Anyone using a dedicated Sound Blaster card having issues since yesterday or so? (No audio at all)

[N1ck0]

Since Windows 10 build 2004 update, no audio with my Sound Blaster Z only with this game.

And my sound card still works 100% with everything else; games, movies, music. Analog, digital mode, doesn't matter.

Only doesn't work with theHunter CotW, no matter what mode I use. With, or without Encoders. If I switch device, and use HDMI Direct, or my SBX H7T headset, which has it's own DAC, audio in theHunter CotW works 100%.

And let's be honest, theHunter CotW is kind of sensitive software to say the least.

I uninstall the audio drivers anyways, and re-installed, but no luck. I verified game's files' integrity in the process too, and it didn't fix my "no audio with SBZ" issue

I know the source of the issue is not the game itself, but it's still the only software so far where I experienced no audio issues with my SBZ since I updated my OS.

[furious_corpse]

Hey, just been reading a lot about issues with your card in other games and it seems there's a modded driver available that fixes a lot of issues with the latest windows updates. If it's any help it's titled "Sound Blaster Z / Zx / ZxR Modded Driver for Windows 10" on ngohq.com

[N1ck0]

I know about the modded drivers (I'm a regular on the SoundBlaster Reddit forums), but theHunter is the only game I have no audio in. I tried a variety of games. From old to new. Obviously not ALL my library, but good bunch. Diablo 3, SWToR, EverQuest 2, Rift, Oblivion, Skyrim, Minion Masters, I mean, the list goes on and on.

At least 30-40 games tested 0 issues. So, not gonna use modded drivers just for theHunter. I got these bookmarked since a while now though. So I'l try DanielK's modded drivers if I ever need to. Thanks again for trying to help.

[N1ck0]

Checked directly and those aren't DanielK ones. It's another dude who posted those BEFORE DanielK. DanielK ones are more recent, and he's been modding Creative drivers for years now.

But I got both bookmarked anyway.

[Specktäter]

No problems here with my Sound Blaster Z (v6.0.102.56) & theHunter. Machine is running Windows 10 Home 2004 (19041.388).

[N1ck0]

Ronnie Kaazoo a écrit :

No problems here with my Sound Blaster Z (v6.0.102.56) & theHunter. Machine is running Windows 10 Home 2004 (19041.388).

Really? Wow. Starting to scratch my head now. Are you using Optical or Analog outputs? Are you using the DTS DDL Encoders? I tried without the Encoders if I remember correctly and it still didn't work for me, but still curious.

I'm not on Win 10 Pro myself, but don't think it is what is the issue.

[Specktäter]

Hey. I am using S/PDIF (to AVR) & Headphone / Microphone (connected to the rear). There is no Encoder or DSP activated in the Sound Blaster Control Settings. In Windows Sound Settings i have deactivated all other devices (AMD High Definition Audio Device etc.), Sound Blaster Z is the only device.

Sound Blaster Z is set to 2 ch, 16 Bit, 48 kHz for S/PDIF, Headphone & Microphone.

But i have to say that this was a FRESH OFFLINE INSTALLATION of Win 10 Home 2004. After the installation i've deactivated the automatic driver installation feature in windows. Then i installed all the drivers for my devices (Chipset, GPU, Sound Blaster, Logitech stuff, Printer etc.)

After that, i put the ethernet cable back and went ONLINE. Windows Updates did NOT install any drivers.

Onboard Sound is deactivated in UEFI since i have this Mainboard ( AM4 B350).



Sry for my english, it's not my native language.

[N1ck0]

Thanks a lot for the details. I won't go through the trouble of having a fresh install just for this game, but I have a group policy to not install drivers through Windows Update. I have the latest Official Sound Blaster drivers installed.

I too have deactivated the Realtek HD Audio chipset in BIOS. And have also tried to deactivate the Nvidia HD Audio Device as recommended, to no avail.

I think I already tried using no Encoders, and going directly through SPDIF 2 Channels to test, but it didn't work. I could test it again, but I see little point to it, as I use my AVR to play in 5.1, and HDMI gives me 5.1.

I'll test it again later and report back if it works, with the lowered audio frequency too, but I already tried this if I remember correctly. Thanks again for trying to help. Your English is fine by the way.

[Specktäter]

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[N1ck0]

Ronnie Kaazoo a écrit :

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Thanks! LOL I've disabled Nvidia HD Audio Device, set both SB Speakers and SPDIF Devices to 16bits/48Khz, set SPDIF as default, disabled ALL DSP, and disabled Encoders, and magic it works.

Thing is, without 5.1 (provided by the Encoders) and any DSP, there's no use for the sound card to me versus HDMI Audio. I'll go by trial and error and change DSP, bitrate/frequency, and Encoders one by one and see what's the culprit.

[N1ck0]

First thing I did is I selected DTS Encoder to have 5.1. This means I also have to select SB Speakers device instead of SPDIF in order for it to work. And I got no sound.

So it means it has nothing to do with Nvidia HD Audio, DSP, or bitrate/frequency (which worked fine at 24bits/96Khz for me before in theHunter). So no luck.

Maybe you could try the Encoders on your side and select SB Speakers instead of SPDIF, while your AVR is on the Optical mode. Doesn't it support 5.1?

I tried both DTS and Dolby Encoders, both don't work.

[N1ck0]

If I select an Encoder, but use SPDIF instead of SB Speakers (which shouldn't be done in such a scenario), theHunter will crash. While other games I tested won't. Audio just won't work. So there's some conflicts going on here with the Encoders.

Encoders are tricky and often give trouble with latest Windows 10 build updates. But this one went smooth for me. As long as the Audio Privacy settings are set correctly. Only theHunter is giving me trouble right now.

I sent the crash report for what it's worth (nothing basically LOL).

[N1ck0]

Two other last things I tried. I have an Analog cable going to my AVR for 2.1 music listening. So I tried it without Encoders, in 2.1 mode, SB Speakers device selected, DSPs disabled, and no audio there either.

Then I tried my SBX H7T headset, which works in USB mode with it's own DAC, in Analog mode connected to the SBZ, set in Headphones modes, still all frequencies at 16bits/48Khz, no audio there either in theHunter. Audio works fine in everything else.

So not even sure it's the Encoders at this point. Seems like it just doesn't like the SB Speakers Device as default. Only works in SPDIF mode.

I'll try to disable SPDIF while still being on the Headphones in Analog right now and see.

[N1ck0]

Nope, doesn't work. I quit. I'll stick to HDMI audio. Another thing I noticed in theHunter is I can't use the volume knob on my keyboard. While I can in any other games. Tricky engine. Peace.

[N1ck0]

Another very last desperation thing I tried is disconnect all Analog inputs from the sound card, and only have the Optical one connected. I then shut off the system completely, and restarted it.

Still no audio in theHunter with SB Speakers selected and the Encoders. So if anyone else have issues like me and reads this, maybe you'll be spared wasting your time.

[Specktäter]

My AVR is a 7.2 device, but it's only running 2 little loudspeakers :-)

My GPU is directly connected to the monitor via DisplayPort because of AMD FreeSync.
This cheap monitor doesn't support FreeSync via HDMi.

I am using the Sound Blaster Z mainly for the normal multimedia stuff & music playback (mostly ripped CD's in .flac format - 2 ch, 16 Bit, 44,1 kHz), so S/PDIF is good enough for me.