The sound of flak

[Wolf8312]

Something that I have been wondering over is why I never hear the sound of flak when flying my aircraft over enemy territory even when low down?

 

Is this because it would not be realistic to expect to be able to do so over the noise of an engine etc?

 

But didn’t flak explode while up in the air and next to the planes themselves as do cluster bombs? Should I really not be hearing anything?

 

I just remember flak from the original IL game and how terrifying the loud explosions could be when flying over enemy airports (etc) and kind of miss the awful but thrilling tension!

 

All I see now are small puffs of silent black smoke and I don’t seem to ever get hit by it. Question is this a bug, or simply realism?

 

Many thanks!

Edited June 6, 2015 by TheNoobleWurtha

[Dakpilot]

Visit (search for hit sounds) the various 'sound issue' threads for some different hardware settings and optimisations to hearing the full sound array, the flak sounds do exist from in cockpit and from outside view, it is just a problem many are experiencing with the 'sound engine' in game and conflicts with hardware/drivers

 

I have no problems hearing them, however I can understand many peoples frustrations at having this and the aircraft hits missing, along with a few other subtle effects. Some have sorted the problems and others not succeeded..... However the hits heard louder on target A/C is a sound engine bug and a separate issue.

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[3instein]

Even though a lot of folk have had, and still are having problems with the "sound bug", myself included, the devs I think don't seem to recognise that there is a sound problem.

 

Sometimes I can hear the sounds no problem and other times I can be in a fight and suddenly my plane starts to cough and splutter after being hit with yourself none the wiser as to what just happened as I didn't hear anything at all.

 

I totally agree that the flak sounds should be a hellava lot louder, because as they are now "when working" they certainly are no where near as loud as they should be.

 

I just wish that there would be some kind of acceptance that there is a slight problem with the sound engine and that they are at least looking into it, but no luck there I'm afraid.

 

Mick.

[Finkeren]

The only 'sound bug' I really experience in BoS anymore is that I can hear hits to other aircraft as clearly or even louder than hits to my own plane.

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

I don't know if you have this issue neither if this fixes one of yours' but I'll post it anyway as a lot of guys don't seem to knwo this and have sound issues as well. I totally recommend trying following tweaks before reporting sound problems/issues.

 

Tweaks to increase audiobility of game sound effects in BoS:

 

1. Go to your L:\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data folder and open "startup.cfg" with Notepad++. Scroll down to [Key = sound]. You'll see that the first line states "count"has a value of 32, means only 32 sounds will be played at the simultaneously. Increase that to 128, save and close. You might want to setr this file as "read only" to prevent the game from reverting this change.

 

2. Set your ingame sound leveler to 100%. If your volume is too high use your Windows sound mixer tool to reduce BoS's volume individually.

 

3. There might be issues when using any surround audio options. If you use a surround setup you might turn it to "Stereo" and test it ingame.

 

Personally I had sound issues since release and neother 2. nor 3. fixed it for me (other's reported them to fix some issues). 1. however solved many issues for me. After changing the sample count I finally heared hits on my aircraft, Flak explosions, shrapnel scattering threw the fuselage, additional engine noise during startup ect. The thing about the lower sample count is that the game will always play loud sounds over quiet ones. If you have a distant Flak explosion (relatively quiet) and 32 loud samples being played simultaneously (engine, wind, armarment, ect) the game preferrably will blend out the Flak sounds in favour of the others. With sample value at 128 it won't do that.

 

You might still argue their volume is too low compared to shots and bullet exposions, but everyone feels different about it. I'm quite fine with how things are after I made the change.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Wolf8312]

That didnt work I'm afraid. I can hear the bullets firing from my own AC -which is still pretty low tbh- but I do not hear any explosions or flak firing all I mainly hear is the sound of my planes engine.

 

The sound options are incredibly limited but this is a huge issue for me that I really need to get sorted as in a game like this sound is half the atmosphere.

[Wolf8312]

Visit (search for hit sounds) the various 'sound issue' threads for some different hardware settings and optimisations to hearing the full sound array, the flak sounds do exist from in cockpit and from outside view, it is just a problem many are experiencing with the 'sound engine' in game and conflicts with hardware/drivers

 

I have no problems hearing them, however I can understand many peoples frustrations at having this and the aircraft hits missing, along with a few other subtle effects. Some have sorted the problems and others not succeeded..... However the hits heard louder on target A/C is a sound engine bug and a separate issue.

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

 

Can you be more specific I searched using those exact terms but pulled up only this very thread. How might I go about tinkering with my hardware settings to hear the full array? I can hear the flak firing after my plane has exploded most of the time though all I hear is the sound of my own engine. Is this a problem the devs are working on?

Edited June 6, 2015 by TheNoobleWurtha

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

I sumarized all solution that were discussed above. If they all didn't help you probably won't find anything else.

[Wolf8312]

When the game starts I can hear all the sounds of battle that I should be hearing in game but am not. All I really hear is the engine though I do hear aircraft and bullets hitting my plane. What I really miss though is the sound of flak. I only hear flak after my plane has exploded.

 

I'd just like to know if the Devs are aware of this problem and will try to fix it? Silent flak is a problem and makes flying over enemy territory far less tense.

 

I'll file a report in the bug section I suppose if it will help. It would be much better if the game allowed you to control individual sounds such as being able to turn the engines down and the flak up.

[D_Konig]

For some reason - maybe the latest patch or maybe a graphics driver upgrade, im not sure - but I've noticed lately I can hear more outside noises like flak and enemy bullet impacts on my aircraft than I did previously (which was 0).

[3instein]

For some reason - maybe the latest patch or maybe a graphics driver upgrade, im not sure - but I've noticed lately I can hear more outside noises like flak and enemy bullet impacts on my aircraft than I did previously (which was 0).

Therein lies the problem, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, without you doing anything to your sound devices.

 

Mick. 

[Jade_Monkey]

 

1. Go to your L:\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data folder and open "startup.cfg" with Notepad++. Scroll down to [Key = sound]. You'll see that the first line states "count"has a value of 32, means only 32 sounds will be played at the simultaneously. Increase that to 128, save and close. You might want to setr this file as "read only" to prevent the game from reverting this change.

 

 

 

It seems ike my startup.cfg does not have a "count" value at all in the Key=sound section.

 

Any ideas?

[SAG]

here is my solution to the problem, and combining with the general solution (settting in-game volume to 100%) you can play around with the Eq settings to get better results. with this, i can hear flak explosions perfectly clear as well as hits on my air frame. hope it helps,,,,

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/12468-hit-sounds-revisited/page-4

 

post numer 151 and 153. if you dont have presests on the list you can set the settings manually.  :D

Edited June 7, 2015 by SAG

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

It seems ike my startup.cfg does not have a "count" value at all in the Key=sound section.

 

Any ideas?

You can try to add it by yourself and see how it turns out ingame. I have it in my config and it worked out well so far.

 

The OPs issue likely is the sample count limitation based on his statement to be able to hear all sounds once shot down (when engine noise, wind, gunshots ect are not played anymore) but not while flying. I don't knwo why the tweak I posted didn't solve the issue, maybe it's worth doublechecking the line (incase it has been reverted unintentionally).

Edited June 7, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Wolf8312]

[KEY = sound]
    count = 128
    debug_radio = 0
    interface = 1
    quality = 2
    speedenable = true
    volume = 1.00000

[Wolf8312]

Nothing suggested works guys, really putting me off the game to be honest really hope its going to be fixed. I think its something wrong with the game, as sometimes its worse than others (flak is always piss poor) and sometimes I wont even hear the sounds of my own plane crash landing. This problems been around since november 2014 without the devs addressing it? Thats very worrying! 

[Y-29.Silky]

I never hear anything until I'm hit and of course by then, it's too late.

[Wolf8312]

I'd be happy with just the flak to be honest. By and large the sounds of being hit generally work out fine (but is certainly off at times) and do not detract from a realistic experience.

 

No sounds of flak though is a real killer...

 

The flak and bombs exploding around your plane as you raid an enemy base adds an enourmous amount of atmosphere to the whole experience.

 

Shouldnt we also be able to hear the sound of air raid sirens when we raid enemy air bases?

Edited June 8, 2015 by TheNoobleWurtha

[Finkeren]

Shouldnt we also be able to hear the sound of air raid sirens when we raid enemy air bases?

Aside from the question of whether air sirens would still be sounding by the time you got close enough to the base (which is far from given) I really don't think there's much chance of the sirens being audible to attacking planes flying overhead.

 

The sound of an ambulance siren is approaching 100dB yet can be completely inaudible even at a range of 50m to someone driving a car at 110km/h over rough tarmac. The noise levels inside a WW2 era combat aircraft is many times louder than anything you experience in a car, and on top of that it's all muffled by earphones and helmet.

 

Perhaps to fighters taking off on a scramble mission like in the old IL2?

Edited June 8, 2015 by Finkeren

[Wolf8312]

here is my solution to the problem, and combining with the general solution (settting in-game volume to 100%) you can play around with the Eq settings to get better results. with this, i can hear flak explosions perfectly clear as well as hits on my air frame. hope it helps,,,,

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/12468-hit-sounds-revisited/page-4

 

post numer 151 and 153. if you dont have presests on the list you can set the settings manually.  :D

 

Your solution makes it better the engine less loud and I can hear the sounds of my own bullets much more clearly. Still cant really hear the flak though maybe my expectations are just too high.

Edited June 9, 2015 by TheNoobleWurtha

[Finkeren]

Tbh anything that makes the sound of the wind and the engine less loud and allows you to hear more of what's going on outside is ahistorical and ruins immersion. Those sounds are pretty damn deafening in most WW2 era aircraft and I like it that they are too in BoS.

[Y-29.Silky]

I can hear them when they hit me. 


Flak should be loud, it'd also be kind of cool if a close round rattles your ears a bit.

[Wolf8312]

I agree flak should be terrifying when it explodes around your plane. Really hope this is something they will fix...

[6./ZG26_Emil]

I don't know if you have this issue neither if this fixes one of yours' but I'll post it anyway as a lot of guys don't seem to knwo this and have sound issues as well. I totally recommend trying following tweaks before reporting sound problems/issues.

 

Tweaks to increase audiobility of game sound effects in BoS:

 

1. Go to your L:\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data folder and open "startup.cfg" with Notepad++. Scroll down to [Key = sound]. You'll see that the first line states "count"has a value of 32, means only 32 sounds will be played at the simultaneously. Increase that to 128, save and close. You might want to setr this file as "read only" to prevent the game from reverting this change.

 

2. Set your ingame sound leveler to 100%. If your volume is too high use your Windows sound mixer tool to reduce BoS's volume individually.

 

3. There might be issues when using any surround audio options. If you use a surround setup you might turn it to "Stereo" and test it ingame.

 

Personally I had sound issues since release and neother 2. nor 3. fixed it for me (other's reported them to fix some issues). 1. however solved many issues for me. After changing the sample count I finally heared hits on my aircraft, Flak explosions, shrapnel scattering threw the fuselage, additional engine noise during startup ect. The thing about the lower sample count is that the game will always play loud sounds over quiet ones. If you have a distant Flak explosion (relatively quiet) and 32 loud samples being played simultaneously (engine, wind, armarment, ect) the game preferrably will blend out the Flak sounds in favour of the others. With sample value at 128 it won't do that.

 

You might still argue their volume is too low compared to shots and bullet exposions, but everyone feels different about it. I'm quite fine with how things are after I made the change.

 

I already did point 1 but point 2 made a huge amount of difference. I now have to wear incontinence pants when I fly.

 

Thanks...I think :D

[Dakpilot]

Also important to set IL-2 volume to max in windows sound, then adjust by overall volume control

 

run game, alt/Tab out, click speaker item in bottom right of screen, click mixer, max IL-2 slider up (do not do when family asleep) then bring down to normal level with 'master volume' (left slider in my system) you will now get fullest range possible

 

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

 

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Sure you can thank me....for the hint, not the the incontinence pants of course

[LukeFF]

Also important to set IL-2 volume to max in windows sound, then adjust by overall volume control

 

run game, alt/Tab out, click speaker item in bottom right of screen, click mixer, max IL-2 slider up (do not do when family asleep) then bring down to normal level with 'master volume' (left slider in my system) you will now get fullest range possible

 

Sounds.JPG

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

Hmm, I always do it the other way around - adjusting Windows sound volume to suit my headphones and keeping the in-game sound level at 100%. That's always worked fine for me.  

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

[KEY = sound]

count = 128

debug_radio = 0

interface = 1

quality = 2

speedenable = true

volume = 1.00000

try changing speed enable = true to false

And wear head phones if you don't have a 5.1 surround sound table top; your not going to hear all the sounds. With turtle beaches 7.1 I hear all.

[Dakpilot]

Hmm, I always do it the other way around - adjusting Windows sound volume to suit my headphones and keeping the in-game sound level at 100%. That's always worked fine for me.  

 

 

No you misunderstand,    Ingame sound at 100%, fully agree, but that step in windows mixer (Alt/tabbed out of game while it is running) to link IL-2 (windows) volume at max to your master volume at max gets you the full range, which is then controlled by your master widows volume control, it may not be a needed step for many, but can help by synchronising mixer levels.

 

 In game Sound volume setting will remain at 100% unchanged

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[LukeFF]

No you misunderstand,    Ingame sound at 100%, fully agree, but that step in windows mixer (Alt/tabbed out of game while it is running) to link IL-2 (windows) volume at max to your master volume at max gets you the full range, which is then controlled by your master widows volume control, it may not be a needed step for many, but can help by synchronising mixer levels.

 

 In game Sound volume setting will remain at 100% unchanged

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

OK, I'll give that a try and see if it makes any difference for me, though admittedly right now the audio sounds pretty darn good for me.

[Willy__]

Just played a bit today. And when I was flying over enemy territory some flak started to shoot at me. I could hear them perfectly fine, I dont know if it was always that way or if the earlier versions the sound was bugged I couldnt hear, but today I could hear loud BANG and even the shrapnel hitting the airframe as I was flying. Sound was at 100% and count = 128. 

[Wolf8312]

try changing speed enable = true to false

And wear head phones if you don't have a 5.1 surround sound table top; your not going to hear all the sounds. With turtle beaches 7.1 I hear all.

 

Nah didnt work. My speakers are not 5.1 or 7.1 but I never got headphones to work either can anyone post a vid of what I am supposed to be hearing? Dont get me wrong the sounds are great by and large I just dont hear flak explosions or hear guns firing when I fly low and past them. To say that the sound will only work with 5.1 or 7.1 speakers would suggest that there is something wrong that needs to be fixed as the game shouldnt require me to buy new speakers!

[Dakpilot]

Strangely most people say the sound works better when using simple stereo rather than surround systems

 

Cheers dakpilot

[LukeFF]

Strangely most people say the sound works better when using simple stereo rather than surround systems

 

Cheers dakpilot

 

I found certain sounds were being drowned out when I was using my surround-sound system, but when I switched over to my headphones, everything could be heard like it was intended to be. 

[Sokol1]

Taking hits:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSH-1axanbw

[III/JG2Gustav05]

I don't know if you have this issue neither if this fixes one of yours' but I'll post it anyway as a lot of guys don't seem to knwo this and have sound issues as well. I totally recommend trying following tweaks before reporting sound problems/issues.

 

Tweaks to increase audiobility of game sound effects in BoS:

 

1. Go to your L:\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data folder and open "startup.cfg" with Notepad++. Scroll down to [Key = sound]. You'll see that the first line states "count"has a value of 32, means only 32 sounds will be played at the simultaneously. Increase that to 128, save and close. You might want to setr this file as "read only" to prevent the game from reverting this change.

 

2. Set your ingame sound leveler to 100%. If your volume is too high use your Windows sound mixer tool to reduce BoS's volume individually.

 

3. There might be issues when using any surround audio options. If you use a surround setup you might turn it to "Stereo" and test it ingame.

 

Personally I had sound issues since release and neother 2. nor 3. fixed it for me (other's reported them to fix some issues). 1. however solved many issues for me. After changing the sample count I finally heared hits on my aircraft, Flak explosions, shrapnel scattering threw the fuselage, additional engine noise during startup ect. The thing about the lower sample count is that the game will always play loud sounds over quiet ones. If you have a distant Flak explosion (relatively quiet) and 32 loud samples being played simultaneously (engine, wind, armarment, ect) the game preferrably will blend out the Flak sounds in favour of the others. With sample value at 128 it won't do that.

 

You might still argue their volume is too low compared to shots and bullet exposions, but everyone feels different about it. I'm quite fine with how things are after I made the change.

I cannot find this "count" in "sound" section anymore, Devs removed it?

[seafireliv]

I haven`t read the whole thread, but if you can hear the flak, then it`s too close for your survival. So it`s probably good that you can`t hear it.

[Jade_Monkey]

I cannot find this "count" in "sound" section anymore, Devs removed it?

 

There have been changes in the files, so I wouldnt be surprised if count was gone.

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Still have it in my config and as far as I can tell it still works. If you don't have it copy this and paste it in the first line of [Key = Sound] section.

count = 128

[F/JG300_Gruber]

I still have it in my cfg as well