The first day was spent searching the Internet and Steam forums for answers to no avail. I have done everything that everyone has suggested with no success. Downloaded new drivers that I did not need because I already had the most recent drivers available for my computer. I am the kind of person that does not like to ask for directions until I have exhausted all options. Steam forums were not much help. More questions with no answers from other people that are having the same problem. Spent the better part of today trying, deleting config files, rebooting and reverting back to my old setup several times. I can play HL with no problems with voice. Everything else seems to work fine, game sound, background sound, gun fire. I hear it all very clearly. Just don't her the witty banter that is going on in the game amongst the players and for me that is part of the fun of playing the game. I can turn off all the voices but then it would be like playing with the bots
The reason I deleted my config because someone named "My name is Nobody" in the game last night told Heidie "they switched to Open AL for audio, dropped EAX/A3D apparently, must be something hard-coded that's stuck in his underlying config...not sur" not sure what that meant so I went ahead and deleted the config file and started with orginal one when the game started back up. Zilch with the sound problem.
Sup3r suggested this:
ingame go to options video and uncheck wait for vertical refresh and the low video settings....
Here is what I have for a computer that I bought 10/2012
Hp pavilion HPE
Model h8-1234
Processor AMD FX9tm)-6120 Six-Core Processor
Memory Ram 10.0 GB
Graphics AMD Radeon HD 7450
Gaming graphics 5770 MB Total available graphics memory
Dedicated graphics memory 1024 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 4746 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.960.11.1000
Primary monitor resolution 1920x1080
DirectX version DirectX 10
Primary hard disk 853GB Free 9914GB Total)
Windows 7 Home premium
Here is my config for Dod: Very old one that seems to work. It was given to be by an old friend way back. Funny thing is that it disappears after I do the Dod update. I have the original one and a copy saved but I do not see the working one after update. : (
nbindall
bind "TAB" "+showscores"
bind "ENTER" "drop"
bind "ESCAPE" "cancelselect"
bind "'" "+moveup"
bind "0" "slot10"
bind "1" "slot1"
bind "2" "slot2"
bind "3" "slot3"
bind "4" "slot4"
bind "5" "slot5"
bind "6" "slot6"
bind "7" "slot7"
bind "8" "slot8"
bind "9" "slot9"
bind ";" "+mlook"
bind "[" "invprev"
bind "]" "invnext"
bind "`" "toggleconsole"
bind "a" "stopsound"
bind "b" "firemarker"
bind "c" "changeclass"
bind "d" "dropammo"
bind "e" "lastinv"
bind "f" "impulse 100"
bind "g" "voice_gogogo"
bind "h" "voice_usegrens"
bind "i" "voice_backup"
bind "j" "voice_grenade"
bind "l" "impulse 201"
bind "m" "+map"
bind "n" "voice_negative"
bind "o" "+attack2"
bind "p" "voice_medic"
bind "s" "voice_sticktogether"
bind "t" "messagemode2"
bind "u" "messagemode"
bind "x" "changeteam"
bind "y" "messagemode"
bind "z" "+mapzoom"
bind "~" "toggleconsole"
bind "UPARROW" "+forward"
bind "DOWNARROW" "+back"
bind "LEFTARROW" "+moveleft"
bind "RIGHTARROW" "+moveright"
bind "ALT" "+strafe"
bind "CTRL" "+duck"
bind "SHIFT" "+use"
bind "F5" "snapshot"
bind "INS" "voice_menu1"
bind "PGDN" "dropobject"
bind "PGUP" "voice_menu3"
bind "HOME" "voice_menu2"
bind "END" "prone"
bind "KP_HOME" "slot7"
bind "KP_UPARROW" "slot8"
bind "KP_PGUP" "slot9"
bind "KP_LEFTARROW" "slot2"
bind "KP_5" "slot3"
bind "KP_END" "+speed"
bind "KP_DOWNARROW" "+voicerecord"
bind "KP_PGDN" "slot5"
bind "KP_INS" "+jump"
bind "KP_MINUS" "+commandmenu"
bind "KP_PLUS" "changeteam"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "invnext"
bind "MWHEELUP" "invprev"
bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "+attack2"
bind "MOUSE3" "lastinv"
bind "MOUSE4" "+reload"
bind "MOUSE5" "prone"
_ah "0"
_cl_minimap "2"
_cl_minimapzoom "1"
_snd_mixahead "0.1"
ati_npatch "1.0"
ati_subdiv "2.0"
bgmvolume "0.000000"
bottomcolor "6"
brightness "2"
cl_allowdownload "1"
cl_allowupload "1"
cl_autoreload "1"
cl_backspeed "400"
cl_bulletejects "0"
cl_cmdbackup "2"
cl_cmdrate "105"
cl_corpsestay "10"
cl_cutscenes "1"
cl_dlmax "128"
cl_dmshowflags "1"
cl_dmshowgrenades "1"
cl_dmshowmarkers "1"
cl_dmshowobjects "1"
cl_dmshowplayers "1"
cl_dmsmallmap "1"
cl_download_ingame "1"
cl_drawmodels "1"
cl_drawplayermodels "1"
cl_dynamic_xhair "1"
cl_dynamiclights "1"
cl_fog "0"
cl_fog_blue "192"
cl_fog_density "0.0"
cl_fog_end "3500.0"
cl_fog_green "192"
cl_fog_red "192"
cl_fog_start "10.0"
cl_forwardspeed "400"
cl_himodels "0"
cl_hud_ammo "1"
cl_hud_health "1"
cl_hud_msgs "2"
cl_hud_objectives "1"
cl_hud_objtimer "1"
cl_hud_reinforcements "1"
cl_hudfont "1"
cl_idealpitchscale "0.8"
cl_identiconmode "2"
cl_lc "1"
cl_logocolor "#Valve_Orange"
cl_logofile "smiley"
cl_lw "1"
cl_numshotrubble "5"
cl_particlefx "0"
cl_timeout "60"
cl_updaterate "100"
cl_vsmoothing "0.05"
cl_weatherdis "1700"
cl_xhair_style "0"
con_color "255 155 50"
console "1.000000"
crosshair "0.000000"
dodcredits "0"
fps_max "90"
fps_modem "100.0"
gamma "2.970000"
gl_dither "1"
gl_flipmatrix "0"
gl_fog "1"
_overbright "0"
gl_polyoffset "4.0"
hisound "1"
hpk_maxsize "0"
hud_capturemouse "1"
hud_centerid "0"
hud_draw "1"
hud_fastswitch "0"
hud_takesshots "0"
joystick "0"
lookspring "0.000000"
lookstrafe "0.000000"
m_filter "1"
m_forward "1"
m_pitch "0.022000"
m_side "0.8"
m_yaw "0.022"
model "axis-inf"
MP3FadeTime "2.0"
MP3Volume "1.0"
mp_decals "100.000000"
name "{KHH} Yes Sir"
net_graph "1"
net_graphpos "1"
net_scale "5"
r_bmodelhighfrac "5.0"
r_detailtextures "0"
s_a3d "0.0"
s_automax_distance "30.0"
s_automin_distance "2.0"
s_bloat "2.0"
s_distance "60"
s_doppler "0.0"
s_eax "0.0"
s_leafnum "0"
s_max_distance "1000.0"
s_min_distance "8.0"
s_numpolys "200"
s_polykeep "1000000000"
s_polysize "10000000"
s_refdelay "4"
s_refgain "0.4"
s_rolloff "1.0"
s_verbwet "0.25"
sensitivity "4.700000"
skin ""
suitvolume "0.030000"
sv_aim "0"
sv_voiceenable "1"
team ""
topcolor "30"
viewsize "120.000000"
voice_enable "1"
voice_forcemicrecord "1.000000"
voice_modenable "1"
voice_scale "0.710000"
volume "1.560000"
+mlook
exec userconfig.cfg
Saw this posted: Tried a few things and again Zilch
Optimizing Multi-player Voice Quality
How can I get the best sound from my mic while in-game?
How can I adjust my server so players have the best voice quality?
Summary:
If your mic sounds bad or is choppy, check and adjust your mic volume, mic boost, rate and cl_cmdrate. Rate is how fast data can be sent from the server to your computer (and vice-versa) which can affect the voice quality.
56K Modems are always going to have voice quality problems.
cl_cmdrate is a variable that controls how often your client sends updates to the server including voice.
This is normally set to 20. Anything less than 13 is bad for game play and certainly for voice. Anything more than 40 is probably not going to do anything except on a LAN game.
Adjust your mic volume and boost in the game options menu under the "voice" tab.
One typical improvement is to set the cl_cmdrate to the typical FPS you see (cl_showfps 1 to enable and cl_showfps 0 to disable, don't leave it on it can cause some lag).
Unfortunately many servers running adminmod will change your rate and cl_cmdrate as they try to balance load, so your mic might be working fine and then suddenly the sound will degrade again.
Many players have their rate set to 2500 but they are on DSL/Cable and can support rates of 7500 or 9999.
Rate also affects how fast you can D/L maps and other resources so it VERY IMPORTANT to set it to match your line!
There are two places to set rate, one in your Steam settings and the other is in the game console.
In Steam, go to the Steam menu, click "Settings" then select the "Internet" tab. Choose the right setting that matches your connection.
Be sure to set your rate to what your line can handle, not just to what is fastest. Too fast and you could have other problems.
The other method is to pull down console and type "rate 7500" (for example).
It's important to be able to do this since it's the easiest way to adjust your mic (not thru the steam menu).
You must use console to change cl_cmdrate.
console
If you don't have console ("~" key typically) then you'll need to add " -console" to the launch properties of your favorite mod.
Steam > Library > (mod) > Right Click > Properties > Launch Options
Most servers will have a forced upper limit between 5000 and 7500 no matter what you set, and 9999 is the maximum (normal settings, T1) for an internet connection (20000 is the actual maximum number rate will accept).
Check your line:
It's a good idea to check your connection to make sure it's doing what you are paying for, go to
speedtest.dslreports.comok enough of that, let's check your mic.
Test it first by entering "voice_loopback 1" in your console so that you are able to hear yourself.
Using a pair of earphones is highly recommended otherwise you'll get tons of feedback.
When you are done, turn off the loopback by setting "voice_loopback 0"
Next, while speaking into your mic, enter:
rate 2500
rate 3500
rate 4500 etc. up to 9999
until your voice sounds the best, no need to go beyond that point.
Note:
Some servers are still running the older "Miles" sound voice system and although it sounds a little muddier then the new "Speex" system, Speex will often have problems and sound really bad if the server uplink gets close to max or overloaded.
Be sure to check your mic on a couple of different servers before assuming it's just you and not the server.
Server Settings:
Servers have quite a few options now for player voice settings, here is a summary:
The codec that a client uses is determined by the server, so use this command on your server to switch over to using the new one:
sv_voicecodec voice_speex
And then these commands to change between different quality voice streams (also on the server):
sv_voicequality 1 : 2400bps, lowest quality
sv_voicequality 2 : 6000bps
sv_voicequality 3 : 8000bps
sv_voicequality 4 : 11200bps
sv_voicequality 5 : 15200bps, highest quality
If you still wish to use the original miles sound encoding system set this option:
sv_voicecodec voice_miles
This is a copy of a thread with some additional detailed information about the Speex codec and relative efficiencies:
www.natural-selection.org/forums/index.php?s=2d88cedbb944c7cb0727497caee4ace3&showtopic=48362&st=0Here is a mailing-list archive entry about the Speex voice-compression codec, where it details how to enable and use this new and vastly improved speech compression with Half-Life. It will eventually replace the existing voice-compression, and become the only option. Until then, it is not the default option, but available for all Steam-powered servers. In general, reducing bandwidth usage for voice down to 6000 bits/second (quality 2) still sounds better than the current codec, while truly high levels of compression (2400 bits/second) sounds equivilantly bad, but in a different way than the current compression method.
As a quick comparison, it used anywhere from 7.5% as much bandwidth to 47.5% as much bandwidth as the current 'voice' compression, and at less than 25% the bandwidth usage sounds generally better than the current voice compression. It does use a higher portion of server CPU, but only 1-2% in most of my tests.
And as Yet Another Note: 56k modems generally have around 20000 bits/second of upload space available, and around 40000 bits/second of download space available, once you factor in TCP/IP and PPP headers and everything else. So these new codecs are MUCH more friendly for modem users.
Unfortunately, it's only available for Steam-compatable servers. Anyways, for those that don't want to read that mailing-list for more information, here you go:
First, switch your server to use the Speex encoder:
sv_voicecodec voice_speex
Now, you're running in Speex mode. The next choice is how much bandwidth do you want Speex to use, which is a direct trade-off with the voice quality.
sv_voicequality 1 = 2,400 bits/sec, 7.5% of current usage
sv_voicequality 2 = 6,000 bits/sec, 18.75% of current usage
sv_voicequality 3 = 8,000 bits/sec, 25% of current usage
sv_voicequality 4 = 11,200 bits/sec, 35% of current usage
sv_voicequality 5 = 15,200 bits/sec, 47.5% of current usage
No luck!
Tuesday not much better : (