Forgot to add, using a Santa Cruz soundcard

These steps differ from our Readme file… but I think they're much simpler/safer because there is no editing of System files or the Registry.

Symptoms: Missing or Sporadic Music, Speech or Sound Effects
Cause: The (advanced) version of the Fraunhoffer MP3 Codec is missing or disabled
Reason: The presence of the Nimo Codec Pack or the (professional) version of the Fraunhoffer Codec prevents Freelancer from installing the proper codec.
Solution: Remove the (professional) codec and re-install (advanced) codec

Steps to View Audio Codecs:

1) Open Control Panel (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel)
2) Open Sound Panel ( Win 2000 = "Sounds and Multimedia", XP = "Sounds and Audio Devices", ?)
3) Select the Hardware tab
4) Double-click "Audio Codecs" in the Devices list
5) Select the Properties tab

Steps to Remove (professional) Codec

1) Select "Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec" from the list
2) Press [Properties
3) Verify that this codec has (professional) in its full name
4) Press [OK
< if the (professional) codec is not present, then this issue does not apply >
5) Click the [Remove button
6) Click Yes to confirm
7) You do not have to Restart Windows

Steps to Install (advanced) Codec

1) Locate the REDIST folder on the Freelancer CD
2) run WMFDist.exe
3) Reboot to cleanup <may be optional>
4) run Freelancer and all Sound should be working

Note: the Fraunhofer codec can also be present but Disabled

1) Use steps above to View Audio Codecs
2) Select "Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec"
3) Click [Properties button
4) Verify that codec has (advanced) in its full name
5) Check "Use this audio codec" check-box
6) Press [Apply and [OK buttons

Note: if you have other software that requires the (professional) codec, you can re-install it once the (advanced) codec is in place… this will not interfere with Freelancer.

I hope this helps!




Mike "Gryf" Weber
Freelancer Tester
Digital Anvil Studio

Also please make sure you have the latest drivers for your system.

I know it's obvious but it's often overlooked.


Mike "Gryf" Weber
Freelancer Tester
Digital Anvil Studio

Thanks for the quick reply. I have done these steps - in fact when I first installed freelancer, half the sounds were missing, so I followed the uninstall all codecs/ install Fraunhoffer Advanced steps, and now the sounds play fine, it's just that they sound very low quality, like they're being played through a radio. Also the background music in places like the bar is very, very quiet, although in the intro sequece the music level sounds right.
The Fraunhoffer Advanced codec is enabled and appears to be working OK, it's just the sound quality seems very poor, and I was wondering if this was how everyone has it or whether my system is doing something wrong.
I have these codecs in the codec screen, and Fraunhoffer is set to priority 1:
Fraunhoffer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec (advanced)
imaadp32.acm
msadp32.acm
msg711.acm
msgsm32.asm
tssoft32.acm
lhacm.acm
msg723.acm
Indeo audio software
Windows Media Audio
Sipro Lab Telecom Audio Codec
Voxware Compression Toolkit
Microsoft PCM converter


Thanks,
Jon

You did everything right. The "3D sound" in Freelancer is to blame. Turn it off. From the Main Menu choose Options > Audio, then clear the 3D Sound checkbox. You'll be good to go.

The 3D sound just adds a few environmental touches like a Doppler effect on passing ships. You'll never miss it. The Santa Cruz does perfectly good 3D audio positioning on its own, so if you have 4 or 6 speakers the game sounds great.

EDIT: Another option you might try is editing My Documents\My Games\Freelancer\PerfOptions.ini. You can change the audio levels "by hand" for four different types of sound. If music is too quiet, set it to 2.00 and see how that sounds. This solution doesn't work for me because my problem is the engine sounds and gun sounds are too quiet (in 3rd person view) and there's no adjustment for that (tried SFX and ambient no go).

-W

Edited by - wylfing on 19-09-2003 19:02:15