Epic Loud Sound Screech

[Legacy_EzRemake]

               I remember having this problem on every computer I've ever played NWN on, even back when this game came out.

What seems to happen is when entering certain areas (seems to be forest tileset usually), there is a loud, and I mean LOUD, screech.

I remember the fix had something to do with changing froms Miles 2D to something else, and adjusting the 2D-3D bias, but I can't for the life of me remember exactly.

I also can't seem to find ANY information on the issue either.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about and know how to fix it?

I'll use the first area in Nordock 1.70 to test, as it seems to give me the screech 100% of the time there.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Try 3D Provider=Dolby Surround in the  [Sound Options] section of nwn.ini.  Not sure about toggling the 2D to 3D bias or what it even means outside merely recognizing the values themselves.  Mine is about 3/4 towards 3D on the slider and at a value of 1.50 in the ini., if that helps.  Dunno. The sound settings can be adjusted in the startup options but IIRC it only adjusts it for that session and then resets back to the ini for the next startup.  But it does list the entire spectrum of settings which you could then place into the ini if the change ends up being temporary in the session.

Question:  if you build a small module with the "offending" tileset(s), do you get the screech if you run Test Module?  Just curious as to what settings the toolset uses, probably goes with the ones in the ini.

edit: BTW, which sound card and driver are you using in the current rig?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 08 octobre 2012 - 12:01 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_EzRemake]

               Currently using an onboard Realtek HD with driver 6.0.1.6307

It definitely has something to do with the game, and not the driver, as I've had this issue on my past 3 PCs.

I ended up trying DirectSound3D Software Emulation with a 2D/3D bias of 1.60 and the problem is fixed.

I did try making a plain forest, and didn't actually get the screech, so I'm not entirely sure what the main cause is, all I know is I never ever want to hear it again, because it almost made my ears bleed.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

EzRemake wrote...

Currently using an onboard Realtek HD with driver 6.0.1.6307

It definitely has something to do with the game, and not the driver, as I've had this issue on my past 3 PCs.

I ended up trying DirectSound3D Software Emulation with a 2D/3D bias of 1.60 and the problem is fixed.

I did try making a plain forest, and didn't actually get the screech, so I'm not entirely sure what the main cause is, all I know is I never ever want to hear it again, because it almost made my ears bleed.

You should probably post your remedy in the tech forum so others may trace your footsteps easier (general forum contains, well... general information.). 

Typically, whenever I run into problems like this I will exhaust every permutation of the game options listed before I start driver juggling. The key to solving the sound bias is knowing what the viable range is and that can be difficult to figure out for those who have never needed to tweak their settings. If your previous rigs also used integrated sound, that may explain why the problem has been consistent throughout your experience.  Same goes for integrated graphics, a pitfall.

Hopefully, you will be screechless from this point forward. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lazarus Magni]

               If you are talking about the ear shattering sound on entering certain maps, I believe this sound is from one of the audio options for an area in the toolset. "Environmental Audio Effects" "Phychotic". We had this problem on a few areas in Aventia, and when I changed the audio effect to something else, it went away.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Lazarus Magni, 09 octobre 2012 - 12:20 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_EzRemake]

               Interesting you should mention that Lazarus. I went and checked out Nordock, and what do you know... Environment Audio Effects for the welcome area is Psychotic.

It definitely has something to do with that. However,  with the audio option change there is still no screech, so thank god for that.

I am also noticing a MUCH smoother over all game performance from having switched to Miles to DirectSound3D Software Emulation.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy__six]

               I used to get this, and found the solution for me to be disabling EAX and Hardware Audio. This removes environmental effects however (though personally, I find the game sounds much better without them - its really overdone for my tastes, at least with my hardware).

I have a vague theory as to what causes it, namely a build of unplayed sound data during loadscreens that is released as a massive reverb once you get ingame, but that's just wild supposition on my part.