Sound problem

[@rrog@nce]

Hi everyone!

OS: XP
Processor: 64 X2 Dual Cores 5600+
Memory: 2048 MB Ram

Video Card: Geforce GTS 250
Video Memory: 1024
Driver Date: 2010-01-12

Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy Live! 24-bit
Driver Date: 2007-06-15 (I just updated my product)

OK. FIRST I’m French, so my English SUCK. I’m sorry for that!

My problem is pretty strange:
A) I open the game, play the single player and have NO FREAKING PROBLEM. I have sound, high graphic. I have nothing to say against de single player. Awesome game.
B) I open multiplayer… I HAVE SOUND.
C) I wait about… 1 minute. And I LOSE SOUND. There is à “bip” and no sound: in the menu, or in the game.
D) If I return to the menu and wait, the intro cinematic will appear. I CAN LISTEN to this cinematic, I HAVE SOUND. But as soon as I return to the menu, NO SOUND.
E) I can play a couple of minutes, before I get the « Bioshock have stop working »… BUT I don’t understand the procedure to get the report… I don’t have a “computer button”…

Actually I updated everything I can update (including sound card and Patch)!! And the problem is recent: with my old onboard sound card (realteck), it was Ok. Now, with my new sound card it’s impossible.

What should I do?
Thanks if you can help me.

[Mr.Big_Daddy]

I remember someone saying on a post before with sound issues, have you tried watching the multiplayer Prologue all the way to the point where you can control your character?

Because two people said their sound issues went away when Andrew Ryan started talking on the TV (in the multiplayer Prologue in your apartment).

[Tech Paul]

Many of the issues listed in this forum appear to be configuration woes
either relating to physical speaker setup or driver settings. I’m going to
provide you with the settings which we use at 2K Marin to create audio
for our games. If you follow these steps, you’ll be listening to the exact
same thing we hear.

Step 1: Check Speaker Set-up.

1. In Control Panels/Sound select your output device.

2. Choose ‘Configure’

3. Pick the correct speaker setup (stereo, 5.1, 7.1, etc.) for your system.

4. Use ‘Test’ to make sure the speakers are wired and placed correctly
around your room.

5. Click ‘Next.’ Follow the instructions until finished.


*These instructions are for Windows Vista/7. XP has a similar set of
controls.

Step 2: (If you have a Creative Labs card) Open the Creative Audio Control Panel.

1. Mode Tab: Choose ‘Audio Creation Mode’

2. Speaker Tab: Make sure the Speaker Configuration matches what you set in
the Windows Sound control panel. This *should* set itself automatically. If
not, do so yourself. Under ‘SVM’ select the ‘Off’ position.*

3. EAX Effects: Uncheck the ‘Enable EAX Effects’ box to turn EAX Effects
off.

4. X-Fi Crystalizer: Uncheck the ‘Enable X-Fi’ Crystalizer’ box to turn the
Crystalizer off.


Step 2.5: (If you are using Alchemy).
1. Remove or disable BioShock 2 from Alchemy. (I do not have it and cannot
provide specific instructions. I believe you have to add games it yourself,
so if you have done so I’ll assume you also know how to remove them.)


Step 3: In-Game settings.

1. Choose Options/Audio Options.

2. Choose ‘Default’ as the speaker mode. This should make Bioshock 2 mimic
your Windows settings.

3. If you made changes, hit ‘Apply’ and restart the game.

4. If the in-game sound is still not correct, set the mode by hand. Note
that if you chose 5.1 in Windows, you need to choose 5.1 in the game (Not
‘Surround’). Restart the game again.


If you’ve done everything correctly, you now have the same settings we use
here at 2K Marin to develop the game. (We each have and listen through a
Creative Labs X-Fi Fatality card with 6 discrete lines going to a level
controller and then woofer/speakers). Hopefully this will take care of most
of the issues we’ve been seeing throughout this thread.

For Dolby ProLogic II users: The game will encode a ProLogic II signal. To
use this option you will need a device to decode the signal between your
computer and speakers. Most A/V receivers and home theater systems will do
this. Here are the proper settings:

1. Windows = Stereo.

2. Creative Console = Stereo.

3. BioShock 2 = ProLogic.

4. Make sure your receiver is set to ProLogic II. Many receivers will detect
the signal type but some will not.


One final note. There is a setting in BioShock 2 called ‘Use Reverb.’ We
included this so people with lower end systems have the option to disable
reverb and get a performance boost. This option has nothing to do with EAX
effects and only disables our software reverb. If your system is not able to
fully handle BioShock 2 you can try disabling reverb to get a slight edge.

*SVM allows the sound card to decrease the difference between the loudest
and softest portions of the game. Enabling this will help you have a better
experience in many cases. If you play in a noisy environment and cannot hear
the quieter sounds, try enabling this. Also, if your speakers are tinny,
tiny, or otherwise of lower quality, this might help you hear more of what’s
going on in the world.

[@rrog@nce]

Yeah! I can hear Ryan message... but there is no other sounds available, even after.

I run a diagnostic with the tool provided by Creative... and I was not able to test "DirectSound". It tell me an error ocurred.

EDIT : I make what I can do about your instruction. But my problem is only in the Multiplayer...

[slashere]

your english is very good by the way

[@rrog@nce]

Do my best, but nothing change at all. Except this time I got a... noisy sound before the sound get off.

And still, impossible to obtains the DirectSound test on Creative Diagnostic tool.

[@rrog@nce]

SOLVED!
I just desactivated the Realteck sound card. This card was left activated by the technician.
I don't know WHY only BIOSHOCK II MULTIPLAYER was affected, but for now the only bug i got is the « normal » random « Bioshock have stop working ».
LOL

Thank anyway for your help.

[Mr.Big_Daddy]

SOLVED!
I just desactivated the Realteck sound card. This card was left activated by the technician.
I don't know WHY only BIOSHOCK II MULTIPLAYER was affected, but for now the only bug i got is the « normal » random « Bioshock have stop working ».
LOL

Thank anyway for your help.

Good to hear that got it sorted out.