STATIC SOUND: HELP!

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi,

I'm running vista with the most current drivers and current game version. I am having a problem with the sound. When I initially open the game to the main screen, the music plays normally, but as soon as I open a screen (i.e. new game, tutorials, etc.), the sound becomes "staticky".

I am using Conexant HD Audio drivers for my laptop sound. I have had no problems with any other games/audio other than Gal. Civ.

Please help, this is maddening!

7,675 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 3/21/2007, 16:50:26
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: JASON-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_rtm.061101-2205)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv6000 (RD869AV#ABA)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLv
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5600 @ 1.83GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.8GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1231MB used, 3079MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7400
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D8&SUBSYS_30BB103C&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.9746
Driver Date: 12/6/2006 21:25:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Internal Speaker/Headphone (Conexant High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_103C30BB&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDART.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.10.0001.0000
Driver Date: 12/12/2006 17:06:40
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: SPDIF Interface (Conexant High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_103C30BB&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDART.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.10.0001.0000
Driver Date: 12/12/2006 17:06:40
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Incidentally, this is happening for all audio (speech, music and event music) in Gal Civ when a screen is open (not at the main menu or during normal gameplay except when a screen pops up).

Also, it's a not a problem with my laptop Altec Lansing speakers since I tried my external speakers as well. Def. a software/driver problem.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Are there any newer audio drivers available from the manufacturer's website? The ones you have now predate the final retail release of Vista by more than a month.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes. I downloaded new drivers today dated 3/14/2007 to no effect.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Internal Speaker/Headphone (Conexant High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045&SUBSYS_103C30BB&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDART.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.15.0000.0000
Driver Date: 2/22/2007 16:24:48
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To narrow down the problem, I am not hearing static on the cutscreens.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well for some reason the driver information displayed is incorrect. I am using version 4.15.0.50 dated 3/9/2007 provided by Conexant and verified by Microsoft.

Please help, this seems like an awesome game but if the problem cannot be resolved I will need to return the software.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try this...

Go to START/RUN
Type in dxdiag
Click on the sound tab.

Adjust your hardware sound to Basic. If that does not work try no acceleration.

Hope this helps.


Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't have any option to change settings in dxdiag. Perhaps the version of dxdiag in Vista is different? From doing a search it seems Vista has disabled hardware acceleration altogether. There is a lot of complaint about Creative sound drivers not working in Vista, distorted game sound, etc.

So developers, can we put out a patch for us Vista folks please or should I return the game?
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't have Vista myself (so I'm not familiar with any troublehsooting options it may have), so if the problem has remained after updating your drivers I would advise contacting support@stardock.com.

If it is a result of the new sound driver model in Vista, then I'm not sure if there will be anything anyone but the sound card manufacturers can do about it.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well the game is advertised as being compatible for Windows Vista. If this is not in fact the case due to a sound modeling problem in Windows Vista, then a patch should be put out to address the issue.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well the game is advertised as being compatible for Windows Vista. If this is not in fact the case due to a sound modeling problem in Windows Vista, then a patch should be put out to address the issue.


My point is that if there is an issue with the drivers vs Vista, it's not something that can be fixed with a patch from us, because it wouldn't be the game's fault. The game is to our knowledge compatible with Vista, but the drivers may not be entirely so.

For example, an issue existed with nVidia's Vista drivers when Vista was first released (since fixed in the latest beta drivers)--the game worked fine on ATI hardware, but not on nVidia cards due to problems *in their drivers* which we could do nothing about, aside from providing them with info and waiting for a fix.

Again though, I would advise contacting support to see if they can repreoduce this issue or offer any further suggestions, and hopefully determine just where the problem is at. If it is something on the game's end then I'm sure the devs will fix it as soon as they can, once the cause is found.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
well i hav vista 2 and the voulume is choppy in the main menue and toutorials but other than that its not much of a problem for me.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hello,

It is June 12, 2007. I have Vista, just loaded the software and let it upgrade, and I have this sound problem. Is there any advice?
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It is June 12, 2007. I have Vista, just loaded the software and let it upgrade, and I have this sound problem. Is there any advice?


Please go to C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2 (or wherever you installed the game at), open the debug.err file you find there in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. If this is a DA report, you'll find the debug in C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar instead. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.

Be sure to copy the debug immediately after the error occurs; if you start the game again, the debug will be erased and recreated for the new session.

Note: If running on Vista with DA 1.6b2 or later, the debug.err is now located in My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm having the same problem. I hope it gets fixed soon because I love this game. Just upgraded to dark avatar too