How to fix: Failed to initialize sound hardware

[IE IF X]

Just posting here, so it might you save some time, took me a while to figure this out.
This is relevant for Windows 11 N Versions, which come without extra features and DirectX. Thus, it will lead to this error message on startup of AoE3DE:
"Warning: Failed to initialize sound hardware. The game will proceed with sound disabled...."

Step 1. Install both
a) Graphic Tools
b) Media Feature Pack (needs OS restart afterwards)
via Windows Settings -> System -> Optional Features

Also see comment section here: https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsOnDeck/comments/y2c8wv/directx_doesnt_work_after_installing_windows_11/

Step 2. Install DirectX - the optional features are both needed, otherwise DirectX Installer will throw an error.
https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/download/details.aspx?id=35

After that AOE should start normally :)