Need help troubleshooting audio problem?

MrFragManiac · 07-11-2008, 09:07 PM

I have Dead Space PC and am having horrible audio stuttering which repeats in short loops, often causing video hitching too. My system passes the min spec on everything including sound card and I have the latest drivers for video, sound and MB chipset. I also have the settings well below the auto detect with all effects off, shaders at med and shadows at low.

I have noticed all the audio files for the game are a very uncommon file type (.exa.snu). All of them are in folders in the audiostreams directory except for the very last one called mx_brute.exa.snu, which is a bare .exa.snu file in that directory.

If someone with the PC version can please verify for me that this file is supposed to be a bare .exa. snu file rather than a folder and it's size 13.9MB when highlighted I'd appreciate it. I'm wondering if maybe this one file is corrupted or partially missing.

The actual size of the file when right clicking and selecting properties is:

Size: 13.9MB (14,649,376 bytes)

Size on disk: 13.9MB (14,651,392 bytes)

Metherlance · 07-11-2008, 09:19 PM

Yup, that file is fine.
If it helps, right clicking the whole AudioStreams folder contains 1490 files totalling 1.69GB

Just for information, what specs do you have? It's alright saying "I meet the minimum" - but the min specs listed on games is enough to get it to run, it doesn't mean it's playable at those specs

MrFragManiac · 07-11-2008, 09:46 PM

OK, thanks, that's what mine says too. My spec is P4 3Ghz HyperThreading CPU, X1950Pro 512MB, 2GB RAM, M-Audio Revolution, on AGP platform. Now you and others may claim this to be inadequate spec, but it in fact easily exceeds the requirements EA lists in the readme and passes the only requirements even shown on System Requirements Lab (which are derived from the developers), of which minimum spec are the only ones mentioned.

I feel this is likely a case where the M-Audio sound card I use was either not part of the beta testing, or it was and they had no problem with the 1 out of 100 or so people using M-Audio cards having terrible stuttering problems. My spec plays other games just fine, including Crysis with Med shaders and shadows and it looks much better and plays more smoothly even at 1200x900. I use only 1024x768 in this game and it's choppy as hell.

At the very least this is fraudulent advertising to list the spec as shown below if in fact that is the problem. IMO developers should be held accountable for such deception.

From the readme:

System Requirements
===================

Dead Space™ requires at least the following:

FOR WINDOWS XP (SP2) or Vista
* 2.8 GHz processor or equivalent
* 1 GB RAM (XP), 2 GB RAM (Vista)
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or better (7300, 7600 GS, and 8500 are below minimum system requirements)
* ATI X1600 Pro or better (X1300, X1300 Pro and HD2400 are below minimum system requirements)
* 256MB Video Card and Shader Model 3.0 required
* The latest version of DirectX 9.0c

System Requirements Lab results:

Metherlance · 07-11-2008, 09:57 PM

Just try using the onboard sound opposed to your sound card - that way you'll know for sure if that's the problem or not.
I'd reinstall tbh, most problems I have with games are usually fixed with a simple reinstall.

Huffshee · 07-11-2008, 11:43 PM

the only sound trick i know of is right click the specker icon on your window's bar and select playback devices... then go to recording tab and turn on the stero mixer option. It fixed tons of problems with games i had previously installed so with some luck maybe it'll help ya out too ^^. I
f not i hope you get a solution too cause the sound is one of the things that make the game... Good Luck..

franz66 · 08-11-2008, 03:17 PM

I have the same problem, too.
No help so far.
Reducing sound to simple stereo and switching DirectX hardware acceleration back to basic DOES NOT HELP.

PIV 3.4 GHz Extreme Edition
2 GB RAM
ATI RADEON 3850 GB 512 MB (AGP, HIS iceQ)
Creative Audigy 2 ZS
Teufel THX 7.1 sound system

EA did not care so far...

Grateful for any helpful proposal!
Franz

123dkakfaddopiei · 11-11-2008, 05:56 PM

Does anyone know how to open or convert these files to Wav or Ogg or Mp3? I really love the music from the game.

SaferB · 06-04-2009, 06:41 PM

I have had this game since it's release in October. It's absolutely disgusting that EA were legally allowed to release something with as many problems as this and the fact that there has been no patch made available to PC users is just an insult from EA. I will never buy another EA game in my life.

That's one more customer you won't be getting EA.
Thanks for nothing.

wilso2703 · 18-04-2009, 09:17 AM

Ive been havin the same probs for a while despite my reinstalls and settings adjustments. thought it might just have been my copy of the game and its by far not the first compatibility prob ive had with f#*kin vista but ive read on the net dozens of gamers of these story's ...its a shame..i picked deadspace for a halo size franchize......maybe not now

EA....wheres our patches you rude c#*ts

ex_inferis_xe · 22-04-2009, 03:45 AM

I also had this problem and I've fixed mine, doing the following :
- defragment the installation drive + C-drive (each one twice)
- disable + re-enable System Restore (disable -> defragment drive -> enable)

I also killed some processes I didn't need prior to running the game.
You also might want to try defragmenting the drive with the swap file.
Hope this helps for you guys too.

07-11-2008, 09:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
MrFragManiac Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 9	Need help troubleshooting audio problem? I have Dead Space PC and am having horrible audio stuttering which repeats in short loops, often causing video hitching too. My system passes the min spec on everything including sound card and I have the latest drivers for video, sound and MB chipset. I also have the settings well below the auto detect with all effects off, shaders at med and shadows at low. I have noticed all the audio files for the game are a very uncommon file type (.exa.snu). All of them are in folders in the audiostreams directory except for the very last one called mx_brute.exa.snu, which is a bare .exa.snu file in that directory. If someone with the PC version can please verify for me that this file is supposed to be a bare .exa. snu file rather than a folder and it's size 13.9MB when highlighted I'd appreciate it. I'm wondering if maybe this one file is corrupted or partially missing. The actual size of the file when right clicking and selecting properties is: Size: 13.9MB (14,649,376 bytes) Size on disk: 13.9MB (14,651,392 bytes)

07-11-2008, 09:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
MrFragManiac Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 9	OK, thanks, that's what mine says too. My spec is P4 3Ghz HyperThreading CPU, X1950Pro 512MB, 2GB RAM, M-Audio Revolution, on AGP platform. Now you and others may claim this to be inadequate spec, but it in fact easily exceeds the requirements EA lists in the readme and passes the only requirements even shown on System Requirements Lab (which are derived from the developers), of which minimum spec are the only ones mentioned. I feel this is likely a case where the M-Audio sound card I use was either not part of the beta testing, or it was and they had no problem with the 1 out of 100 or so people using M-Audio cards having terrible stuttering problems. My spec plays other games just fine, including Crysis with Med shaders and shadows and it looks much better and plays more smoothly even at 1200x900. I use only 1024x768 in this game and it's choppy as hell. At the very least this is fraudulent advertising to list the spec as shown below if in fact that is the problem. IMO developers should be held accountable for such deception. From the readme: System Requirements =================== Dead Space™ requires at least the following: FOR WINDOWS XP (SP2) or Vista * 2.8 GHz processor or equivalent * 1 GB RAM (XP), 2 GB RAM (Vista) * NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or better (7300, 7600 GS, and 8500 are below minimum system requirements) * ATI X1600 Pro or better (X1300, X1300 Pro and HD2400 are below minimum system requirements) * 256MB Video Card and Shader Model 3.0 required * The latest version of DirectX 9.0c System Requirements Lab results: Last edited by MrFragManiac; 07-11-2008 at 09:51 PM..

18-04-2009, 09:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
wilso2703 Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	oh so it's not just my cheap copy Ive been havin the same probs for a while despite my reinstalls and settings adjustments. thought it might just have been my copy of the game and its by far not the first compatibility prob ive had with f#kin vista but ive read on the net dozens of gamers of these story's ...its a shame..i picked deadspace for a halo size franchize......maybe not now EA....wheres our patches you rude c#ts

07-11-2008, 09:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Metherlance Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 31	Yup, that file is fine. If it helps, right clicking the whole AudioStreams folder contains 1490 files totalling 1.69GB Just for information, what specs do you have? It's alright saying "I meet the minimum" - but the min specs listed on games is enough to get it to run, it doesn't mean it's playable at those specs

07-11-2008, 09:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Metherlance Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 31	Just try using the onboard sound opposed to your sound card - that way you'll know for sure if that's the problem or not. I'd reinstall tbh, most problems I have with games are usually fixed with a simple reinstall.

07-11-2008, 11:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Huffshee Rookie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 46	the only sound trick i know of is right click the specker icon on your window's bar and select playback devices... then go to recording tab and turn on the stero mixer option. It fixed tons of problems with games i had previously installed so with some luck maybe it'll help ya out too ^^. I f not i hope you get a solution too cause the sound is one of the things that make the game... Good Luck..

08-11-2008, 03:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
franz66 Rookie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4	I have the same problem, too. No help so far. Reducing sound to simple stereo and switching DirectX hardware acceleration back to basic DOES NOT HELP. PIV 3.4 GHz Extreme Edition 2 GB RAM ATI RADEON 3850 GB 512 MB (AGP, HIS iceQ) Creative Audigy 2 ZS Teufel THX 7.1 sound system EA did not care so far... Grateful for any helpful proposal! Franz

11-11-2008, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
123dkakfaddopiei Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3	Does anyone know how to open or convert these files to Wav or Ogg or Mp3? I really love the music from the game.

06-04-2009, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
SaferB Rookie Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 26	I have had this game since it's release in October. It's absolutely disgusting that EA were legally allowed to release something with as many problems as this and the fact that there has been no patch made available to PC users is just an insult from EA. I will never buy another EA game in my life. That's one more customer you won't be getting EA. Thanks for nothing.

22-04-2009, 03:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
ex_inferis_xe Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	I also had this problem and I've fixed mine, doing the following : - defragment the installation drive + C-drive (each one twice) - disable + re-enable System Restore (disable -> defragment drive -> enable) I also killed some processes I didn't need prior to running the game. You also might want to try defragmenting the drive with the swap file. Hope this helps for you guys too.