DEMO [XP] Audio Stuttering/Video Perfect

[thepatient]

Audio is heavily stuttering to the point of being unplayable, falling out-of-sync with the action on screen. Particularly prominent during set-pieces, such as the end of the 'sphere ride when first entering Rapture. It's especially odd as my frame rate is very smooth while this happens, never stuttering.

I've been watching these forums all day and I've not seen anyone report the same problem, so I had assumed it was on my end despite having zero difficulties with any other game/program I've run, and comfortably exceeding minimum spec in most cases.


So far, with little success, I've tried:

• Every available option in the game's audio section.

• Drastically lowering video settings.

• Reinstalling the game.

• Installing different sound drivers.

• Installing different video drivers.

• Installing the latest DirectX 9.0c.

• Checking for latest BIOS/drivers for motherboard (which I already had).

• Lowering 'Hardware acceleration' via Control Panel.

• Lowering the 'Sampling rate' and 'Bit-depth' via Control Panel.

• Lowering overclock on processor/memory/gfx card to default.

• Underclocking processor/memory/gfx card.

• Looking for IRQ conflicts.

• Looking for malicious software.

• Disabling all background programs.

If anyone has other suggestions I'll be happy to hear them. Anyone else with a similar experience?

XP Home
DFI NF4
Athlon 64 3800+
2 GB RAM
X1950 Pro
Soundblaster Audigy (an obvious culprit, but meets requirements and has never given trouble)

[jtrhone]

...
Anyone else with a similar experience?

Yes. Audigy2ZS on XP, same exact issues. It's odd because the sound is choppy and several seconds behind but framerate is smooth at 60fps.

I downloaded latest creative drivers, then reinstalled dx9c and disabled EAX in game (left spks at 5.1). This was enough to get me through the demo, with only the occasional sound dropout (which is annoying because there are no saves).

Somehow I've been able to enable EAX and play through demo again, but the sound system is still very unstable. I doubt it will help, but in the demo they also install a local d3dx9_33.DLL file in the bioshock builds/release folder that I renamed (to force it to use system dll).

Anyway I don't have any suggestions ... looks like you've tried even more than I did.

I will be holding off purchasing the full version until they resolve this sound issue and the widescreen issue.

[thepatient]

My stuttering audio is gone.

I changed a couple of things at once, so I've yet to narrow down exactly what fixed the problem. My first guess would be dropping the most recent OpenAL runtimes into the Windows/System32 dir. (XP). I've uploaded them here.

Less likely, I installed the most recent Athlon 64 driver (XP only).

Finally, I also deleted the game's 'default.ini' trying to get it to build a new one, which it, curiously, has not done. This is in the demo version, and probably named otherwise in the full game ('bioshock.ini'?).

I am now playing with 5.1 sound, reverb and EAX off. The game looks, sounds and runs great.

[dk.time]

I have the same problem. Extreme audio stuttering under my soundcard (HT Omega Striker) while having flawless video in 1600x1200. I actually went and turned on my MB audio (standard RealTek '97 on a ASUS K8N-E) and to my suprise it was much better! Still choppy, especially during loading sequences, but playable. When I have my soundcard drivers running, I can't play the game at all. Everything is up to date driver-wise as of today (8-23) so whats going on?

Here's my rig:
Vista 32 <---Note the 32bit vista and not the 64 even though I have a 64 bit processor.
AMD64 Athlon 3200+
ASUS K8N-E
2 GB RAM
Sapphire x1950 Pro AGP
HT Omega Striker sound card

[thepatient]

AMD64 Athlon 3200+

Another Athlon 64. This can't be unrelated.

Hope the developers get to see this.

[thepatient]

Can't edit, but there's another thread on this problem here.

[BlackDove]

Yeah, I run an x64 Vista, the same problem plagued me on the demo.

A64 3500+

[thepatient]

Apparently their QA didn't include A64 systems.

[Akira282]

Yes. Audigy2ZS on XP, same exact issues. It's odd because the sound is choppy and several seconds behind but framerate is smooth at 60fps.

I downloaded latest creative drivers, then reinstalled dx9c and disabled EAX in game (left spks at 5.1). This was enough to get me through the demo, with only the occasional sound dropout (which is annoying because there are no saves).

Somehow I've been able to enable EAX and play through demo again, but the sound system is still very unstable. I doubt it will help, but in the demo they also install a local d3dx9_33.DLL file in the bioshock builds/release folder that I renamed (to force it to use system dll).

Anyway I don't have any suggestions ... looks like you've tried even more than I did.

I will be holding off purchasing the full version until they resolve this sound issue and the widescreen issue.

I have the exact same prob. with this sound card too.

Perfect fps, but the sound is choppy

[thepatient]

I have the exact same prob. with this sound card too.

Perfect fps, but the sound is choppy

What're your system's specs?

[dk.time]

Wow all the audio complaints ARE coming from Athlon64 cpu's! That's ridiculous. That's a major cpu base still.

[Azmodaen]

Got the same problem here too... and guess what. It's not fixed in the Full version either *sighs*

Athlon x64 3500+
Vista x64
2GB RAM
7800GT

[Coffee and TV]

Yeah, full game is what I'm using, too.

[Coffee and TV]

My system specs again, and yes, they are somewhat low.

Vista Ultimate 32bit
Athlon 64 3200+
Corsair 2GB PC3200
BFG nVidia 6800 GT OC
Creative X-Fi ExtremeGamer

[Azmodaen]

I also have a MacBook Pro, with the exact same problem, not quite sure of the CPu, though it's a:

C2Duo
ATi x1300
1GB RAM
Intel HD Audio
Windows xp32

[dk.time]

I'm using the full retail as well.

Just an update: I posted I use an A64 3200 but I use a 3400.

Has anyone with a 3400 noticed an improvement in audio using onboard audio as opposed to a sound card because I have.

[Jimmith]

I have this problem too. Frame rate is clean as can be, but the sound gets so choppy i just want to exit the game.

My stuff:

Windows XP
Amd Athlon 64 3500+ (Venice)
GeForce 7800gt
SB Audigy 4
2 Gb Ram

So another A64..

I don't want to be pushy, but can we please get some word on whether or not this issue is being worked on at least, cause its really ruining my experience of the game.

[dirtylimey]

Just wanted to confirm that I also have skippy choppy crackly intermittent audio. Has ocurred on my AC97 and also when i switched over to a generic but slightly better, Diamond PCI sound card. Surprise surprise, im also running an A64.

Vista Ultimate 32bit
Athlon 64 3000+
2GB PC3200
eVGA 6800 GS OC
AC97/Diamond xTreme Sound 5.1

[p4c_m4n]

Vista U 64
Athlon 64 3500
Audigy
7600GT
2gb RAM
DX10

Choppy, crackly sound! Unplayable both in demo and full game. Tried cmedia onboard sound as well after disabling PCI card and exactly same.....

[Baby_Seal_Killer]

I also have a sound problem. but its not an A64. Sometimes the sound cuts out and some times it doesn't even on the same scene during gameplay. Sound sync problems also.

Example #1: firing shotgun 2 times in a row, the first blast may be muted the second blast will be just fine or vice versa.

Example #2: Impact sounds on NPC's from example #1 are then out of sync. Funny, since NPC's hits ground then 1 second later I hear them hit the ground.

My Specs:
Steam Version
P4 - 3.4
2 GB RAM
AC97 Sound
ATI 1950 pro
XPsp2

[Jimmith]

I have this problem too. Frame rate is clean as can be, but the sound gets so choppy i just want to exit the game.

My stuff:

Windows XP
Amd Athlon 64 3500+ (Venice)
GeForce 7800gt
SB Audigy 4
2 Gb Ram

So another A64..

I don't want to be pushy, but can we please get some word on whether or not this issue is being worked on at least, cause its really ruining my experience of the game.

Couldn't find the edit function, so I'll just quote myself. (Sorry if I'm being noobish)

I have now tried updating my processor drivers as mentioned earlier in this thread, with no luck.
I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the latest SB drivers. This wielded no results either.

[Jimmith]

Wow, I really miss that edit function

I noticed that the sound issues happened mainly when several "layers" of sound (or whatever you call it when multiple sounds play) where playing at the same time. Ambient sound/music+ footsteps works, but any more than that and the problems starts. More layers means worse issues, and action sequences with a lot happening at once yields crackling and popping noises as well (but still a stable frame rate).

[dirtylimey]

Definitely annoying and clearly a game issue as opposed to hw. Hopefully this can get patched up soon. In the meantime im still playing (full game) but it does definitely detract fro mthe experience which would otherwise be perfect

[edub rules]

ya this is happening for me too

i dont use amd, i have a p4 prescott 650, and my sound card is a audigy 2 zs

i hope 2k pays attention to this and fixes it soon, its kinda ruining the game experience

[thepatient]

Seeing two problems here. Stuttering audio on A64s and something else. Hopefully 2K see these threads and are able to do something about it.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5677

[StealthNachos]

Wow, I really miss that edit function

I noticed that the sound issues happened mainly when several "layers" of sound (or whatever you call it when multiple sounds play) where playing at the same time. Ambient sound/music+ footsteps works, but any more than that and the problems starts. More layers means worse issues, and action sequences with a lot happening at once yields crackling and popping noises as well (but still a stable frame rate).

Exactly what I'm getting. Some people have been suggesting it's related to AMDs, but I've got an Intel C2D proccessor. So far, out of all the posts I've looked up, I can't find a single consistency through out all of the cases. I have on-board sound, another has a sound card, one has a Radeon and another has an Nvidia, this guy has an Asus, and you can bet your ass this other guy is using an MSI.

Is... uh... is anyone else using LogMeIn? This PC I'm on is damn near fresh out of the oven, and that's one of the few major services that I've installed.

[turls]

Has anybody tried editing the .ini's to reduce the number of soundstreams? This is documented at tweakguides.com.

I have a set of LTB 5.1 USB Headphones that use CMedia drivers. I think I've got sound issues during heavier combat, but I'm not sure.

[stansmom]

I'm having this issue in the actual game, not the demo, and found a video made by someone with the exact same problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty9-SnDP8xI

I also have an Athlon 64 (3400+)

Maybe this video can help determine if its only the a64 users with this specific stuttering..