Why older Valve games are so loud?

[Adamek]

Hello, I have a question about why all Valve games are recorded so loudly. At 100% volume, it's unbearable to listen to; the music is tolerable, but the sound effects are very loud. Have you noticed this too? It seems like Valve doesn't care about the loudness wars and prefers to use loud sounds at the expense of dynamic range.

[DarkCrystalMethod]

Each game has its own volume slider(as far as I remember) and only some have one for the sound effects.
By your title though you're implying that some, not all have this issue. Maybe just list the ones with the problem and name maybe one where they got it right.
Is the volume of Left 4 Dead(the first one) ok?

[Preston]

Yep, i wish there was a way to separately set sound and music volume as you like. Maybe in L4D3 they will add this.

[Adamek]

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:

Each game has its own volume slider(as far as I remember) and only some have one for the sound effects.
By your title though you're implying that some, not all have this issue. Maybe just list the ones with the problem and name maybe one where they got it right.
Is the volume of Left 4 Dead(the first one) ok?

Every Valve game has the same problem. I remember that even CS: GO had this problem. The best-recorded game in terms of sound, in my opinion, is Dota 2, but it's still not perfect, though it's okay. I haven't played CS 2, so I don't know. All games have the same problem: the sounds are recorded very loudly compared to the competition, which affects the sound dynamics.

[ArgentAbendAzure]

Yes, I've noticed the barrage of sound effects being loud.
TF2, L4D, both will make your ears ring.

[S E X Y]

I play at 8% volume and in-game volume below 0,3 (on tf2 below 0,2) and I know what you mean, is VERY loud...

This isnt a Valve problem, it was a gaming problem in general in most AAA old games... I suppose this happens because most ppl these days play with headphones unlike before 2010...

This Is especially noticeable on tf2, gosh that game is so terribly designed in so many ways I am not even surprised (mvm being exception)

Nowadays AAA companies pay more attention to sound becuase nowadays most ppl play with headphones...

Wish musicians do this too, some songs are still very loud even at 10% volume lmao

[Adamek]

Originally posted by S E X Y:

I play at 8% volume and in-game volume below 0,3 (on tf2 below 0,2) and I know what you mean, is VERY loud...

This isnt a Valve problem, it was a gaming problem in general in most AAA old games... I suppose this happens because most ppl these days play with headphones unlike before 2010...

This Is especially noticeable on tf2, gosh that game is so terribly designed in so many ways I am not even surprised (mvm being exception)

Nowadays AAA companies pay more attention to sound becuase nowadays most ppl play with headphones...

Wish musicians do this too, some songs are still very loud even at 10% volume lmao

its called "loudness wars" as i said and ye tf2 sounds are pain.

[Jimmy Gibbs]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=215879695

[Myjacob99]

Originally posted by Preston:

Yep, i wish there was a way to separately set sound and music volume as you like. Maybe in L4D3 they will add this.

Dude said maybe in l4d3 like it's ever coming out

[Beowulf47]

Just a lingering reminder of the loudness wars. Also valve sound mixing is just a** lol

[Sharpie The Dragon]

I like to put both at 50% volume and use a mod like louder tank music so the sound effects don't drown it out. Have my Windows sounds at about 20%.

Don't know why they put it so loud, I guess back then most players were using speakers instead of headsets.

[Adamek]

Originally posted by Sharpie The Dergun:

I like to put both at 50% volume and use a mod like louder tank music so the sound effects don't drown it out. Have my Windows sounds at about 20%.

Don't know why they put it so loud, I guess back then most players were using speakers instead of headsets.

I think they just want to make game sounds and music loud enough for every laptop and monitor speakers.

[R󠀡F]

I don't find Valve games loud at all. Infact they feel just right compared to most games.

[Adamek]

Originally posted by R󠀡F:

I don't find Valve games loud at all. Infact they feel just right compared to most games.

Depends what you play, more actual games like alyx or dota 2 are much better but old ones are one the loudest in industry imo. Even CS global offensive as i remember was so insane loud, no one make so loud games in those times. Only Valve and some others cheap ass games producers who dont care about sound dynamics.

[Zadkiel]

Its just a side effect of early 2000's games when headphones weren't common to buy back then.

[Preston]

Originally posted by R󠀡F:

I don't find Valve games loud at all. Infact they feel just right compared to most games.

Exactly. These console generation kids don't like first person perspective, keyboard, and now the sound is too loud for them. Ironically, they choose a game with best sound balance to whine about it. For comparison, just look at other co-op games f.e. Vermintide 2, which is TERRIBLE: the specials sounds there are just eaten up by the music, it's just awful/unplayable.
PS: The next topic will be "why older valve shooters have no 3rd person view"