Volume Issues

[theDemolisher13]

Game is set to 100% and still quite. Updated drivers and did a clean install and is still too quite. I even went to \Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Skyrim\SkyrimPrefs.ini and manually set fAudioMasterVolume to 3.0 and still nothing. I think that's the right place to manually change it. I'm on a windows 11 desktop. Is there anything I'm doing wrong here or am I just being the big dumb and missing a simple solution?

Side note: Computer system volume is set to 10% and everything else sounds find heck if I set battlebit to 100% while system is set to 10% I have to take my headset off as it's too loud than. I'm guessing I could raise the system volume but that means every time someone pings me it's going to be a bit ear splitting.

[Vlad 254]

Could be any one or a combination of fixes as each persons PC and OS can vary. Your issue is most likely more to do with your PC's sound setup although there are also a Skyrim mod or 2 for sound. Check the Sound sections of this guide.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2266129651

[76561198140601386]

Common problem honestly.
You can literally find hundreds of users describing the same issue over the past decade, even if you can boost the PC audio, Skyrim seems quieter than most games.

Do you have a keyboard with multimedia keys?
"Media Keys Fix SKSE" mod by epinter allows you to use volume up/down keys without needing alt-tab.

[Vlad 254]

Yes it is although I've been lucky over the years as pertains to sounds with this game. With the exception of maybe 2 occasions where directional sound volume was off a bit (another common issue) which was easily fixed.

We've seen many with sound issues in these forums over the years. The fixes are many depending on the users and their system. And sometimes it's using a particular mod to fix it although that is less common.

[theDemolisher13]

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

Yes it is although I've been lucky over the years as pertains to sounds with this game. With the exception of maybe 2 occasions where directional sound volume was off a bit (another common issue) which was easily fixed.

We've seen many with sound issues in these forums over the years. The fixes are many depending on the users and their system. And sometimes it's using a particular mod to fix it although that is less common.

Alright good to know this is a common problem and one that should be fixed. What system information would you like to know to give me a good idea where to go?

[theDemolisher13]

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

Could be any one or a combination of fixes as each persons PC and OS can vary. Your issue is most likely more to do with your PC's sound setup although there are also a Skyrim mod or 2 for sound. Check the Sound sections of this guide.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2266129651

you say
Low Volume
Make sure that your sound configurations under Properties are set as follows
24 bit, 48000Hz (Studio Quality) in the "Advanced tab"
and with only Loudness Equalization on in the "Enhancements tab".
Click Apply.
my new question is where is what file are you referencing here as this isn't ingame for me and I couldn't find a configurations or properties file in the file structure maybe I really am that dim witted that I can't see what's staring me in the face. Though I did find the Skyrim - Sounds.bsa but couldn't open it.

[smr1957]

Vlad is referring to your PC settings. In the lower right corner of your monitor's screen, you should see a speaker icon. Right click on that. In the popup menu box that appears, hover over Speaker Setup, and in the menu popup, click on Advanced setup, A box should appear, and the speaker that is being used by your system should have a green check mark on it - double click on that. You should now see a box that contains a number of tabs. Click on the Enhancement tab and make sure that Loudness Equalization is checked - and nothing else. Next, click on the tab labeled Advanced. you will see the section titled Default Format, and there will be a drop down menu that appear when you click inside that - select 24 bit, 48000Hz from the various setting options. At the very bottom, click apply and then click Okay. The original box with the various tabs will then be left - click Okay to close it and the new options will be applied.

[Doom Sayer]

The basic issue is Windows audio is abysmal in how its setup. You cant override sound volume higher than max and cant auto lower everything. Skyrim being quiet is normal to a extent. I doubt its a settings fixable thing given amount of PC configs i have used and never seen any change.

[☢ARMac☢]

The solution you are looking for is Win+G, use the mixer leave skyrim on 100% and everything else on 60-70%.

You only have to set this up once.

[Doom Sayer]

Originally posted by ☢ARMac☢:

The solution you are looking for is Win+G, use the mixer leave skyrim on 100% and everything else on 60-70%.

You only have to set this up once.

On wind10 win+G doesnt even do anything. I highly doubt win11 fixes issue of any new program being crazy loud. Skyrim shows off Bethesda's ability to take any part of a game and mess it up. Its hard to find any vanilla part of game that doesnt suffer from a error or pointlessly lower quality.
-Animations for weapons have handle going through hand in first person
-Textures have visible distortion from extremely bad form of compression to point where modders take original versions of textures from oldrim and output higher quality vanilla textures with better performance.
-Audio too low
-UI bugginess with dialogue boxes and such
-Bad sky mesh
-Many other random things

[theDemolisher13]

Originally posted by ☢ARMac☢:

The solution you are looking for is Win+G, use the mixer leave skyrim on 100% and everything else on 60-70%.

You only have to set this up once.

so I opened my sound mixed set system sound to 30% from 10% so 3x it then put everything else besides the game to 33% though it be nice to find a more permanent fix.

[smr1957]

Did you try what Vlad and I posted, because that is the classic fix for low sound, and has been since day one - and fixes the vast majority of low sound issues that people experience.

[theDemolisher13]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Did you try what Vlad and I posted, because that is the classic fix for low sound, and has been since day one - and fixes the vast majority of low sound issues that people experience.

Just did it though the instructions were a bit off about the name but I blame microsoft for changing stuff yeah it works. . . I might actually make a short video talking about this problem. If I do I'll link it here.

[smr1957]

Yeah, it appears differently for different set-ups - I was thinking of that when I posted, but figured that it should be easy enough to figure out even if the naming/appearance was off.

And a short vid would be great, As is said, a picture - or vid - is worth a thousand words - and would be much easier to link in a thread.

[Vlad 254]

Originally posted by theDemolisher13:

Originally posted by smr1957:

Did you try what Vlad and I posted, because that is the classic fix for low sound, and has been since day one - and fixes the vast majority of low sound issues that people experience.

Just did it though the instructions were a bit off about the name but I blame microsoft for changing stuff yeah it works. . . I might actually make a short video talking about this problem. If I do I'll link it here.

Glad that worked for you Demolisher. And yes as I alluded to in posts #1 and #3 the exact steps can appear differently based on various factors so we simply try to point you in the right direction. I think I also mention in the guide Microsoft changing the nomenclature. I have changed the wording in the guide many times over the past few years because of this. The important thing is you got it to work. Hopefully now you can enjoy your game.

[theDemolisher13]

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

Originally posted by theDemolisher13:

Just did it though the instructions were a bit off about the name but I blame microsoft for changing stuff yeah it works. . . I might actually make a short video talking about this problem. If I do I'll link it here.

Glad that worked for you Demolisher. And yes as I alluded to in posts #1 and #3 the exact steps can appear differently based on various factors so we simply try to point you in the right direction. I think I also mention in the guide Microsoft changing the nomenclature. I have changed the wording in the guide many times over the past few years because of this. The important thing is you got it to work. Hopefully now you can enjoy your game.

Thanks again mate . . . . why is MS so . . bad about standardizing their stuff and not changing it? If they keep changing it then they keep making more and more bugs and issues people have to fix -_-