Getting 4 channel sound to work in HL2

[wraith3k]

I'm using the onboard realtek sound card on my computer and it does work properly in the realtek windows utility, but not in Half-Life 2. The problem there is that sounds come out of all 4 speakers at once instead of the way it should normally work. In the game the audio is set to 4 channel. I did try HL2: Ep2 also, where it seems ok. In that game, sounds in front of me still came out all speakers, but the rear ones were quieter, like the volume levels were set better. Any ideas?

 

[error8]

I remember that when I played HL2 , a couple of years ago, I had a similar problem as you have, in the way that I wasn't getting any sound in my subwoofer on a 5.1 setup. The only way I could make it work, with the stupid realtek, was to invert the center speaker with the subwoofer and that created a distorted bass, since there was way to much medium frequencies sounds on it. Realtek is crappy , I gave it a try a while ago and it totally disgusted me, in games and movies and everything.

This is why I have a very, very cheap Audigy LS, modded into an X-fi Xtreme Audio. Sound is working great in the vast majority of games in Vista, using Alchemy or not. I'd suggest buying yourself a Xonar or maybe an X-fi and if you lack the cash, you can get a new bulk Audigy like mine, for just a couple of dollars.

 

[footballrunner800]

What are you connecting your speakers to your computer with?

 

[wraith3k]

Originally posted by: error8
This is why I have a very, very cheap Audigy LS, modded into an X-fi Xtreme Audio. Sound is working great in the vast majority of games in Vista, using Alchemy or not. I'd suggest buying yourself a Xonar or maybe an X-fi and if you lack the cash, you can get a new bulk Audigy like mine, for just a couple of dollars.

Thanks, I might look into getting a sound card. Hopefully it would help with an issue like this.

Originally posted by: footballrunner800
What are you connecting your speakers to your computer with?

An analog 1/8" miniplug cable. Really I should just invest in a proper 5.1 setup. What I have is actually two different sets of 2.0 speakers, one set for the front (which has a passive sub), and one for the rear. I figured since I had some old speakers lying around I'd try them out for the rear ones. Not the greatest setup I admit.

 

[LS8]

Yup, Realtek blows donkey balls. My Asus mobo has onboard *8 channel (yeah, uh huh) Realtek audio and it's horrible. My six year old SB Live! 5.1 sounds infinitely better.

 

[ja1484]

RealTek is ass. Creative's cards are fine, and there are other options too, i.e. Turtle Beach, M-Audio, BlueGears, etc.

 

[zerocool84]

Older Realteks like the ones you guys have suck but the new ones are great.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Older Realteks like the ones you guys have suck but the new ones are great.

That is not true. I don't exactly know what my P35 has on it, but it should be one of those "new" Realtek and it's a total crap. I tried it a couple of months ago and it was horrible in games and movies, incomparable with my cheapo Audigy.