Windows 10: Distorted Audio on Windows 10 with some games and apps

Greeting all

I've been trying to solve a problem with Audio on my Windows 10 gaming PC for some time now and been pulling out what is left of my hair in frustration because this problem is very strange and I cannot get to the bottom of it.

First of all, here are my hardware specs. I built this machine in 2015. However that is still good enough for most games I play.



So my problem is, in many games and applications I get problems with audio. It sounds broken and glitchy. Here's an example from the game Dota2:

https://youtu.be/j3Pq5sJ0g98

Here's another example from the game PUBG:

https://youtu.be/dqN_Iw7ESts


It's not just games. Notifications from Steam also do this. Notifications from Windows 10 apps like the Facebook messenger app have the same problem (i.e. instead of the notification sound, I get an explosion of static). Media content in Google Chrome and Firefox do this, including YouTube, website notifications, and autoplay videos (i.e. I can be browsing a page, and suddenly an autoplay video starts and creates an explosion of noise).

However, the weird part is some apps ARE NOT affected. Skype works fine. Microsoft Edge weirdly plays all media content without problems. Normal Windows 10 sounds and notifications are fine. I've also found a workaround for DotA2: I can add the "-32bit" command to the launch instructions, and then the sound works fine in that game again. This workaround doesn't impact PUBG at all, presumably because that command does nothing for that game. However, Fortnite does not have that sound problem.... so I guess I am forced to play Fortnite.

So here's what I have tried so far to fix it:
- I've tried EVERY combination of settings in control panel under Sound. eg. Disable Audio Enhancements, change audio bit rate, etc. I can safely rule this out as nothing in that settings area has helped.
- I've tried all sorts of different Realtek Audio Drivers and Codecs with no luck
- I've tried completely pulling my machine apart and isolating every bit of hardware:
- I purchased a new motherboard with a different brand, reinstalled Windows 10. No luck
- I borrowed some RAM off a friend, reinstalled Windows 10. No luck
- I removed my SSD, disabled RAID, and reinstalled Windows 10. No luck
- I tried downgrading to Windows 7. No luck
- I tried swapping out my monitors
- I tried removing the mechanical drives and just using the 1 M.2 SSD. No luck
- I tried a different older video card. No luck
- I even tried a different CPU cooler. No luck
- I've literally isolated every hardware component except the CPU and nothing has solved this issue.


I'm at the point where I may have to buy a new PC entirely, but i'm not in a position to afford one just yet. I was really hoping to find some sort of solution to this problem and squeeze another 6-12 months life out of this machine. Also as I've done such extensive testing without a definite cause, my fear is I'll spend money on another PC and have the issue all over again.

:)

 

sound distorted after windows 10 anniversary upgrade

This is where I'm at on my HP laptop with Windows 10 and the Anniversary update.

I completed step #3 "hardware and sound" but that took me to an option for "sound, speakers." There was no "properties" as step #4 suggests. I selected "sound, speakers" and then found "properties." After selecting "properties" there was no "enhancements
tab" as step #5 suggests.

Regardless, I then uninstalled the realtek audio driver. I noticed that when I did this without restarting my laptop that the sound was now tinny, but not distorted as it was previously. After restarting, the sound was again full, yet distorted.

Realtek still shows in my programs list, though it shows no memory is used.

Thanks for your continued help.

 

audio distortion on Icon

My Icon has distorted audio when voice mails are played and phone is on speaker. Volume is 20/30. Any suggestions?

 

Windows 10 Game DVR makes videos with stuttered/distorted audio. How to solve this?

Hello Pista,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

The issue could be because sometimes, a recording doesn't end correctly. When that happens, you'll need to restart Game bar to fix the problem.

However, you can try the below mentioned steps:

Step 1:
Disable Audio enhancements:

1. On the search filed of taskbar type "Sound".
   
2. In the Playback tab, right-click the
   audio device you would like to disable the audio enhancements for, and then select Properties.
   
3. The Sound window in Windows 10 showing the installed
   audio devices.
   
4. Click on the Enhancements tab to display all the available audio enhancements.
   
5. Click the Disable all
   enhancements checkbox. The enhancements list should now become greyed out.
   Audio Enhancements Disabled in Windows 10.
   
6. All audio enhancements disabled for the audio device in Windows 10.
   
7. Click the OK button to close the
   Properties window.
   
8. Restart the computer.
   

Step 2: Try updating the Sound card drivers and follow the

Microsoft article under check device manager section. You may also refer on

Update drivers in Windows 10.

Step 3:
GTX750Ti latest driver’s has been released from manufacture’s website and you can try downloading it.

If the issue persists, reply with the following details:

1. Was game DVR working fine before?
   
2. Since when are you facing this issue?
   
3. Do you have issues only when recording with Game DVR?
   

Hope it helps.

Let us know if you got the help you needed by clicking ‘Yes or No’.

Harish

Microsoft Community – Moderator