Lost aircraft engine sounds in FSX

[SSI01]

I'm experiencing very unusual behavior in my FSX installations. Yesterday everything went beautifully, all sounds were present. Today, I found my copy of the CV-580 for FSX had no engine sounds - yet every other sound (i.e., switch clicks) was working fine - as was the GPU sound. Just for fun I tried the default powered glider and its sounds were muted as well.

I've made sure my "Q" key setting (FS mute function) was not set to "on." I've also checked my sound configuration in the affected sim, and I haven't muted anything by accident, nor run it down to the bottom of the scale. The speakers are fine. I can get music via YouTube, plus talking heads on news sites.

This can't be a problem with the drivers on my sound card, from what I can see. If it were, I wouldn't be having any luck with anything my computer could access, I'd be silent across the board, I would think - but I'm still getting proper sound functioning with everything except engine sounds for all aircraft, original or add-on. That also goes for original engine sounds, and add-on engine sounds.

I've done research through the archives but can't find anything that could duplicate this issue - though in a roughly related posting someone suggested pressing the "Q" key twice for another problem. Tried that, no soap. I've also never experienced this issue since I began flight simming in the early 90s.

Does anyone have any ideas about what issue this might be?

[MrZippy]

Have you gone into your FSX/Settings and checked the sound settings, making sure they point to the proper things and speakers? Everything OK in the FSX.cfg?

[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=1
AmbientUI=1
SOUND_FADER1=0.500000
SOUND_FADER2=0.770000
SOUND_FADER3=0.390000
SOUND_FADER4=1.000000
AmbientUIMusic=top gun anthem
PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}

If you are using Windows 7, there is a tab in the Sounds options called "Communications". This tab is for setting how Windows adjusts the sound volume for different sounds when you are using your PC to place or receive telephone calls. Even though that doesn't seem to have anything whatsoever to do with FSX, or anything else you might be doing, I have read that some folks have had issues with sound volumes for some games and other applications and have gone in to this tab and set it to the "Do Nothing" option. Apparently that has solved it for them.

This was copied from an older post at the flightsim.com site.

[SSI01]

I'll take a look at what you've mentioned.

EDIT:
OK, found the FSX.cfg sound entries for both the main (unmodified) FSX installation, and the FSX.cfg sound entries for the ones suffering the problems.

Original (unmodified) FSX installation:
[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=1
AmbientUI=0
SOUND_FADER1=0.300000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.760000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01

Modified FSX installation:
[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
SOUND_FADER1=0.420000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.790000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
PrimaryDevice={2ED4E6F4-3B2E-47CD-85C3-C4D308B88044}
VoiceDevice={2ED4E6F4-3B2E-47CD-85C3-C4D308B88044}
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=0
AmbientUI=0

The original .cfg file says nothing about sound faders, etc but has other similarities to the modified .cfg file.

EDIT2: The original FSX functions fine, all sounds present.

[MrZippy]

I'll take a look at what you've mentioned.

EDIT:
OK, found the FSX.cfg sound entries for both the main (unmodified) FSX installation, and the FSX.cfg sound entries for the ones suffering the problems.

Original (unmodified) FSX installation:
[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=1
AmbientUI=0
SOUND_FADER1=0.300000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.760000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01

Modified FSX installation:
[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
SOUND_FADER1=0.420000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.790000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
PrimaryDevice={2ED4E6F4-3B2E-47CD-85C3-C4D308B88044}
VoiceDevice={2ED4E6F4-3B2E-47CD-85C3-C4D308B88044}
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=0
AmbientUI=0

The original .cfg file says nothing about sound faders, etc but has other similarities to the modified .cfg file.

You can always substitute the [SOUND] from the unmodified .cfg and try it in the modified .cfg.

[SSI01]

Thanks. That's what I was figuring on doing but wanted to hear that from you first. We're on the same track.

Will let you know how it goes in the AM.

[SSI01]

Sorry about taking so long to get back, RW stuff intervened.

I changed out the pertinent section of the CFG file for each installation. They now all appear to work fine.

I wish I could figure out why those things changed.

[MrZippy]

Sorry about taking so long to get back, RW stuff intervened.

I changed out the pertinent section of the CFG file for each installation. They now all appear to work fine.

I wish I could figure out why those things changed.

Glad to hear it's working!

[PhantomTweak]

Glad to hear it's working!

ahahahaaaHAHAHAH!!!

Good pun, Zippy!
Glad the HEAR it's working.
Engine sounds...hear....

Aww. never mind. I'm sure it was un-intentional, RIGHT???

I'd hate to think you punned that badly intentionally!


Have fun all!
Pat☺

[MrZippy]

ahahahaaaHAHAHAH!!!

Good pun, Zippy!
Glad the HEAR it's working.
Engine sounds...hear....

Aww. never mind. I'm sure it was un-intentional, RIGHT???

I'd hate to think you punned that badly intentionally!


Have fun all!
Pat☺

Glad to have made your day, Pat!