Conversation Dialogue is muted? [Solved]

[ThatNickC]

Edit: Changed my audio options in game to headphones and the issue is resolved. I have surround sound headphones, but apparently there are still issues using that setting.

I am running into an issue where I can hear NPCs speaking fine in the open world, but when I enter a conversation with them their voice is completely muted in some instances, but in others, like with Uriel in the sewers, I could hear his voice like echoing in the background. Anyone having this issue?

[Cuddle_Rat]

I've gotten this in a few rare circumstances in indoor areas. it definitely has to do with how the audio will add that far away reverb effect for distant npc's but is applying it incorrectly in some situations and also becoming muted. I can replicate it 100% during a certain quest, and if I move to another location in the room before speaking to them, it goes back to normal. Very strange occurrence.

[Supernautilus]

I’ve also had this a couple times where NPCs sound like they have a blanket over their mouth. Moving to a different place in the room fixes it.

[Vyvyvn]

Sound set incorrectly. The game is apparently trying to output in surround but your output setup doesn't allow it. (What you're hearing is the game trying to play the audio in the 'center' channel, common in most bethesda games.

[Drybonz]

Originally posted by Vyvyvn:

Sound set incorrectly. The game is apparently trying to output in surround but your output setup doesn't allow it. (What you're hearing is the game trying to play the audio in the 'center' channel, common in most bethesda games.

I don't think this is true. I have mine set to stereo and I ran into one of these no audio npc's on the pilgrimage quest tonight.

[Vyvyvn]

Originally posted by Drybonz:

I don't think this is true. I have mine set to stereo and I ran into one of these no audio npc's on the pilgrimage quest tonight.

Strange. Weirdest things I've run into that weren't that was the Adoring Fan switching to an angry dark elf voice whenever you sneak or steal around him and one orc who had a very low voice for some lines, And a Moth priest who had two entirely different voice actors.

Maybe it's yet another related issue, I heard there were some dialog they couldn't or didn't remaster still.

[ThatNickC]

Originally posted by Supernautilus:

I’ve also had this a couple times where NPCs sound like they have a blanket over their mouth. Moving to a different place in the room fixes it.

I'm not super far into the game thus far. Just out of the sewers, through the first Ayelid Ruin right outside, and then talked to 2 NPCs, Shop NPC by the walls of the Imperial City and the random Messenger NPC who approaches after you sell the Ayelid Statue. Every NPC I've had a solo conversation with has had the issue, Guards in the sewers, Uriel, Shopkeep, and the Messenger. So odd. I'll mess with my settings and see if it fixes anything.

[The Chronicler of Jiredh]

I know that a few quests are noted in the uesp as having had this problem even in the original. One example is that voices often came in muted in Hentier's house at the end of his quest (both him and the leader of the local mage guild branch). A lot of these are old bugs, but never fixed. It's just that many of us have forgotten them over time.

[PostalGibbon]

Turn off windows audio enhancement off for your sound output device.
Go in system -> sound -> properties -> advanced settings -> audio enhancements -> Device default effect to Off.
This "enhancement" has caused odd sounds in games with reverb and echo sound effects.
Try disabling that and hear if it makes a difference.

[ThatNickC]

Originally posted by PostalGibbon:

Turn off windows audio enhancement off for your sound output device.
Go in system -> sound -> properties -> advanced settings -> audio enhancements -> Device default effect to Off.
This "enhancement" has caused odd sounds in games with reverb and echo sound effects.
Try disabling that and hear if it makes a difference.

It seems to be fixed now after i changed my audio option to headphones. I have a pair of 5.1 surround sound headphones, but apparently that option in the game still causes issues regardless.

[PostalGibbon]

Originally posted by ThatNickC:

Originally posted by PostalGibbon:

Turn off windows audio enhancement off for your sound output device.
Go in system -> sound -> properties -> advanced settings -> audio enhancements -> Device default effect to Off.
This "enhancement" has caused odd sounds in games with reverb and echo sound effects.
Try disabling that and hear if it makes a difference.

It seems to be fixed now after i changed my audio option to headphones. I have a pair of 5.1 surround sound headphones, but apparently that option in the game still causes issues regardless.

Yeah headphone option forces stereo which your 5.1 headphones truly are. The 5.1 effect is just a sound processor that add echo, reverb and voice modulation to mimic 5.1 sound in stereo.
You should always use stereo/headphone option when using any kind of headphones no matter if they say 5.1 or 7.1 and let the headphones do the 5.1 conversion of the 2.0 stereo signal.