Surround Sound Support

[simon]

just putting my vote forward for 5.1 surround support, since Unity supports it out of the box subject to some testing.

edit to clarify some things because it seems some of the more challenged users are a little confused:

windows absolutely does support multiple surround channels out of the box if you're using a dedicated card/ASIO driver, no matter what you're doing. this is because most windows applications treat audio outputs exactly the same way as everything else. there is no reason as to why VLC or Plex, for instance, should be able to output surround, while a Unity or Unreal application cannot. a good recent example of this would be Phasmophobia, in which you can clearly tell the difference between "fake" and "true" surround as the player voices move around you channel to channel.

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90% of computer games don't support this anymore. That was more of a WindowsXP era thing. This is such an odd thing to see anyone ask for in 2023.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

90% of computer games don't support this anymore. That was more of a WindowsXP era thing. This is such an odd thing to see anyone ask for in 2023.

not at all, most of what i play is configured for 5.1

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

not at all, most of what i play is configured for 5.1

That's actually not possible. Hardware 5.1 surround support in windows died when Windows Vista came out. If you do see the option in games then it's simulated with software and not actual surround sound, even if the option is there.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

not at all, most of what i play is configured for 5.1

That's actually not possible. Hardware 5.1 surround support in windows died when Windows Vista came out. If you do see the option in games then it's simulated with software and not actual surround sound, even if the option is there.

that's not even remotely accurate

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

that's not even remotely accurate

Yes it is. DirectSound was what allowed sound cards to process and use 5.1 and 7.1 surround in hardware. When Windows Vista came out Microsoft changed how the sound system works in Windows to be 100% software based. Every game run on any version of windows from Windows Vista <-> Windows 11 is all using software based sound now. If you hear any "surround sound" it is 100% completely software simulated. Hardware 5.1 surround is not possible anymore.

Read about it and educate yourself. The original DirectSound can be read about here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSound?useskin=vector

Specifically you might want to read the part under OS support where it was discontinued with Windows Vista.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

that's not even remotely accurate

Yes it is. DirectSound was what allowed sound cards to process and use 5.1 and 7.1 surround in hardware. When Windows Vista came out Microsoft changed how the sound system works in Windows to be 100% software based. Every game run on any version of windows from Windows Vista <-> Windows 11 is all using software based sound now. If you hear any "surround sound" it is 100% completely software simulated. Hardware 5.1 surround is not possible anymore.

Read about it and educate yourself. The original DirectSound can be read about here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSound?useskin=vector

Specifically you might want to read the part under OS support where it was discontinued with Windows Vista.

only that's specifically with DirectSound, which i don't use. windows is abolutely capable of outputting multiple channels via HDMI. i work in audio professionally, i'm fairly certain i know what i'm talking about.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

only that's specifically with DirectSound, which i don't use. windows is abolutely capable of outputting multiple channels via HDMI. i work in audio professionally, i'm fairly certain i know what i'm talking about.

Yes. Windows can do that. But not for games. For movies in media players where content actually has 5.1 surround audio it can do that. Games can not and do not support that in today's version of Windows 10 or 11.

That's why it's not in this game and it's also why at least 90% of games released in the past 5 years also do not support it. That's a very old and dead thing to have in any type of computer game. New games will not support surround or 5.1 audio at all.

But then if you actually worked in professional audio like you claimed then you should already know that.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

only that's specifically with DirectSound, which i don't use. windows is abolutely capable of outputting multiple channels via HDMI. i work in audio professionally, i'm fairly certain i know what i'm talking about.

Yes. Windows can do that. But not for games. For movies in media players where content actually has 5.1 surround audio it can do that. Games can not and do not support that in today's version of Windows 10 or 11.

That's why it's not in this game and it's also why at least 90% of games released in the past 5 years also do not support it. That's a very old and dead thing to have in any type of computer game. New games will not support surround or 5.1 audio at all.

But then if you actually worked in professional audio like you claimed you would already know that.

i am going to consider you just another troll and just ignore you from here if you're going to be this much of a moron.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

i am going to consider you just another troll and just ignore you from here if you're going to be this much of a moron.

I'm only attempting to help you understand why you don't see this in computer games. However it seems my efforts are wasted as you are intentionally remaining closed-minded and refuse to learn something new.

I think perhaps I used too many words and/or my words may have been too much for you to comprehend. Maybe if I use simpler words you will understand what I'm trying to say: Your request will go unanswered. Windows games do not support Surround Sound. This developer (and all other developers) can not add 5.1 surround sound support to windows games because it's no longer possible.

If you are still somehow confused I could try to write it again a different way with even simpler words.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

i am going to consider you just another troll and just ignore you from here if you're going to be this much of a moron.

I'm only attempting to help you understand why you don't see this in computer games. However it seems my efforts are wasted as you are intentionally remaining closed-minded and refuse to learn something new.

I think perhaps I used too many words and/or my words may have been too much for you to comprehend. Maybe if I use simpler words you will understand what I'm trying to say: Your request will go unanswered. Windows games do not support Surround Sound. This developer (and all other developers) can not add 5.1 surround sound support to windows games because it's no longer possible.

If you are still somehow confused I could try to write it again a different way with even simpler words.

please show me the detailed windows documentation explaining why unity games specifically and nothing else can't output multichannel audio

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

please show me the detailed windows documentation explaining why unity games specifically and nothing else can't output multichannel audio

I already showed you evidence about how windows no longer offers hardware 5.1 surround sound in games. You just refuse to read it. I honestly assumed this was such a well-known thing about windows games that no one questioned it anymore. Almost everyone knows that windows hasn't been able to use hardware multi-channel audio for games for at least 20+ years. That's why I was rather surprised to see a comment like this in 2023. It should be common knowledge by now.

I suspect the main reason that games on windows do not support this is the vast majority (I would say at least 95% or more) of people playing windows games at most play with a 2-speaker setup on the desk or headphones which is all 2-channel so there's no reason for anyone to try to develop for anything more.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

please show me the detailed windows documentation explaining why unity games specifically and nothing else can't output multichannel audio

I already showed you evidence about how windows no longer offers hardware 5.1 surround sound in games. You just refuse to read it. I honestly assumed this was such a well-known thing about windows games that no one questioned it anymore. Almost everyone knows that windows hasn't been able to use hardware multi-channel audio for games for at least 20+ years. That's why I was rather surprised to see a comment like this in 2023. It should be common knowledge by now.

and i already noted exactly what was wrong with that argument. it's not like games and only games force XAudio2, which i haven't used in years. i speak from personal and extensive experience that with the proper hardware it is absolutely possible and not some common myth.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

and i already noted exactly what was wrong with that argument. it's not like games and only games force DirectSound, which i haven't used in years. i speak from personal and extensive experience that with the proper hardware it is absolutely possible and not some common myth.

I even acknowledged your comment: Yes it is possible. In movies played in media players, and/or streamed content via a modern web browser. Just not in games. Which I also said but you dismissed. Games do not use it.

There's no reason to argue about this and I'm not entirely sure why this is even a discussion. Like I said above: Almost everyone knows games can't do surround sound in windows and haven't been able to for many years.

It's really strange / odd / bizzare to see someone request this from a developer when everyone knows games can't do this.

[simon]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

and i already noted exactly what was wrong with that argument. it's not like games and only games force DirectSound, which i haven't used in years. i speak from personal and extensive experience that with the proper hardware it is absolutely possible and not some common myth.

I even acknowledged your comment: Yes it is possible. In movies played in media players, and/or streamed content via a modern web browser. Just not in games. Which I also said but you dismissed. Games do not use it.

there is no reason at all as to why games and only games would completely ignore the default/manual audio output device and its settings. your argument is completely ridiculous and you refuse to provide any sort of documentation to support it. i'm done here.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by opalmirage (simon):

there is no reason at all as to why games and only games would completely ignore the default/manual audio output device and its settings. your argument is completely ridiculous and you refuse to provide any sort of documentation to support it. i'm done here.

You seem to (yet again) be confused. I am not arguing anything at all. I'm trying my best to remind you of the facts about computer gaming as it is today in 2023. For some reason you seem to not understand that. I'm still not sure why. Also for the second time: I already provided documentation.