Static interference noises (Crackling/Popping)

[Nyjene]

Greetings !

[3.3.3 and 3.3.4 - No mods - Realtek ALC 1220 audio drivers up to date]

My problem is that the game is producing a crackling/popping noise that sounds like an interference. It occurs randomly and mostly when viewing the galaxy map.
However, I can reproduce it consistently this way : (1) by zooming through a star, as close as possible. (2) Then, click the galaxy view icon to switch to the map of the galaxy. (3) When the sound of the star is fading (because it is de-zooming), the noise will happen. This is the only moment where I can reproduce the 'bug'. Otherwise I can only hear it randomly.

Quickly, it can be distracting and particularly painful while wearing headphones. While it is not painful to hear and to feel in your head with speakers, it is still distracting.

I think it is related to software rather than hardware for several reasons :
1/ - I can reproduce it with both my headphones and my speakers.
2/ - Moreover, and mostly, the noise seems to be related to the stereo imaging : it occurs either with the right or the left driver (never both), and with the Headphones I can even pin point where it sounds (like if it was a normal stereo object).
3/ - The sound volume depends on the game/windows/hardware volume. The louder the game is, the louder the noise. If the game is muted, the problem isn't audible as well.

I don't experience it with other similar Paradox titles using Clausewitz. I do not experiment crackling/popping noises outside Stellaris with my computer.

I don't use any sound gadget from windows (surround, exclusive mode, enhanced signal etc...) and I setup my sound to be as raw (pure) as possible. I do not equalize. I am using only one audio channel and I have tested two outlet (rear and front). I am using the integrated sound card from the motherboard which is MSi X570 A-PRO with the Realtek ALC 1220.

(A) Is it a known problem ? I have seen quit a few threads on static noises with Stellaris, but a bit old and never really like mine. (B) Any other ideas to what I could do ?

I haven't played the game for a year or two, so I can't remember exactly if the problem was already there. I just have the feeling it's not new.

Thanks for your help !

 

[AndrewT]

It's not a known problem, at least not one I can recall coming across.

DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

 

[Nyjene]

About DXDIAG : I launched it and found nothing weird with audio. I'm attaching the file from the run I did anyway, if it can help.

Also to update something I forgot and might be linked with the problem : when opening the ship designer, the voice from the native advisor's voice is messed up (missing or its sentences are heavily cuts) as well as some notification sounds.

 

[AndrewT]

I think that's the same RTKVHD64.sys as the other recent thread on a different audio problem, interesting.

In any case let's try the same thing - uninstall that driver and reboot. Windows will detect the hardware with no driver, and offer one. Usually the reinstall process will help such issues.

Good luck!

 

[Nyjene]

I tried with the base drivers (they're bad) from Windows and the problem persists.

One thing I forgot to point is that I can also hear the little static noise when loading into a game, from a save or not. It does not occur during the initial loading (after the launcher). It happens every time at around 70% of the loading bar which is Loading Graphism I think, I can't really tell it goes too fast.

Thanks for helping me !

 

[AndrewT]

Windows ought to have installed the same driver name, although perhaps a different version - did that happen?

 

[Nyjene]

No it was basic drivers. Realtek Audio wasn't present at all and RTKHD64.sys was gone. I used Display Driver Uninstaller to ensure a complete uninstallation.

I am also sure it was basic drivers from Windows (are perhaps my motherboard ?) because the sound was quit poor and mostly it was very low. I checked that all Windows enhancement were disabled to, again, have a sound with as less interference as possible.

edit: I tried reinstalling the game. No effect.

 

[AndrewT]

I didn't realise DDU also worked for audio drivers.

I have used that technique many times before and Windows has always installed a RTKHD64.sys version in response, even if not the same version as before. I can't understand why that has not happened in your case.

Unfortunately the Realtek driver site is (or was when I last went there) a nightmare to navigate, but can you give it a go and see if you can find a newer OR older version of that driver to install please?

 

[Nyjene]

I downloaded and installed a Realtek audio driver from 2018. Sadly, it did nothing to my problem. I really don't know where the problem can be now...
As for the newer driver, I was already using the newest one.

Bonus: by doing so I lost my Realtek Audio Manager... Can't recover it... *sigh* problem upon problem. (fixed)

 

[AndrewT]

That is a shame, I was pretty hopeful that would help.

Not really sure what else to suggest, sorry. If there was any other sound output on this machine we'd try that, but there isn't.

Do you have access to any other machine to do your test case on, to confirm it is confined to this hardware/Windows installation?

 

[Nyjene]

Do you have access to any other machine to do your test case on, to confirm it is confined to this hardware/Windows installation?

Yes I can, I thought about that, but not until the 2nd of April.

What do you mean by other "output on this machine" ? A sound card ? Another audio channel ?

It seems I am unlucky there. A new big enough version, probably with Overlord, might "randomly" solves the problem.

In either case I will update this thread.

 

[AndrewT]

What do you mean by other "output on this machine" ? A sound card ? Another audio channel ?

Yes, most machines I see typically have multiple sound outputs - a built-in one, one via the nVidia card say, and so on.

 

[Nyjene]

Yes, most machines I see typically have multiple sound outputs - a built-in one, one via the nVidia card say, and so on.

I deactivated those I do not use. And can't use. I have AMD High Audio Definition but my monitor don't have a sound output. I also have the optical one, but I have nothing to use it. I don't have a sound card (at least yet...) so I can only use the onboard sound card. The only thing I could try is changing the outlet between 3.5 jack front panel and rear panel, but I already did this.

 

[AndrewT]

Ah, no wonder there is only one!

Any change you can re-enable those, and let Windows install a driver for them? No need to actually test their sound output (unless you can of course!). I have seen sound hardware with no driver cause various problems, in the past.

 

[Nyjene]

I made several tests and now I am able to report them.

1- Hardware drivers

Any change you can re-enable those, and let Windows install a driver for them? No need to actually test their sound output (unless you can of course!). I have seen sound hardware with no driver cause various problems, in the past.

I already let Windows installed those drivers, normally. I disabled them for the testing before reporting my problem. But for science, I did as you said. No luck there.

2- Computers

Do you have access to any other machine to do your test case on, to confirm it is confined to this hardware/Windows installation?

So I did the test on another machine as I promised. To my surprise, I was able to partially reproduced the audio bug. The computers are both two very different specs.

What I did reproduce ?

Zoom as close as possible to a star (no matter which). You'll here the sound of the thermonuclear fusion. At the bottom of the screen, click the Galaxy view icon to switch to the galaxy map mode. Then enter again in the same system. You'll be zoom again very close to the star. Repeat again and again, and I'd say 3 time ouf of 4 you'll will here the crackling noise.

Another way I didn't report. Open the Fleet management tab. Frenetically click to increase or decrease the number of assigned spaceships to a fleet. You will here the crackling noise.

What I struggle to "reproduce" ?

I hear less random static noises. But it is hard to tell. They seem to be of a lower sound volume. I could not really play the game. It was a 30 minutes playtest. Moreover, as they are random, it is of course hard to "reproduce" them. Consequently, it is a bit unreliable.

The different machines

My personnal computer is quit recent and very different from the other one I tested both from performances and brands.

My computer :
MSi X570 A-PRO
Realtek ALC 1220 (onboard audio)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
MSi Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming X
SSD Corsair Force MP600

Second computer :
MSi Z77A-G45
Realtek ALC 892 (onboard audio)
Intel i5 3570k
Gygabite Geforce GTX 970
HDD Seagate Barracuda 2 To (ST2000DM008)

This is quit confusing. Despite being sure I already had the problem long ago in 2016*, where the second computer was actually my computer, I was sure I wouldn't witness the problem because it usually end up this way. Nevertheless, it happened and I don't know how to conclude this now.

3- Outputs tested

To be sure, I tested if my outputs were not defective.

Speakers : Logitech Z200 and Trust Almo

Headphones : Superlux HD 681 and Turtle Beach Recon Spark

The headphones were both used on the two computers. Not the speakers though. The static noise occured in every scenario.

That's my report. I think the static noise is a problem well known from Paradox, I found some audio bugs, like the ship designer tab problem, reported on Reddit and the Paradox forum since at least 2017. Somehow, I think I will have to deal with it.


*

I haven't played the game for a year or two, so I can't remember exactly if the problem was already there. I just have the feeling it's not new.

 

[AndrewT]

Well, I guess if you can repro this on two machines, it's time to report it in the Bug Reports forum.

Thanks very much for the detailed work and update!

 

[PlantST]

Hi, I'm a game developer and programmer and I have the same issue, there is a crackling sound, kinda like if the sound was popped. I use a 3D Headset, so I changed some settings to see if it would make some difference and it did but wouldn't fix the issue, just change it a bit. However, I realized that the sound artifacts would only happen if the Ambient Volume in the game was Low enough, so increasing that volume alongside the Master Volume both to 100% fixed the issue, then to make sure I won't be deaf I just lowered the volume in the Windows Volume Mixer.

The reason for this bug seems to be strictly related to how the devs made the Ambient Sound and not drivers or something like that, the fact that it only happens to Ambient Sound Effects makes me think that some Independent Effect applied to those Sound Effects are either having their volume increased when you decrease the volume, making the effect popped at a lower volume, or something else related to an Independent Effect applied to that Sound Effect which could lead to undesirable effects such as this (I don't think this is a problem related to Volume in general in the game considering ONLY the Ambient Sound has this problem).

 

[Smokey Deza]

Hi, I'm a game developer and programmer and I have the same issue, there is a crackling sound, kinda like if the sound was popped. I use a 3D Headset, so I changed some settings to see if it would make some difference and it did but wouldn't fix the issue, just change it a bit. However, I realized that the sound artifacts would only happen if the Ambient Volume in the game was Low enough, so increasing that volume alongside the Master Volume both to 100% fixed the issue, then to make sure I won't be deaf I just lowered the volume in the Windows Volume Mixer.

The reason for this bug seems to be strictly related to how the devs made the Ambient Sound and not drivers or something like that, the fact that it only happens to Ambient Sound Effects makes me think that some Independent Effect applied to those Sound Effects are either having their volume increased when you decrease the volume, making the effect popped at a lower volume, or something else related to an Independent Effect applied to that Sound Effect which could lead to undesirable effects such as this (I don't think this is a problem related to Volume in general in the game considering ONLY the Ambient Sound has this problem).

Just gave this a try for a few minutes and I think it's fixed, thank you. I was resorting to plugging in the charger as for some reason that seemed to stop the crackling, but not anymore.