Baffled by Sound Design

[VulpineMachine]

Ok, maybe I'm in the minority here... but so far. I love everything about D:E except one MAJOR detail.

Gameplay Loop is hard and interesting. Level design is awe inspiring. Combat mechanics are interesting. Lore is...as cheesy as it ought to be. The graphics on my Threadripper + 3090 are just...I mean absurd.

Butttttttt....

I'm losing my mind with the sound. Everything sounds like mud. The music is clear, great soundtrack and all, but everything else? Mud. It's not even a volume issue, even though that's a big problem too. It's the fact that everything just sounds so entirely non-present. I checked and double and triple checked and reinstalled drivers and blah blah blah. And then I did the sensible thing and hopped on Youtube to watch some playthrough videos and discovered the sound is universal. It really does just SOUND THAT WAY.

I'm utterly baffled. The chainsaw is...basically silent? Even the shotgun is like someone closing a book instead of a satisfying thump. I just... I don't get it. For a series that has some of the most incredible visual and acoustic design imaginable...how, why, what am I missing? Do people, uh, actually LIKE...this?

I'm not trying to hurt feelings but this is truly one of the most underwhelming sound designs I've ever seen, and for me personally it's so bad as to be practically unplayable. I'm at a total loss....How can something this good have this one thing just...wrong?

[space]

i can hear the chainsaw just fine

i think the sound is fine, in general

maybe you're playing at 5.1 setting instead of stereo if you're on two speakers and that's why some sound effects are too quiet?

[TeamWork]

I do have some issues with the sound, mostly in regards to spatialization and it not being fun at all but weapon sounds needed to be that way so that cues like headshots and your recharging equipment arent drowned, its the same as to why everything is so bright.

I would add that the world sounds dead, theres close to nothing in the soundscape of the levels and that explosions very close to you sound awful.

In any case, mind elaborating more on your issues?

[VulpineMachine]

Originally posted by itsalrighttheytoldyouwhattodream:

I would add that the world sounds dead, theres close to nothing in the soundscape of the levels and that explosions very close to you sound awful.

Yep, that's it. That's the thing. It sounds dead. In no way does it seem to match the visuals. It's just so... bland. :(

[TrueEvil]

The sound design actually did feel like a small downgrade from the last game in my opinion but not enough to really bother me.

[LU-C4]

Yeah, I agree. A lot of sounds in this game just sound really stale. I've been playing through Doom 2016 again lately and it has MUCH punchier and more metallic sounds. Then there's Doom Eternal's armor pick-up sound, which just shreads my ears completely. I don't think it has always been that way, because I definitely would've noticed my eardrums getting stabbed every time I pick up armor...

[Vitek R]

You get used to it. The sound mixing in doom 2016 and eternal are absolutely terrible. Its like all the sound effects are 64kbps mp3s. There were similar complaints when 2016 came out but people sort of glossed over it because the music is so good.

I dont really notice it anymore though, but sometimes itll hit me like "wow, this game actually does sound like ♥♥♥♥". I find that adjusting your EQ settings (if you have a decent soundcard) to favor the high end helps a tad, but not much.

[VulpineMachine]

Originally posted by Vitek R:

I find that adjusting your EQ settings (if you have a decent soundcard) to favor the high end helps a tad, but not much.

I do have a Soundblaster Zx which is okayish, no ZxR and certainly not one of the better brands, but enough I can probably fiddle with it some. Sooo, I'll have to give that a check.

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by VulpineMachine:

Originally posted by Vitek R:

I find that adjusting your EQ settings (if you have a decent soundcard) to favor the high end helps a tad, but not much.

I do have a Soundblaster Zx which is okayish, no ZxR and certainly not one of the better brands, but enough I can probably fiddle with it some. Sooo, I'll have to give that a check.

Make sure all of the SoundBlaster "enhancements" like positional audio and Crystaliizer are turned off as well.

Most of Eternal's sound effects are - for better or for worse - targeted to high-midrange audio solutions. Generally speaking, consumer soundcards and average headsets don't have enough dynamic range to do them justice.

Doom (2016) was the same, although they did punch up some of the sound effects to sound good on cheaper gear.

Trust me, play the game on a decent audio setup and everything really pops.

However, I don't really think targeting the higher end was a great idea. They should have stuck with the tried and true and mixed the sound appropriately for average setups. People with higher end gear have an easier time tuning things to sound good than people without.

[VulpineMachine]

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

...targeted to high-midrange audio solutions. Generally speaking, consumer soundcards and average headsets don't have enough dynamic range to do them justice.

...

I've been out the loop for a minute in regards to computer audio. Who is the go to solution now for high end internal PCIe sound cards?

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by VulpineMachine:

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

...targeted to high-midrange audio solutions. Generally speaking, consumer soundcards and average headsets don't have enough dynamic range to do them justice.

...

I've been out the loop for a minute in regards to computer audio. Who is the go to solution now for high end internal PCIe sound cards?

No one, really. I mean, the EVGA card is the highest end thing on the market right now, but internal sound cards are pretty much moribund these days. The limitations of being inside the PC case with tons of EMI, hooked up to the incredibly noisy power delivery of the PCIe slot is not a good combo for quality, no matter how much you shield it.

Basically the current "next step" is a decent USB DAC and headphone amp. Since Windows natively supports USB audio now, you take the most of the EMI out of the picture - especially if the DAC doesn't draw power off of the USB port, and the quality of the components is generally better. Pricewise, you can get a decent USB DAC and separate amp, if you do your research, for $200-250ish. About the same as you'd pay for a top-end sound card.

[VulpineMachine]

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

Basically the current "next step" is a decent USB DAC and headphone amp.

I've never liked the idea of having to have external hardware to do things, but I guess, once you've gotten as picky as I have you kinda don't have a choice.

Well, hit me with it, what are some of the better USB DACs out there? I guess I can start researching those to figure out what will accomodate my needs the best.

[space]

Originally posted by makew_3410:

idk what youre talking about the sound design is great. i like it

me neither, everything sounds great to me in this game.

[servo]

Sound is great IMO... but I understand the references to 2016 being more "punchier"... But DE is great regardless.

At least it's not like Far Cry New Dawn or games where the enemies are still making dying noises after you have killed them.. like literally falling or lying dead and you still get the entire commentary from the enemy such as "Hey you are gonna pay!" when they are dead halfway through the sentence . Should kind of end at "Hey you are.." because how can you talk when you are dead?

I've caught it in a few different games but many, fortunately DE doesn't have this issue. It's just aggravating and somewhat confusing as I will start scoping to see if there is an enemy I missed that's still alive.. sometimes there is and I'll get killed hehe.

[bullerbuller7]

I agree with you for a lot of the weapons. The monsters and most other things feel great. But a lot of the weapons sound underwelming. They don't have the same bam as in 2016.
The super shotgun is the best example. In 2016 it has that big bam.

[Salamand3r-]

Originally posted by VulpineMachine:

Originally posted by Salamand3r-:

Basically the current "next step" is a decent USB DAC and headphone amp.

I've never liked the idea of having to have external hardware to do things, but I guess, once you've gotten as picky as I have you kinda don't have a choice.

Well, hit me with it, what are some of the better USB DACs out there? I guess I can start researching those to figure out what will accomodate my needs the best.

Most of the mid-tier DACs (which is where you should start - unless you're spending a few grand on headphones) use the same chipsets.

If you want to take the path of least resistance, just get a Schiit stack. Most people just get a Modi and a Magni and be done with it. Could also get an O2/ODAC setup, again if you want to go a bit more "all-in-one" direction.

If you want to go a more bespoke route, a lot of the Chinese stuff can be pretty decent - SMSL makes really kickass DACs, and SMSL along with companies like Loxjie, Topping, and LittleDot make some fantastic tube and hybrid amps.

Originally posted by bullerbuller7:

I agree with you for a lot of the weapons. The monsters and most other things feel great. But a lot of the weapons sound underwelming. They don't have the same bam as in 2016.
The super shotgun is the best example. In 2016 it has that big bam.

The "big" sound you're getting is all boomy upper bass range - sounds good on less capable sound gear. Eternal puts a lot of the impact into the subbass, which adds a real visceral punch without the boominess.