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pilgrim72
03-12-2009, 03:31 PM
Hi there,

've been struggling to find a cause for this, but I really am just out of ideas...

When I was running WinXP 32bit, the sound levels on my PC were of a good level, i.e. when turned up to maximum (on the PC), it was very loud and I certainly couldnt play games or music at this level, with medium speaker volume.

Since upgrading to Win7 64bit, and the relevant drivers for my Realtek HD onboard audio, the sound levels are much much quieter. I now have to turn the system volume to maximum, and my speakers to maximum, to attain a level that would be a medium-loud for listening to music too. It's basically much quiter than it used to be.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? If so, what things have you tried to remedy the situation?

Cheers!

:xgrin:
snakedoc
03-12-2009, 03:43 PM
When I used onboard sound, it was certainly more than loud enough and I could not turn my amp fully up. Not had this problem with realtek on both Vista and W7. My XP install was fine too. I assume you have the correct plugs in the correct socket. Thing is, I use digital out as well. Have you got the driver from realtek, the latest one, rather Windows flavour?
pilgrim72
03-12-2009, 03:46 PM
Yeah... I got the driver from the ASUS website...
Yep, sockets are definitely the right way around and conencted fully as well...
Back to the drawing board...
Cheers SnakeDoc!
Mr Grapes
03-12-2009, 03:51 PM
nope, my onboard P5Q-E sound is PLENTY loud on win7... (so much so, I'd forgotten how good my PC audio was....)
Damian
03-12-2009, 03:52 PM
Dunno if there's an option for loudness equalization anywhere in the control panel?

I've heard of the problem with creative cards as 7 usually installs it's own driver's which turn out that the volume is to quiet. I guess it's some driver issue.
Sublios_Pixelus
03-12-2009, 04:20 PM
I've noticed that Win7 64bit is quieter than xp with my audigy 4 as well though only with some things, haven't found a cause or remedy yet
Damian
03-12-2009, 04:46 PM
Will be interesting when I upgrade to 7 after new years see if I have the same problem on the EMU 1820m (Studio card) Luckily if it happens with this the pre amps and my powered monitors have plenty enough power to componsate for the lower volume. (I never even use 70% volume on the monitors it's that powerful)

Anyway hope you manage to solve your issue, I do think it's a drive issue though and it's worth having a mess around with them if you can.
snakedoc
03-12-2009, 04:58 PM
Yeah... I got the driver from the ASUS website...
Yep, sockets are definitely the right way around and conencted fully as well...
Back to the drawing board...
Cheers SnakeDoc!

Tbh I would get them from realtek, they will be more up to date.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
pilgrim72
03-12-2009, 05:17 PM
Cheers mate. Will give them a go tonight and report back...

:xgrin:
bezza
03-12-2009, 05:18 PM
Have you pushed the volume up in both the windows settings AND the soundcard settings?
Does this apply to all progs or just one?
pilgrim72
03-12-2009, 05:27 PM
Windows and Realtek volume settings are tied together... Yeah, all at max...

It affects everything, from ITunes to Spotify, through to Left4Dead2 and Arkham Asylum, etc, etc...

:huh:
snakedoc
03-12-2009, 05:28 PM
Windows and Realtek volume settings are tied together... Yeah, all at max...

It affects everything, from ITunes to Spotify, through to Left4Dead2 and Arkham Asylum, etc, etc...

:huh:

You could be going deaf at your age, pardon?
iGoD ReleNtLeS
03-12-2009, 05:33 PM
hmm i had this problem as well on my laptop, will post a screenie later when im back onto windows and not Ubuntu, but do you have the windows suggested drivers from Windows Updates? if you do then i suggest you try and find the correct one from the Realtek Website.
pilgrim72
03-12-2009, 05:35 PM
You could be going deaf at your age, pardon?

What? Speak up sonny! Don't mumble...

:xgrin:

Cheers TechGuru... I shall look them up from Snakes link when I finish work and get in tonight (gone 9pm... how rubbish is that!) and see what happens...

It appears it might be the drivers, from what everyone is suggesting...
iGoD ReleNtLeS
03-12-2009, 05:40 PM
definitely is the driver, just done a clean install of 7 the other night, as i only just purchased a retail version and finished with using the beta, as i said when im running windows again later, i'll be able to show you what i mean by the right drivers because windows update just doesn't get the correct one you need.
iGoD ReleNtLeS
17-12-2009, 09:45 PM
ok, after a VERY long time, (sorry for the delay) heres the screenshot i was talking about


http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5268/49229626.png

Ok, so after installing the Driver (the correct one) and a reboot you should get that icon in the taskbar the sound is also ALOT louder than before.

Got my driver from here (http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false)(http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false)
pilgrim72
18-12-2009, 12:57 AM
Hmmm.... I have that icon anyway... although the driver i have is from ASUS (the maker of my mobo), this driver is several months older than the one on the Realtek site. The Realtek one does say it might not include certain customisations that ASUS may have put into the sound, but you still recommend I uninstall the ASUS driver and install the Realtek one? I'll give this a go tomorrow, as Im a little sleepy now.

Thanks very much for your help on this mate - I do appreciate you coming back on this one.

Den.
iGoD ReleNtLeS
18-12-2009, 01:58 AM
definitely recommend getting the driver from Realtek, again i got my original driver from The Tech Guys/Advent and i had the same result, very quite compared to the Realtek driver, can barely have one headphone in your ear with it right up. Got an old surround sound, Creative 5.1 and just through 1 jack input it is VERY loud even with the surround on low.

your sound isn't REALLY quite, as in you can barely hear it with it whacked right up?

sorry i forgot about this, my mind has become a sift these last few years :/

found a little something here (http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/3756-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version-43.html) and again the link i found is also on the SevenForums here (http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false) has all the HD Audio Codecs for all OS' on x64 and x86