New Sound settings in AH (respectful)

[Sloehand]

I'll just add another 'issue' with the sound system.  Essentially, HiTech removed an interface that allowed the customer options and to customize his gaming experience.  He basically took that away, at least to the level of detail it was.  In doing so, he's sure to piss people off on that alone - not a good move, taken alone, in my opinion.
What may not have been considered by anyone is that there are a number of Hearing impaired  pilots for which the detailed sound interface was a treasure, though admittedly a bit large, but still very useful.  I have hearing loss in certain ranges and normal hearing in others.  I was able to adjust individual sounds up or down to compensate so that no sound was missing or overpowering all other sounds.
While I'm sure I haven't completely exhausted all possibilities, so far, I have to turn all sounds down so far that a great many cannot be heard at all, like the guns/cannons in my own aircraft.  I simply cannot play with the cacophony of sounds otherwise.
If HiTech has a solution to implement in the future to allow more customization of sounds eventually, great.  But, this put a serious crimp in my gameplay as it completely impacts one whole dimension of the game.
HiTech may have a wonderful vision for where he wants this game to go, but the path he seems to be taking has me wondering, will I even like it when we get there, cause the road to it becoming very ugly.

[Badboy]

What may not have been considered by anyone is that there are a number of Hearing impaired  pilots for which the detailed sound interface was a treasure, though admittedly a bit large, but still very useful.  I have hearing loss in certain ranges and normal hearing in others.  I was able to adjust individual sounds up or down to compensate so that no sound was missing or overpowering all other sounds.

Very well said. I have the same problem, but with the old interface I was able to compensate.

I suspect that for many people with hearing problems the lack of the old interface will make the game sound worse, and have a detrimental effect on their flying.

For example, because the sound of the engine, flaps, and the stall/buffet are locked together under one slider now, if I have the sound of the engine at the right level I can't hear the other sounds because the engine drowns them out, and if I turn the engine sound down, I then can't hear the others because they are too quiet. I'm just beginning to realize how much I depended on those sounds to fly well.

Will I be able to fix it, probably after a long time tinkering with sound files and sound software... but that's not how I wanted to spend my time, so this is a real blow.

Badboy

[SlapShot]

Well slapshot that helped the siren and base under attack, but the engine sound on my plane is still so loud I will be deaf if I played any at all, if I turn down the effects it turns down the engine sound but you can't hear the gear, flap, or stress of the aircraft when you do or the stall, does help on the loud guns though.

So thanks for what you did.


SALUTE

Ok Chief ... here we go ...

I have XP running but this should be similar for a Vista/Win 7 box ...

Click the Start button > All programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder (open/start Sound Recorder) ... bottom line here is to start the Windows Sound Recorder Application.

EDIT : I just checked my Win 7 box and the Sound Recorder is under "Accessories" ... there is no more "Entertainment" I guess.

Seeing that you don't have any sounds at all, go download a soundpack or soundpacks. Unzip the contents of the soundpacks somewhere on your hard drive.

After you have done that, go thru the different directories looking for ...

eng.wav (this is the engine sound while running)

engstart.wav (self-explanatory)

engoff.wav (self-explanatory)

... you will notice different directories that have plane model numbers. Each of these specific directories is used to distinguish different sounds for different vehicles/planes for those who want that differentiation.

I would start with eng.wav ...

While in Windows explorer looking thru the various directories, drag and drop an eng.wav file to the Sound Recorder application and find one you like.

The eng.wav will play, and if you like that engine sound, on the menubar at the top of the Sound Record click on "Effects" and then click on "Decrease Volume".

Play the sound again and you will see that it's quieter ... if you like it, then on the menubar, click "File" and then "Save". Leave Sound Recorder open ... don't close it yet.

With that done, copy that eng.wav file that you just changed to the \sounds directory and see what it's like in-game ... if it needs to be decreased, then choose "Decrease Volume" again ... save it ... copy it ... try it in-game ... do that until you are satisfied.

Hope this helps.

<<S>>

[Delirium]

Will I be able to fix it, probably after a long time tinkering with sound files and sound software... but that's not how I wanted to spend my time, so this is a real blow.

I spent my time last night and this morning as well doctoring all my P38 sound files to where they were pre-patch. It took a lot of trial and error to get them just right, fortunately, I mostly fly P38s so the work was minimal compared to the entire list. The really bad part is everyone's sound system is almost unique, not to mention everyone's hearing, that my files you might not useful at all and it is almost pointless to share them.

I still say there should be an advanced tab (like they have for stick scaling and dampening) with all the sound sliders.

[Shuffler]

Interesting, I must be going blind, I don't see any posts in the bug reports from you guys about the sound problems you're having. Might be a good place to get your issues noted properly.

I'm not having any sound problem..... Ah is.

It's not a bug.....

When did you become a moderator?

[SlapShot]

I spent my time last night and this morning as well doctoring all my P38 sound files to where they were pre-patch. It took a lot of trial and error to get them just right, fortunately, I mostly fly P38s so the work was minimal compared to the entire list. The really bad part is everyone's sound system is almost unique, not to mention everyone's hearing, that my files you might not useful at all and it is almost pointless to share them.

I still say there should be an advanced tab (like they have for stick scaling and dampening) with all the sound sliders.

I only changed the airraid.wav and the warning.wav files.

Don't be surprised if you will have to re-tweak again when HTC starts to address the problems with their own tweaks ... that's why I am going to wait a bit before making wholesale changes.

[gyrene81]

I still say there should be an advanced tab (like they have for stick scaling and dampening) with all the sound sliders.

Not saying I agree with this but, what could be done is a grid with boxes that use numbers from 1-10 for adjustments.

I don't really think anyone would want to have to decipher anything close to this once the number of sounds starts to increase.

[gyrene81]

I'm not having any sound problem..... Ah is.

It's not a bug.....

When did you become a moderator?

If the sound problem is in AH it's a bug. If it's just your inability to deal with the sounds, it's not a bug.

I'm a forum snob, not a moderator.

[Delirium]

Don't be surprised if you will have to re-tweak again when HTC starts to address the problems with their own tweaks ... that's why I am going to wait a bit before making wholesale changes.

I backed up my default, my original sound pack and my new edited sound pack. As the changes occur, I'll roll with them. What else can I do?

[2bighorn]

If the sound problem is in AH it's a bug.

Just because the new system lacks a feature it does not make it a bug. HTC intended it that way.

A software bug is the common term used to describe an error flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways.

If it's just your inability to deal with the sounds, it's not a bug.

It's not individual inability either. It's rather lack of a feature affecting all players. HTC told us reasons why. Some players told why they'll miss this feature. So, it's just a discussion about AH. There are pros and cons to either.

[Pyro]

On the individual sound controls, it's not going to be feasible.  We're just in the phase 1 core implementation of this and by the time we're done we're going to literally have hundreds of sounds.  We're not going to put hundreds of sounds into a menu and if we did, nobody would go through that giant monstrous mess of a dialogue anyway.  As HT is fond of referring to, people are asking for one thing (individual sound control of everything) while really wanting another (individual sound control of certain things).  Just because we're not going to do the former doesn't mean we have no interest in the latter.  We can see the merit of perhaps further subdividing the current sliders and putting some things like engine or stall horn on their own slider.  There are limitations to how far we'll take that.

[Baumer]

Thanks for the feedback Pyro. I know you're swamped right now but it would be handy if the custom sounds entry on the Wiki could be updated so we can see witch slider controls a particular sound.

for example;

           Sound          File Name      Volume Control Slider

• Engine Start     engstart       effects
• Hit Sound 2      Hit_2           environment

I know your busy so when (or if) ever you get a chance it would be appreciated.

Thanks for a great update,
<S>

[Babalonian]

On the individual sound controls, it's not going to be feasible.  We're just in the phase 1 core implementation of this and by the time we're done we're going to literally have hundreds of sounds.  We're not going to put hundreds of sounds into a menu and if we did, nobody would go through that giant monstrous mess of a dialogue anyway.  As HT is fond of referring to, people are asking for one thing (individual sound control of everything) while really wanting another (individual sound control of certain things).  Just because we're not going to do the former doesn't mean we have no interest in the latter.  We can see the merit of perhaps further subdividing the current sliders and putting some things like engine or stall horn on their own slider.  There are limitations to how far we'll take that.

A very good take to have on this IMO.  There was too much exploiting going on in this game, weather people want to admit it or not.  People whos "skill" was just that they knew what sounds to crank down and up so that the game's audio acted like a dinner bell alerting you to when and where the enemy was coming from.

What I'm not seeing are a lot of people listing individual sounds they're having a problem with in this patch that need adjusting to be at an acceptable level.  This is something we're all used to adjusting on our own, but now it is in HTC's hands to make the adjustments needed so that everything sounds good together in the game, so start letting them know what and where you're having a porblem with individual sounds. 

Those that are hearing impared should get on board with this too.  You can't adjust individual sounds anymore, so communicate what can be done to best serve your needs.  A general idea I have is that maybe a few checkboxes can be added to boost or muffle the high/mid/low sound range so that it's more acceptable and pleasant on your ears (and maybe users using hefty stereo systems that boost base on their end, nipping the base in the bud on AH end would be useful), but as I have for the mostpart good hearing still I can't guess what your needs are and nor can I fairly voice them.

I personaly would like to see some checkboxes put in that would dampen some of the overall base (maybe some generic trebble and base sliders added to the game?), mute the base alarms, mute the air raid siren, mute/heavily-dampen the large ship guns in the carrier groups, mute/heavily-dampen vehicle tracks (traditionaly a tad loud when roaring at lightspeed down a hill), and one to dampen airplane engine startup and engine running noise so I can clearly hear everything else (not just vox) over the constant noise.

[Noah17]

This post is so large I haven't had time to read it all yet and I'll apologize in advance if I missed something..... I just came from the MA and I'm having major trouble adjusting to the change in sounds and not being able to hear,especially flaps and can't hear others talking as well. Also the views put me way too close to the gunsight; like I'm zoomed in and can't zoom out. It's really rotten.....Even after adjusting to a custom view. Flying the F6F is like flying it through the gunsight.

I can't believe I'm going to be this negative but this sucks........

[1MADDOG1]

On the individual sound controls, it's not going to be feasible.  We're just in the phase 1 core implementation of this and by the time we're done we're going to literally have hundreds of sounds.  We're not going to put hundreds of sounds into a menu and if we did, nobody would go through that giant monstrous mess of a dialogue anyway.  As HT is fond of referring to, people are asking for one thing (individual sound control of everything) while really wanting another (individual sound control of certain things).  Just because we're not going to do the former doesn't mean we have no interest in the latter.  We can see the merit of perhaps further subdividing the current sliders and putting some things like engine or stall horn on their own slider.  There are limitations to how far we'll take that.

Seriously and honestly, what was wrong with the way things were? We had control of how we wanted our sounds set up and the majority of the customer base knew what to do with it and most all even helped the noobs get acquainted. Now, it's a whole new thing where everybody has to figure things out. Not cohesive accessability across the board. For those who say it levels the playing field across the board, you're right, when we downloaded the update, we were all equally confused.

It's nice that you do have limited testing of the things you plan to implement. It would be a nice to have feature of the new things that are coming along with instructions on how to make adjustments prior to their implementation instead of, here it is, let us know the problems and we will fix it on the fly. Here is where you confuse and confound the customer base sometime causing lost interest in the game eventually loosing revenue as well as some trying to express their concerns on the boards and getting lambasted to hell and back by many, even the "Trusted" Veterans of the game dumping on others valid concerns of what has just happened with the new updates.

For me, and some others, our valid complaint/concern is with the inability to control the sounds as easily as we used to and the hieroglyphic maps that are a little hard to understand from previous versions. The new graphics are supurb. However, it has caused a bit of confusion in the racing community with hangars having closed doors.

For now, keeping both systems idle until changes, explanations and better clarity comes about. This is not any form of threat to cancel or take my ball and go home as some may infer. It's just that things are confusing at the moment and with that, the fun just isn't there.

Respectfully,
                       1MADDOG1/1CASPER1