I have difficulty pinpointing when exactly the issue started. Your info may well be the answer to that.

[Janichsan]

Originally posted by Greyback:

Is this the exact same issue, as in, NPC voice lines disappearing at certain moments but other sounds are fine?

Exact same issue.

Also, I misremembered: it wasn't Title Update 3, it was Title Update 2, so the problem goes back even further. I just haven't played for a while in between.

[Greyback]

Originally posted by Janichsan:

Exact same issue.

Also, I misremembered: it wasn't Title Update 3, it was Title Update 2, so the problem goes back even further. I just haven't played for a while in between.

Duly noted. I will amend the information then. Thank you.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Janichsan:

Originally posted by Greyback:

Is this the exact same issue, as in, NPC voice lines disappearing at certain moments but other sounds are fine?

Exact same issue.

Also, I misremembered: it wasn't Title Update 3, it was Title Update 2, so the problem goes back even further. I just haven't played for a while in between.

Best you too, send an email towards Capcom about the matter then: [e-mail]

Otherwise it would end up like another one of those cases "no reports = no issues".

Originally posted by Greyback:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

It would not be wrong to request assistance from Capcom, that their developer team can check on it.

Please use this email address: [e-mail]

Do you have any "voice capture apps" running in the background while playing MHR? Something like discord?

I will be sure to write to them sometime later.

Regarding voice capture app, I do not run any of such app. Discord, specifically, I only use the web version while on the computer and I do not have its app installed in the device. And I never run discord alongside my game, too.

I would also like to thank you for sticking with me for so far. I see that you have been around responding to trouble reports even when the issue is repetitive. I applaud your dedication.

I would be happy to see the issue resolved, so you can enjoy your game fully and it would be a solution for other players too. But I also understand that at some point you just exhaust the possibilities.

Like hinted before: I know this kind of issue being a type of driver issue, but it seems quite rare and the only reference so far I have is with one case, where the user basically revamped all their existing mainboard drivers. But then their case was on desktop PC while yours is on laptop...

One of the "last straws", which come to mind is testing compatibility mode, but even I do not expect it would or could solve your issue...
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2831410978

And the fact that there were actual cases in which creating new character completely cured the issue is only adding to my personal confusion.

But that too, you tried out already ~

P.S.: if any of you two want to test out an older version of the game, you can do that

[Greyback]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

One of the "last straws", which come to mind is testing compatibility mode, but even I do not expect it would or could solve your issue...
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2831410978

Take heart, o, ye of little faith. I tried running the game on Win8 compatibility mode and administrator privilege, just to be sure - and the issue did not appear!

Although, I would warn that this may still be too early to celebrate as I am yet from testing the persistence of this fix. I'd also like to see if the issue will crop back in if I take it out of compatibility mode (it probably will, but, eh :p).

To note, I notice that the game re-compile a new shader cache right after running it on compatibility. Is this normal?

Even if this fix does not work consistently, it is still another bit of info to add to the mail I am composing to support, so I am pleased either way :).

Originally posted by アンジェル:

P.S.: if any of you two want to test out an older version of the game, you can do that

I am actually curious about this. Could you explain how? Much thanks in advance.

I will update this thread after I am done with my tests.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Greyback:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

P.S.: if any of you two want to test out an older version of the game, you can do that

I am actually curious about this. Could you explain how? Much thanks in advance.

I had adopted that method during my investigations for troubleshooting MHR issues on PC. (you can probably tell by the ready-to-use-""guides"" all for troubleshooting - "guides" because I do not really see them as guide but as easy to find answers for frequently asked questions)

It is a last resort kind of thing, making use of a hidden Steam feature which needs some "not publicly well known efforts". Steam is keeping, naturally, a version of any app which ever had been released and not taken down manually by the developers, on their servers. The method makes use of that, which allows you "a technical rollback" - but that would be only good for testing reasons, as your latest save game will never work with an earlier date version of the game due to the DRM.

The method I have described with images in my guide for save game recovery, due to the reasons of DRM. Unlike other methods for save game recovery this has a 100% working chance when it comes to save game issues by bugs (no one can recover save game issues due to wrong handling).

Feel free to have a look within the section Restoration without data00-1.bin
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2743342837
The method is not widely kown, but the best method to make a game playable again for private usage, when it had become unplayable due to an update. As a matter of course, multiplayer will not be functional either.

[Janichsan]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Best you too, send an email towards Capcom about the matter then: [e-mail]

Otherwise it would end up like another one of those cases "no reports = no issues".

Can do, although the issue definitely has already been reported back then. There were multiple threads here in this forum and on Reddit, and at least some of the posters at that time wrote that they reported the issue to Capcom.