Mafia Sound Issues

**Mortis** · November 24th, 2002, 04:22 PM

Greetings- Wasnt sure whether to put this in MutliMedia/Audio or here... or heck- even in a different GamingForum, but settled on this one

.

AnyWays- I am having some frustrating sound issues with Mafia. To start with- I have searched Mafia's Forum with keywords and tried all suggestions there... but cant find a GOOD solution. So, I hoped some gamers here may have an idea.

Its like this- I have onboard sound- AC97 on an MSI 648 Max (L series). Since installing this Mobo, I have been unable to play the game because if I try and Run Quadraphonic Sound- I hear sound effects, but no voices in gameplay or cutscenes. Here is what I have done...

-Cntrl-alt-delete'd out of game after start and changed speaker config back to quadraphonic (the game intro is in stereo and forces the speaker setting back to stereo)

-Disable/Enable EAX to no avail

-All sounds do work in Software Mode- but gameplay is then choppy

I have all the latest drivers installed for Mobo, Sound and Video

Strangely, Even if I try to play the Game in stereo- desktop set at Stereo and Game set at Stereo, I still dont get voices. There is no official support at Mafia, only forums. I have exhausted that option.

At this point, I am happy to just get Stereo back and working... but cant even get that. ANY and ALL Help is appreciated. I was halfway through this game when I upgraded my system and started having probs.... I think it is/was Great- now I want to finish it

.

Thanks for the Support and Ideas,
Mortis

**Daft_Ghosty** · November 27th, 2002, 09:53 AM

I don't have the game.. but here is a bump.. and a few questions..

What did you upgrade that changed your systems specs? have you tried uninstalling the game.. reinstalling it.. trying it without patches installed.. and/or trying a patch that you know was working for the game?

also might try dxdiag. by going to Start>Run and type in dxdiag.. and turn down hardware sound.. and check through options for the sound to see if anythign can be adjusted to help..

last solution.. buy a sound card and get off that on board pos.. u can get a sound blaster 16 cheap.. like 20 bucks.. if u want somethign more.. get a turtle beach sqanta cruz card.. its better then a sb live, or audigy card.. and its onyl about 60 bucks.. can't get either.. ask a friend for a old sound card.. do something to get off on board sound.. to many problems..

**Mortis** · November 27th, 2002, 11:50 AM

Thanks Daft... I have tried all the things you suggested except for the NewSoundCard, hehe. I dont think I need a new sound card, the RealTek Sound I have onboard sounds good and I cant fully utilize it- between it and my 6 channel sound, I cant turn it up now or the neighbors bang on my door (Apartment Complex

) .

Yea, I did a clean install after upgrading the Mobo including OS and all software... I have twice reinstalled the game thinking the SetUp files determined my 6 channel sound and continued to try and use it so I reinstalled with Stereo Sound enabled hoping to fix it and also installed in another configuration. I have messed with DxDiag, etc.

This is the First Time I have experienced SoundIssues in a Game... after reading the Forums at Mafia, Many seem to be having issues. I cant justify to myself purchasing a Card for one game... so maybe I will put this one on the shelf (which I dont want to do) and see if I have similar issues in the future, if I do, I will consider getting a new SoundCard at that time.

Thanks for Your Ideas and ^Bump^.

Mortis

**Daft_Ghosty** · November 27th, 2002, 05:41 PM

np.. to bad u don't have it working.. I know you said u don't need a different sound card.. but I can tell you on board sound is the pits.. there are some nice ones out there.. but nothing like a true sound card.. its like on board video.. u know that is junk.. same goes with sound.. =)

I'd say don't look at it as buying a sound card for one game.. as games go along.. they are getting more advanced and need a quality sound card..

the sound problems do wound like a driver issue though.. do you have sound controls other then windows?

also check what irq the onboard sound is using.. it could be it is using a irq that the games voice audio can't see.. if u remember back in dos days u could have games that music would work but voices didn't b/c of irq..

humm u might think about posting this in general tech.. even though this is a game sound problem.. it could be a system irq problem.. that maybe someone in general tech who doesn't come to this forum.. could answer..

**Mortis** · November 27th, 2002, 11:56 PM

Blasted! Dang... Your analogy about onboard sound compared to onboard video has me wondering about the other side

. That TurtleBeach at NewEgg looks good! lol.

Thanks... I will let this hang around for a while before I buy. I will look into the IRQ thing, good suggestion.

Mortis

EDIT: Yes, I have "Sound Effect" options that installed with the drivers... I have played with those also, even disabled from startup and then reinstalled the game.

**Epyon9283** · November 28th, 2002, 03:36 AM

Originally posted by Mortis
That TurtleBeach at NewEgg looks good! lol.

I have the santa cruz if thats what you're talking about. Anyway, unless I turn sound acceleration to basic in dxdiag, the game runs and sounds really bad.

**Mortis** · November 28th, 2002, 01:24 PM

Got it working

. I had turned the hardware acceleration down in DxDiag, but did not disable it. I disabled it and all works well now.

Thanks for the ideas and assistance! Time to blow things up

.

Mortis

**Daft_Ghosty** · November 28th, 2002, 07:01 PM

great to hear.. the dxdiag has become a handy tool to get allot of games working for ppl.. I've used it a few time on sound issues to get a game working.. glad u r rocking.. be sure to do a few drive by for me.. =)