Error after assigning ALC context: Invalid device. Disabling audio playback...

[Buraki Blitz]

The game refuses to launch with Audio due to this error no matter what I try. I've reinstalled the game, verified it, ran as administrator, and scanned the entire internet with people who've had similar issues to only come up with no answers. I've played this game for hours on end in the past without this error. The only thing that's changed that I believe 'Could' be affecting it is that I use Voicemeeter. But that hasn't caused any issues for any others games.

[AlienJesus]

Have you tried with that software turned off?

Also you can try manually installing OpenAL from this folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\OpenAL\2.0.7.0.

In case initial install after download didnt work properly. Also any mods installed? I assume you have tried to launch after a fresh install with no mods subscribed.

[Buraki Blitz]

Well you seemed to have found the issue, there is no OpenAL under _CommonRedist, I just tried installing OpenAL into that directory using the website but did not fix it.

Originally posted by AlienJesus:

Have you tried with that software turned off?

Also you can try manually installing OpenAL from this folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\OpenAL\2.0.7.0.

In case initial install after download didnt work properly. Also any mods installed? I assume you have tried to launch after a fresh install with no mods subscribed.

[AlienJesus]

Yeah OpenAL is not installed into that directory. That is just where steam should keep the installer.

You will need to install the OpenAL from the website to the default install path. I would uninstall the other one first. You dont want anything installed into that commonredist folder.

[Buraki Blitz]

Right, I've tried everything you've suggested but still nothing...I don't get why this is happening. Wasn't before, desperate to play this with my buddy and obviously sound is a big part of this game. I do appreciate everything you're doing to help but I'm lost. It keeps trying to setup my headphones but fails, as follows: Attempting to open ALC device "Open AL Soft on Headset Earphone (Corsair VOID ELITE USB Gaming Headset)" I have that headset plugged into the computer and it works but that's also not the Input I use. I use the Mixer input.

Originally posted by AlienJesus:

Yeah OpenAL is not installed into that directory. That is just where steam should keep the installer.

You will need to install the OpenAL from the website to the default install path. I would uninstall the other one first. You dont want anything installed into that commonredist folder.

[AlienJesus]

For troubleshooting reasons, have you tried launching the game with the headphones unplugged / disabled and any taskbar active audio software disabled?

Does the error message reference any other libraries like xna framework or directX? If so make sure you have those installed.

You can also try a true clean install.

Try these steps:

Uninstall game
Unsub from all mods
Go here (\Steam\steamapps\common) and make sure to delete the "Barotrauma" folder
Go here (C:\Users\PCNAMEHERE\AppData\Local\Daedalic Entertainment GmbH) and delete the entire folder.
Restart your PC
Reinstall the game

[Buraki Blitz]

Originally posted by AlienJesus:

For troubleshooting reasons, have you tried launching the game with the headphones unplugged / disabled and any taskbar active audio software disabled?

Does the error message reference any other libraries like xna framework or directX? If so make sure you have those installed.

You can also try a true clean install.

Try these steps:

Uninstall game
Unsub from all mods
Go here (\Steam\steamapps\common) and make sure to delete the "Barotrauma" folder
Go here (C:\Users\PCNAMEHERE\AppData\Local\Daedalic Entertainment GmbH) and delete the entire folder.
Restart your PC
Reinstall the game

Apologies for the delay, I did what you said and it worked! Until I tried the game a few days later...Then it was doing the same thing again just now...But then I tried the headphone trick where I unplug it before launching the game, letting it load then re-plugging it. That seems to be the solution I guess. (Oddly enough) So thank you so much for your time. I guess I'll just have to do that from now on whenever I want to play. If anything changes I'll update here.

[AlienJesus]

Glad it got fixed, sort of. Can try doing a clean install of your audio drivers/software to try and avoid the unplug nonsense.

Uninstall your audio software (the one that is probably an icon in your taskbar)
Go to your Device manager
Uninstall your audio drivers
Restart the PC
Reinstall audio drivers (NOT the software, just the drivers)
Launch Barotrauma. See if the error happens.
If it doesnt happen then install the mixer software or w/e you were using.
Launch Barotrauma. Look for error.

If no error then I guess there was some kind of registry error when barotrauma was setting up your audio. If there is an error after you install your mixer software, but not after you installed drivers then there is an OpenAL conflict between your mixer software. If it errors after you install the drivers, but before you install the mixer software, then you have bad hoodoo and must purge the evil spirits from your machine via a hard bass electro seance and then anoint your CPU with adderral.