No music

[martok]

My thread title says it all, really: The in-game music isn't playing since I upgraded to the official 1.06 update. I know I've complained about DW's soundtrack, but this is a rather drastic solution, don't you think? [:'(]

Seriously, though, if anyone else has experienced this problem and figured out how to fix it, I'd appreciate any assistance you could give me! Playing the game without music is making it just a little too....eerie for me to really enjoy.

[drillerman]

Please don't think this is a flipant question. You have turned the volume slider up? Only I had the slider turned down once and didn't realise!![8|]

[martok]

No offense taken; it's a logical question to ask. [:)] Anyway, yes I did make sure the volume was turned up.

[martok]

Anyone? Honestly, I've stopped playing the game because of this -- it's just too weird to have no music in the background.

[Igard]

What sort of audio device are you using martok? Is it a sound card or onboard?

I can only suggest that you update your drivers, both audio and video. You could also try re-installing the game. This sounds obvious, but can you play mp3's outside of the game?

You could also try tweaking some of the settings for your sound device. I don't know if you've tried already, but sometimes just looking at them can present what the problem is.

Until a solution for you is found, I'd just have a music player running in the background while you play. I do it all the time, because I get bored of the same music all the time.

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Igard

Until a solution for you is found, I'd just have a music player running in the background while you play. I do it all the time, because I get bored of the same music all the time.

You can just dump a suitable selection of your own .mp3s in the game's music folder to save messing about.

[Igard]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

You can just dump a suitable selection of your own .mp3s in the game's music folder to save messing about.

That actually sounds like more messing about. I'd rather keep my files where they are in their corresponding album folders in my music. Or I'll fire on a cd.

That won't help martok either, since he can't play the music in the game's music folder.

[martok]

ORIGINAL: Igard

What sort of audio device are you using martok? Is it a sound card or onboard?

It's integrated with my motherboard.

ORIGINAL: Igard

I can only suggest that you update your drivers, both audio and video. You could also try re-installing the game. This sounds obvious, but can you play mp3's outside of the game?

I actually just updated my drivers -- both sound & video -- last week (due to my having to reinstall Windows XP). I suppose I can try reinstalling DW and see if that does the trick.

No idea if I can play MP3's on my PC. I'm very much *not* a technically-savvy bloke, so I don't know how to even download/play them. [:(]

ORIGINAL: Igard

You could also try tweaking some of the settings for your sound device. I don't know if you've tried already, but sometimes just looking at them can present what the problem is.

Where/how would I find the settings for my sound device? I'm afraid I don't even know where to look. [&:]

ORIGINAL: Igard

Until a solution for you is found, I'd just have a music player running in the background while you play. I do it all the time, because I get bored of the same music all the time.

For whatever odd reason, I've always preferred to play a game with the music it came with, even if it's not my favorite. Maybe I'm just a purist that way? [:'(]



In any case, thanks for the tips! I'll try uninstalling/reinstalling the game and see if that helps.

[Igard]

Let me know how you get on martok. If reinstalling doesn't work, we'll take a look at the sound device settings.

Also, make sure you can hear explosions and weapons fire in the game. The button clicks appear to be separate from the rest of the sounds, so make sure it is only the music that's not playing.

As for testing an mp3 file, download this test file - http://download.linnrecords.com/test/mp3/recit.aspx

[WoodMan]

Did the music stop playing after you updated the sound drivers?  Did it play at all since you updated them?  If it stopped when you updated your sound drivers, try to rollback your sound driver to the one that worked.  If you need a hand doing it just ask.

Also, if you can play Igards test mp3 above, navigate to your distant worlds/sound/music folder and try to play one of those in windows, if they dont play but the test file does, probably a reinstall of the game is needed.

Edit: you can keep your saves, just copy them somewhere safe then put them back after reinstall.

[martok]

Okay, I reinstalled DW (and updated to 1.06), but the game's soundtrack still isn't playing. To address in (approximate) order the questions/points raised by Igard and WoodMan:

1.) Yes, the weapons and explosion sound effects work.

2.) Yes, I was able to play the mp3 test file (using Windows Media Player).

3.) Actually, the game's music stopped playing after I updated to 1.06 -- both before and after I reinstalled XP (as well as updating my sound drivers) on my computer. That's why I reported this bug in the first place; it was only after this most recent update that I've had problems.

4.) I found DW's music folder, and yes I was able to play every single track in there (again, using Windows Media Player).



Also, I forgot to mention before that the music during the game's intro sequence works just fine. As soon as I get to the main menu, however, the music stops completely. I'm not sure if that's at all relevant, but I figured I should mention it just in case.

EDIT: Just to be absolutely sure, I'm going to reinstall the game, but without updating it. I'm first going to see if the music works minus the 1.06 patch.

[martok]

Well it's official: The problem isn't the update, as I didn't have any music with vanilla DW either. So it's almost certainly something to do with my sound card/driver/settings/etc. I thought I'd used the same driver as before (I reinstalled XP), but obviously not. Gah!

[Igard]

Hi martok. I think the best thing to do first is a windows update if haven't already done one. That should install all the latest drivers for all your hardware.

You can check that you have the latest sound device drivers by doing the following -

Go to start, open control panel

In the control panel  open the device manager

Near the bottom of the list of devices you should see a speaker icon named Sound, Video and Game Controllers

Expanding this should show you the name of the sound device. It could be something like 'high definition audio device' or something similar. If this icon has an exclamation mark or question mark on it, then it's a safe bet this is where the problem lies.

Double click the device to open it's properties. Open the Driver tab.

Click the update driver button and search automatically. Windows will then search the internet and will either install the latest update or it will inform you that you're already up to date.

Let's see how you get on after that.

[martok]

Hmm, I don't see a "device manager" on my control panel. There are icons for "sound effect manager" and "sounds and audio devices", but that's all I'm seeing. Sorry; I know that's probably not very helpful. [:(]

[Igard]

I'm sorry martok, it's been a while since I used XP, the device manager is not accessed directly from the control panel.You need to go into System from the control panel, then IIRC there is a button for the device manager.

You could also try the 'sounds and audio devices' icon, that sounds like it's what we're looking for.

[martok]

No worries man; I suspected that was maybe the problem (that I'm still using XP). I appreciate the assistance regardless. [:)]

Okay, I found the device manager and expanded the "sound, video and game controllers" section. There are six things listed underneath it:

1.) Audio Codecs 2.) Legacy Audio Drivers 3.) Legacy Video Capture Devices 4.) Media Control Devices 5.) RealTek AC'97 Audio 6.) Video Codecs

So is it #2 (Legacy Audio Drivers) that I want? Or perhaps #5 (RealTek AC'97 Audio)?

By the way, contrary to what we were anticipating, there's no question mark or exclamation point on or next to any of those six listings. I don't know if that means the problem could still be with my sound drivers or not, but I figured I should probably mention that.

[Igard]

Ok, I think legacy is only used for DOS programs. Update the drivers for the AC97, that's your onboard audio device.

Also make sure your windows update has installed the latest Service Pack. I think it's SP 3. To find out go to control panel and open 'system'.

[martok]

ORIGINAL: Igard

Ok, I think legacy is only used for DOS programs. Update the drivers for the AC97, that's your onboard audio device.

I updated the drivers....and my computer tells me I already have the most up-to-date version.

ORIGINAL: Igard

Also make sure your windows update has installed the latest Service Pack. I think it's SP 3. To find out go to control panel and open 'system'.

Yes, I did confirm I have XP updated to the third service pack.

[Igard]

I don't know how to configure the AC97, but there should be something in the control panel for Sounds or Devices, maybe it's even called AC97 configuration. Look for that and see if there is anything unusual or unchecked in the settings. Try changing some settings if you think it might improve things, or do some trial and error to see if it fixes the problem. Wish I could be more help than that.

It's also possible that there is another hardware device 'blocking' the Distant Worlds program from playing the music. If this is the case then it's going to be down to someone with more knowledge of drivers and software than me to help you out. I don't know why it would work before you reinstalled XP though.[&:]

After this, I'm all out of ideas I'm afraid. [:(]

Someone should come along eventually with an understanding of the problem. Until then, you can always create a playlist with the mp3s in the music folder and play them in the background.

[sbach2o]

ORIGINAL: martok

ORIGINAL: Igard

I can only suggest that you update your drivers, both audio and video. You could also try re-installing the game. This sounds obvious, but can you play mp3's outside of the game?

I actually just updated my drivers -- both sound & video -- last week (due to my having to reinstall Windows XP). I suppose I can try reinstalling DW and see if that does the trick.

Forget everything else mentioned in this thread, until you have checked the following:

After your reinstall of XP, which version of Media Player are you running? DW needs the newest (Version 11 or so, I think) to play the in-game music. You likely had updated to this before your need to reinstall Windows XP. You'll need it again.