Sound BlasterX AE-5 refuses to work with Steam games for Reasons Unknown

[InventingKing]

So, earlier today, I was watching a YouTube video with Sound Blaster Connect 2's headphones (7.1) setting, when I paused and resumed the video only to be greeted with what sounded like a Commodore 64 vomiting through my headphones. So, I switched the configuration to direct HP, and it worked normally.

However, when I launch any Steam game, no sound plays through it. Non-Steam games, such as the titles I've tested being OpenRCT2 and Zandronum, work perfectly fine.
Anyone know of any solutions?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Biggest issue with any addon Sound Card is the presence of current Onboard Audio.
Uninstall the Motherboard Audio Drivers/Software via Control Panel > Programs and Features (if present; such as Realtek HD Audio) then Restart Windows, enter the BIOS and disable "Onboard Audio"

You will still have other audio devices present, such as AMD or NVIDIA GPU related audio; ensure the SoundBlaster is set to Default via Windows Playback/Recording

In Win10 this is done by right clicking the Speaker icon next to the Clock and click on Audio/Sound Options > https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/xlarge/public/field/image/2018/03/sound-settings-windows-10-spring-update.jpg

Also may want to update your AE5 Drivers if not already...

http://support.creative.com/downloads/download.aspx?nDownloadId=100224
^ Details are as follows:

Release date : 7 Jun 18
File Name : BXAE5_PCDRV_L13_3_2_28_0.exe
This download contains the Sound Blaster® Connect application for Windows® operating systems. For more details, please read the rest of this web release note.

Sound Blaster Connect provides you with various configuration options to enhance the performance of your product and personalize your audio settings.

Works With:
Sound BlasterX AE-5

What's New:
Improves Scout Radar reliability.
Fixes selected EQ (preset or custom) does not applies on next boot up.
Fixes selected Headphone Gain does not applies on next boot up.
Fixes noise issue in rear channel.

Requirements:
Microsoft® Windows® 10 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 8.1 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 8 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit

[InventingKing]

The thing is, I have the latest driver, and after everything that could go wrong went wrong, the default sound output (Realtek) read as disconnected, whereas before, it was enabled along side the Sound Blaster's sound output.

However, I booted up Garry's Mod, and while I had it running, I went into the Win10 sound settings, and in the App volume and device preferences, I set Garry's Mod volume output to Sound Blaster's, and it worked fine. The problem there is, I haven't tested it with many other games, and some games, like the other one I tested, Fallout: New Vegas, I can't simply Windows key or Alt+Tab out of them.

Keep in mind, this is all with the speaker config set to Direct HP, whereas standard headphones, while everything in working order,put out sheer digitized sick.

[Revelene]

InventingKing님이 먼저 게시:

The thing is, I have the latest driver, and after everything that could go wrong went wrong, the default sound output (Realtek) read as disconnected, whereas before, it was enabled along side the Sound Blaster's sound output.

However, I booted up Garry's Mod, and while I had it running, I went into the Win10 sound settings, and in the App volume and device preferences, I set Garry's Mod volume output to Sound Blaster's, and it worked fine. The problem there is, I haven't tested it with many other games, and some games, like the other one I tested, Fallout: New Vegas, I can't simply Windows key or Alt+Tab out of them.

Keep in mind, this is all with the speaker config set to Direct HP, whereas standard headphones, while everything in working order,put out sheer digitized sick.

There is your problem, you have your motherboard audio set as default. You want your Sound Blaster set as default, for both audio and communication.

[InventingKing]

Well, the Sound Blaster's audio was always set as default, it's just soon after everything went down, the onboard audio read as disconnected.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Because, Windows OS never liked when all that is active together. Something like the Realtek will mysteriously get reset as the default again.

Best bet = Disable every single audio device on your PC you are not going to use.
Since you have an expensive dedicated Sound Card, uninstall the Realtek completely, reboot and then enter the BIOS and disable it in there, so the OS can never see it at all from now on.

Apps/Games will only run on the active audio device that is set as the default.

[InventingKing]

I will try that, thanks, but that still doesn't answer why I'm hearing 8-bit spew from my headset when I set the speaker config to headphones, rather than direct HP.

I'd assume it'd have to do with my headset itself, but I don't have any spare headphones on hand to test that theory.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Well for one thing, changing certain audio settings may cause the website/app/game to simply stop producing audio, until refreshed or exited and restarted.