Audio cutting out when Voicemod is set to Realtek External Mic

[FennecGamer]

This is a majorly aggravating issue. I use Voicemod to help clean audio when I'm in voice calls, as well as for my livestreams so people can mess with my voice. I recently changed my audio settings to use a new microphone, namely the settings known as "External Mic (Realtek(R) Audio)" After I did this, even if there's absolutely no sound going through the mic, WPE is detecting it as audio, and muting my wallpaper constantly. It'll play for half a second, then stop. If I change the mic setting to anything else, it works, if I close Voicemod, it works, if I set the mic back to what I want it, it starts muting again. I've restarted my computer, restarted WPE, set a rule for WPE to keep playing audio when Voicemod plays audio, everything. Nothing is working to fix this issue, and it's becoming quite aggravating as my old mic has been breaking down and I can't use it reliably anymore. Any solutions, or is this just a glitch in WPE?

Edit: After a bit more testing, this affects ALL audio devices that are handled by Realtek.

[Tim]

Wallpaper Engine only detects audio when Windows tells it there is audio playing. I am not familiar with Voicemod but it might severely interfere with how Windows handles audio recording.

Be sure to try all audio input device options in the Wallpaper Engine settings if you have not already. In some cases, software that interferes with the Windows audio system in a severe way also offer options or special fake audio devices that you can select as audio input devices.

[FennecGamer]

While Voicemod does create a fake audio device that simply modifies the real audio device, this issue doesn't seem to exist unless it's specifically selecting a Realtek device, any device that isn't handled through Realtek (like my USB mic or my Webcam mic) don't cause this issue at all. It's why I'm so confused...

[FennecGamer]

I think the issue may be related to Realtek itself, as Voicemod may be reporting that there's constant audio going through realtek, but even then I found and added exceptions for both the REaltek audio and Voicemod, but the issue still presists

[FennecGamer]

After soime further testing, the issue is not isolated with Voicemod. Opening the REcording Devices dialogue with External Mic selected also causes audio cutout. Setting Discord to use External Mic also causes issues. It seems ANY active application recording audio from Realtek Devices causes audio to cut out, confirming there's an issue between Realtek and WPE

[Tim]

Messaggio originale di Gamershy:

It seems ANY active application recording audio from Realtek Devices causes audio to cut out, confirming there's an issue between Realtek and WPE

There is no issue between Realtek and Wallpaper Engine. Realtek is the number one audio chip manufacturer and the vast majority of our users uses Realtek sound chips and this has never been an issue in the past 5 years, I can say this with certainty beyond reasonable doubt.

It's likely that Voicemod is permanently recording Windows which in turn is handled as audio playback by Windows - this is simply how Windows works on a fundamental level. We have also explained that here but it sounds like you have already read the article or gathered the gist of it somewhere else:

https://help.wallpaperengine.io/en/audio/intermittent.html

My advice would be to contact Voicemod directly and ask them how this could be set up. As I said, I am unfamiliar with this particular software but it's a common issue for software solutions like that and usually they include some sort of backup solution for this as this type of issue effects more than just Wallpaper Engine. You basically need to select an audio input device that is specifically built for this, create a proper application rule (double-check you created it properly and assigned the right .exe) or simply turn off Wallpaper Engine auto muting feature as a last resort.

Like I said, this is definitely not a bug in Wallpaper Engine that "can be fixed". If Windows reports audio playback on a device, Wallpaper Engine has to believe there is audio playback. Programs like Voicemod inherently interfere with the Windows audio system in a way that can break this behavior on Windows' side and Wallpaper Engine is unable to change that as it fully relies on Windows for this.

[Biohazard]

Regarding the guide that Tim linked ( https://help.wallpaperengine.io/en/audio/intermittent.html ), if you don't know what application is causing this:

You can open the Windows volume mixer (or the new app volume preferences) and watch the applications currently using audio streams https://www.howtogeek.com/352787/how-to-set-per-app-sound-outputs-in-windows-10/ . One of them must be mirroring Wallpaper Engine, or at least activating, when Wallpaper Engine has a wallpaper with sound active and that's the one you need to create an application rule for.


You can also disable the auto muting feature (see the guide) or globally mute sound in Wallpaper Engine. Ultimately this auto muting feature is based on a function in Windows and besides the extensive application rule system, there isn't any other sensible workaround we could implement if something is making this Windows function work poorly.

[FennecGamer]

I've done all that has been lsited, and clearly stated that ALL applications calling Realtek devices is having the issue, NOT just Voicemod (please read the comments I left above) I've also done the bit about watching audio in the volume mixer already, and nothing else is mirroring the input. It's all silent. Even if I entirely terminate Voicemod, and set, say, Discord to use the external mic, it STILL ducks in and out constantly. The issue even occurs if I set the External Mic to be the default device, and have the Recording tab open in the Audio Device Manager. Anything that monitors or records audio from any of the devices managed by Realtek are causing this issue- many of which are not selectable in the processes tab of applications rules.

[Biohazard]

Okay, then please refer to the bit I just added before you replied, because I don't think there is any other workaround if this Windows function is being rendered unusable from the outside. Be it by another application or a fundamental driver bug:

Messaggio originale di Biohazard:

You can also disable the auto muting feature (see the guide) or globally mute sound in Wallpaper Engine. Ultimately this auto muting feature is based on a function in Windows and besides the extensive application rule system, there isn't any other sensible workaround we could implement if something is making this Windows function work poorly.

We are happy to provide whatever information is necessary, such as what exact Windows function we are using and simply expecting to work properly, but ultimately we cannot fix the underlying error that is happening on your system. If you are sure Voicemod is unrelated and there is no other obvious audio recording going on, then the only culprit left is the driver itself. Like Tim said, you would be the first to report an issue with Realtek and it's one of the most popular audio chipsets.