Audio Issue // Crackling Sound

[Penderian]

So I bought a new 2080 and everything has been perfect. When I started the first game of Hitman 2 since my upgrade the sound on startup of a mission is all over the place. It is making this crackling sound where it seems like the voices are a bit higher pitch. It influences all audio in the level where it makes this excruciating sound. The weird thing is that it worked for a few days with no issues at all with the audio. Then all of a sudden it started again. I cannot play the game due to this sound.

I have all of my drivers updated and it is just weird how this sound issue is only on this game. Is anyone else experiencing this issue or have resolved this?

[Kunovega]

There are numerous problems that can cause that:

1. Incorrect grounding, you may have knocking something loose during your upgrade, make sure there's no loose wiring or screws rolling around.

2. Not enough power, if you stressed your power supply with your GPU upgrade it may cause other issues when the GPU spins up and draws more during gaming

3. Conflicting audio drivers ~ note: Nvidia's driver package includes a bunch of stuff you probably don't need, including audio drivers. Unless you have a very specific reason to be using Nvidia audio drivers that are (pointlessly) bundled with their graphics installer, you should always custom install the drivers and only pick the pieces you actually have a use for (I personally only use the graphics driver, the geforce experience package for shadowplay and the physx driver, I have to uncheck and not install the 3d vision drivers and the audio drivers every time I do a graphics update because their stupid audio drivers conflict with my motherboards) ~ so be sure you have your actual correct audio drivers updated and not any extras randomly installed

4. And a hard one to track down: Crackling audio can be a stressed CPU with only a basic motherboard audio output. If you upgraded your GPU but not the rest of your system which is now taxing your CPU to the point where it can just barely handle the audio processing, you can get all kinds of strange results including popping and crackling noises. ~ The solution to this one would either be a discreet sound card with its own processor or upgrade your CPU/RAM and hope your motherboard audio can keep up

5. Is it happening in any other games/programs? Speaker and headphone wires do eventually wear out depending on use and environment

[Stodal]

6. sound chip is broken

[[DD]GR4YB34R[DD]]

Crackling sounds could be caused by two things. One To higher digital output. 2 ♥♥♥♥ head phone. oh and three. someone who doesnt know how to check the mixer.exe

[[DD]GR4YB34R[DD]]

tip a laptop mic can hijack and sound very much like inteference

[[DD]GR4YB34R[DD]]

most laptops come with microphones or some sensors in some places. so its best to get it checked if you are playing on a laptop. Its also good every now and then to dust out the best. I recommend every 30 days to dust out.
Only use a non static paint brush and an airblaster.

[[DD]GR4YB34R[DD]]

another tip. all laptops come with mics... :D so if you are using a secondary check mixer and disable on board

[Duckilous]

Originally posted by Kunovega:

4. And a hard one to track down: Crackling audio can be a stressed CPU with only a basic motherboard audio output. If you upgraded your GPU but not the rest of your system which is now taxing your CPU to the point where it can just barely handle the audio processing, you can get all kinds of strange results including popping and crackling noises. ~ The solution to this one would either be a discreet sound card with its own processor or upgrade your CPU/RAM and hope your motherboard audio can keep up.

Yeah, that's what happened to me.
Even though HITMAN 2016 doesn't have this issue, HITMAN 2 has this audio crackling when I was using my old CPU. After upgrading my CPU, RAM and mobo, I no longer have this issue and the game becomes a lot more bearable to play. Also, much better performance too.

[[DD]GR4YB34R[DD]]

seems i didnt read the OPs message. ignore me. :D that said. Dusting and cleaning is not a bad thing :D

[Penderian]

Originally posted by Kunovega:

There are numerous problems that can cause that:

1. Incorrect grounding, you may have knocking something loose during your upgrade, make sure there's no loose wiring or screws rolling around.

2. Not enough power, if you stressed your power supply with your GPU upgrade it may cause other issues when the GPU spins up and draws more during gaming

3. Conflicting audio drivers ~ note: Nvidia's driver package includes a bunch of stuff you probably don't need, including audio drivers. Unless you have a very specific reason to be using Nvidia audio drivers that are (pointlessly) bundled with their graphics installer, you should always custom install the drivers and only pick the pieces you actually have a use for (I personally only use the graphics driver, the geforce experience package for shadowplay and the physx driver, I have to uncheck and not install the 3d vision drivers and the audio drivers every time I do a graphics update because their stupid audio drivers conflict with my motherboards) ~ so be sure you have your actual correct audio drivers updated and not any extras randomly installed

4. And a hard one to track down: Crackling audio can be a stressed CPU with only a basic motherboard audio output. If you upgraded your GPU but not the rest of your system which is now taxing your CPU to the point where it can just barely handle the audio processing, you can get all kinds of strange results including popping and crackling noises. ~ The solution to this one would either be a discreet sound card with its own processor or upgrade your CPU/RAM and hope your motherboard audio can keep up

5. Is it happening in any other games/programs? Speaker and headphone wires do eventually wear out depending on use and environment

Appreciate the feedback!! This is the only game in my library with issues. I have studio Rokit speakers which amplify my audio. I crank music pretty much everyday with them and I have had no issues ever. It has only been with hitman 2 for some reason. I'll look at all your suggestions and look into it. Thank you so much!

[Penderian]

Originally posted by Duckilous:

Originally posted by Kunovega:

4. And a hard one to track down: Crackling audio can be a stressed CPU with only a basic motherboard audio output. If you upgraded your GPU but not the rest of your system which is now taxing your CPU to the point where it can just barely handle the audio processing, you can get all kinds of strange results including popping and crackling noises. ~ The solution to this one would either be a discreet sound card with its own processor or upgrade your CPU/RAM and hope your motherboard audio can keep up.

Yeah, that's what happened to me.
Even though HITMAN 2016 doesn't have this issue, HITMAN 2 has this audio crackling when I was using my old CPU. After upgrading my CPU, RAM and mobo, I no longer have this issue and the game becomes a lot more bearable to play. Also, much better performance too.

I bought a brand new I7-8700k. I spent a good $2,200 on my new rig so it is not out of date in any aspect.

[Penderian]

Originally posted by Kunovega:

There are numerous problems that can cause that:

1. Incorrect grounding, you may have knocking something loose during your upgrade, make sure there's no loose wiring or screws rolling around.

2. Not enough power, if you stressed your power supply with your GPU upgrade it may cause other issues when the GPU spins up and draws more during gaming

3. Conflicting audio drivers ~ note: Nvidia's driver package includes a bunch of stuff you probably don't need, including audio drivers. Unless you have a very specific reason to be using Nvidia audio drivers that are (pointlessly) bundled with their graphics installer, you should always custom install the drivers and only pick the pieces you actually have a use for (I personally only use the graphics driver, the geforce experience package for shadowplay and the physx driver, I have to uncheck and not install the 3d vision drivers and the audio drivers every time I do a graphics update because their stupid audio drivers conflict with my motherboards) ~ so be sure you have your actual correct audio drivers updated and not any extras randomly installed

4. And a hard one to track down: Crackling audio can be a stressed CPU with only a basic motherboard audio output. If you upgraded your GPU but not the rest of your system which is now taxing your CPU to the point where it can just barely handle the audio processing, you can get all kinds of strange results including popping and crackling noises. ~ The solution to this one would either be a discreet sound card with its own processor or upgrade your CPU/RAM and hope your motherboard audio can keep up

5. Is it happening in any other games/programs? Speaker and headphone wires do eventually wear out depending on use and environment

I forgot to mention to you that I actually upgraded my whole pc. I spent $2,200 on everything. I mainly played HM2 on my old pc build which ran fine. It is just weird to me because one day the sound worked just fine and another day it is having this crackling issue. It has been consistent now ever since trying to click on the new contract. I've been trying ever day for almost a week now. It's super odd to me. I can run AC Odyssey on ultra and the sound is perfect. I will try to resolve this issue. HM2 is my favorite game atm and I can't even play it :,D

[Kunovega]

Originally posted by Penderian:

Originally posted by Duckilous:

Yeah, that's what happened to me.
Even though HITMAN 2016 doesn't have this issue, HITMAN 2 has this audio crackling when I was using my old CPU. After upgrading my CPU, RAM and mobo, I no longer have this issue and the game becomes a lot more bearable to play. Also, much better performance too.

I bought a brand new I7-8700k. I spent a good $2,200 on my new rig so it is not out of date in any aspect.

You are one step up on everything from me (I have an i7-7700k your's 8700k I have a GTX 1080 you have 2080, etc) so assuming your power supply is of the same relative quality and you aren't having problems in other games I don't know what else to suggest other than a deep dive on your audio drivers

I personally went through this same issue with the last Hitman game (2016), the audio was crackling and popping and it was the only game doing it and for me it was the nvidia audio drivers being installed along with the ones I actually needed

Once I figured that out, took them off and did a clean driver install I've just had to make sure I don't blindly reinstall the entire nvidia suite or I'd get the problem back again

I had a friend with a similar issue and for him it was the CPU bottleneck, he bought himself a discreet audio card and never had a problem again, it was cheaper than upgrading his CPU

Don't know what else to suggest, if you google the problem you may find alternate suggestions

[Wargrog]

If anybody is still looking for a solution, turning OFF V-sync solved the problem for me.