Anonymous edits have been disabled on the wiki. If you want to contribute please login or create an account.

Glossary:Surround sound

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.
This page may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. The specific problem is: Some instructions can be simplified or clarified. You can help by modifying the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.
Sound
Sound
Sound card
Surround sound

For a list of games, see List of games that support surround sound.

Key points

Surround sound is used to give an increased perception of the space around the listener compared to normal sound setups.

Related articles

Sound

More information

PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up @ Satsun.org
List of games that use DirectSound3D
List of games that use OpenAL or OpenAL Soft
List of games that use other methods for binaural audio[Note 1]

Speakers

Discrete surround sound

Most modern games are capable of delivering discrete 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound to the listener's receiver without the need for any post processing.

Use an HDMI cable and a surround receiver with HDMI input
Supports PCM raw audio up to 7.1, and (on newer receivers) Dolby Atmos.
Use an S-PDIF cable and a lossy compression mixer, such as Dolby Digital Live
Supports PCM 5.1 re-encoded by the PC to Dolby Digital.
On Windows, with motherboards with more than 1 AUX output port on the back, 2-4 pairs of stereo speakers can be used to enable and/or emulate surround.[1]
  1. Insert stereo speakers into the correct AUX ports. Normally, it's green (Line Out) for the frontspeakers, black (Rear) for the side/rear speakers, and orange (C/Sub) for center and subwoofer. The plug for 7.1 far-rear speakers tend to differ, as it rarely has its own dedicated port.
  2. Open Run and enter mmsys.cpl
  3. Right-click on Speakers and choose Configure Speakers.
  4. Choose the applicable speaker setup. When using 2 pairs, choose "5.1 surround", and not "Quadrophonic", since very few games or movies support the latter.
  5. In the following "Optional speakers" menu, deselect any missing speakers, e.g. subwoofer and center-speaker.
  6. (When using a non-subwoofer setup) In the following "Choose full-frequency speakers" menu, set all normal speakers to full-frequency.
Supports up to 7.1 raw audio.
Some versions of Realtek drivers, cause apps to disregard the settings for deselected speakers, and may try to force sound through the missing speakers, leading to missing sound effects. This can be tested by opening a mono audio file in an audio player. A fix is to uninstall the Realtek drivers and restart the PC, which will install Microsoft-approved Realtek drivers instead.[2]
In contrast, Realtek driver versions that include Realtek HD Sound Manager (Most commonly found on Gigabyte motherboards), show an input selection prompt whenever an AUX cable is inserted, which allows setting Line In and Mic ports as being for surround speakers, allowing surround on motherboards without Rear or C/Sub ports.[3]

Surround-compatible stereo

Also referred to as Dolby Surround (not to be confused with Dolby Surround Upmixer), Dolby Pro Logic II-compatible, Dolby Stereo, or 4-channel surround sound (not to be confused with 4.0 quadraphonic sound). This was first used in theaters in the 1970s, and was introduced to the home alongside VHS and Betamax in 1982, predating discrete surround sound. It was used in many venues and mediums until discrete surround sound became viable. One notable benefit of surround-compatible stereo is that it can be played back on any stereo speakers and still sound normal.

Use a surround sound upmixer
Suggested upmixers include Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6.
If using an upmixer that also incorporates height speakers; such as DTS Neural:X, Dolby Surround Upmixer, or Dolby Pro Logic II Z; you may want to disable your height speakers to remain faithful to the original mix.
Some newer all-in-one receivers do not include a surround upmixer.
Use headphones

Content mixed in surround-compatible stereo will have a surround effect when listened to over earphones or headphones.

Object-based surround sound

Since Windows 10 v1703, Microsoft exposed a new surround audio solution, called Microsoft Spatial Sound. To take advatage of it, games need to support it. Third party developers are allowed to publish their own implementations, with no additional game requirements.

Windows Sonic for Headphones

Default free pre-installed plugin for Microsoft Spatial Sound.[4]
It works best on stereo headphones.
When games do not support Microsoft Special Sound output, it falls back on a virtual surround implementation, which might not be desired.

Dolby Atmos for Home Theater

Dolby Atmos adds overhead sound by utilizing 2 or more in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers.
Manual list of games that support Dolby Atmos
The Dolby Access app does not require any purchase to enable the use of Dolby Atmos for Home Theater.

This requires a Dolby TrueHD capable sound card, a Dolby Atmos capable receiver and speaker setup (with at least 2 in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers), as well as Windows v1703 or later and the Dolby Access app.

DTS:X

DTS:X adds overhead sound by utilizing 2 or more in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers.
The DTS Sound Unbound app requires a purchase to use DTS:X with a dedicated home theater receiver.

Headphones

Binaural sound: HRTF

HRTF (Head Related Transfer Functions) refers to the way that the curvature of one's ears are used to localize sound in 3D space. Algorithms exist that can simulate this action, allowing for full 3D surround sound with just a normal pair of earphones or headphones. The resulting audio is refered to as binaural. While some games, such as CS:GO and Quake Champions include built-in HRTF options, many other games do not; requires external wrappers to enable. As such, it is not recommended for online usage. Listed are methods for adding HRTF using various APIs.

DirectSound3D

Use DSOAL

A pre-configured version of DSOAL that includes compiled HRTF tables can be found on PCGW, NexusMods and ModDB. Note that while listed as being for Fallout New Vegas, it can work with most DirectSound3D games.

Alternative downloads for DSOAL: Yadi.sk, Current compiled build Source code git.

OpenAL

OpenAL Soft is a free, open-source replacement for OpenAL.
Better use of OpenAL to it's full extent by allowing more configuration.
Includes the ability to use EAX and HRTF on sound all sound cards.
Use OpenAL Soft (Windows)
  1. Download the latest release of OpenAL Soft
  2. Rename the openal-soft-x.xx.x-bin inside the zipfile to OpenAL
  3. Paste the OpenAL folder to %APPDATA%
  4. Copy the OpenAL32.dll from the Win32/64 folders located in the router folder and paste them to their respective locations
    • the DLL in the Win64 folder should be pasted to %WINDIR%\System32
    • the DLL in the Win32 folder should be pasted to %WINDIR%\SysWOW64
  5. Copy the soft_oal.dll from the bin folder into their respective locations.
    • the DLL in the Win64 folder should be pasted to %WINDIR%\System32.
    • the DLL in the Win32 folder should be pasted to %WINDIR%\SysWOW64.
  6. Open alsoft-config.exe in %APPDATA%\OpenAL\alsoft-config. Most settings by default should be suitable for most systems and games.
  7. Click Apply, then close the window.
  8. Launch the game to confirm it works.

Notes

DO NOT rename the soft_oal.dll files and use them as a substitute OpenAL32 file when doing steps 4 and 5. The method provided above is bound to run into far less problems by using a method similar to the way in which the original OpenAL executed it's dlls, alongside allowing for newer extensions.
The default HRTF tables built-in may not be enjoyable for everyone. You can find an entire catalogue of pre-made IRC tables here, alongside a video to hear how each one sounds.

X3DAudio

A DLL that provides support for HRTF on games using X3DAudio.
Uses OpenAL Soft HRTF tables.
Can work for some XAudio2 games.
Use X3DAudio HRTF
  1. Download X3DAudio HRTF (mirror)
  2. Place the appropriate .dll (32-bit or 64-bit) and hrtf folder in <path-to-game> (usually Win32/ or Win64/ folder).
  3. Run the game.

Creating custom HRTF tables/profiles

Must use the makehrtf.exe version included with OpenAL Soft 1.18.2 or earlier.
If using custom HRTF tables, make sure to create .mhr files for 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000, and 96000 hertz.[5] Precompiled HRTF tables can be found here To create the .mhr files manually, use the following steps here as a basis.

Notes

Latest Unreal Engine 4.24 audio driver seems to have broken compatibility. Always uses x3daudio1_7.dll from System32. (tested in System Shock [2020] and Trepang2 2019 demo)
Some games crash on startup even if ProcessExplorer reports x3daudio1_7.dll being used. (tested in The Maw, and Wrack)
Will cause a crash on startup if the HRTF folder containing *.mhr files can't be located by the DLL, relocating the folder to the game's root folder might allow it to start working.

Rapture3D

Use Rapture3D

Custom quality wrapper for OpenAL games. Among various 3D techniques, provides also its own HRTF tables.

Free Game Edition bundled with DiRT 3 can be used with other games following these instructions or using extracted libraries near game exe (enabling OpenAL in game options may be required).
Not compatible with DSOAL.[citation needed]

Virtual surround

Some games do not support true binaural audio mixing (in simpler terms, stereo output with directional information). For these games, it may be beneficial to use a virtual surround sound solution (on stereo audio devices).

Windows Sonic for Headphones

Default plugin for Microsoft Spatial Sound.[6]
Works with any XAudio2-compatible game on any HD sound card and stereo speakers (but is designed for stereo headphones). When applications use the 5.1 and 7.1 virtual channel capabalities it exposes (not all do), it produces a stereo stream with the directional information from the multiple virtual channels.
Free and built in Windows 10 v1703 and newer.
It might engage on applications that play stereo audio sources and try to make the sound more "full", which might be undesired.
It might engage on games that have native binaural audio, potentially making the audio quality worse.

Dolby Atmos for Headphones

Successor to Dolby Headphone.
Commercial plugin for Microsoft Spatial Sound.[7] Uses the Dolby Access app for Windows 10.
Works on Windows 10 v1703 or newer.
Requires a purchase after the trial period has expired.

DTS Headphone:X

Successor to DTS Connect.
Built into some headphones.
Commercial plugin for Microsoft Spatial Sound.[8] Uses the DTS Sound Unbound app for Windows 10.
Works on Windows 10 v1703 or newer.
Requires a purchase after the trial period has expired.

Razer THX Spatial Audio

New surround sound Razer solution.
Uses a virtual audio output device exposing 7.1 virtual speakers, allowing games which auto-detect the speaker setup of the system to work with Razer Surround as well.
Works with any stereo headset/headphone; not limited to Razer peripherals.
Requires a purchase after the trial period has expired.

Razer Surround

Not to be confused for the newer locked-down virtual surround solution Razer 7.1 Surround Sound.

Free. A Pro version was previously available for purchase that unlocked additional features, but the ability to purchase this version was removed following the product becoming end-of-life.[9]
Uses a virtual audio output device exposing 7.1 virtual speakers, allowing games which auto-detect the speaker setup of the system to work with Razer Surround as well.
Works with any stereo headset/headphone; not limited to Razer peripherals.
No longer officially supported.
Official support page

Razer 7.1 Surround Sound

Not to be confused for the now obsolete generic virtual surround solution Razer Surround.

Limited to only Razer Kraken and Razer Kraken X headsets.
Official support page

HeSuVi

Virtual surround application that mimics the effects of most popular (and obscure) virtual surround and HRTF implementations.
Requires 7.1 output in sound options on supported sound cards, otherwise a virtual audio device, such as VB-Cable, needed for virtualization.
Setup video tutorial

CMSS-3D

Exclusively for Creative X-Fi sound cards.
Some manufacturers provide their users with Creative X-Fi MB software to use it without X-Fi sound cards.

SBX Surround Sound

Available in SBX Pro Studio Panel.
Exclusively for Creative sound cards having SB-Axx1 chipset as their main chipsets, such as Soundblaster ZxR, Soundblaster X7, etc.
Some manufacturers provide various Creative softwares for their users to use this surround sound.

Pure Virtual 7.1/5.1 sound over driver with Windows for some cards

Work on Windows Vista and newer.
Configurable via the native Windows sound panel without dubious programs.
Works on Asus Xonar series and Creative Sound BlasterX series, etc.
It works only with the above cards and which have this support.

Pipewire Virtual Surround Sink

Works on Linux
Extremely low latency
Requires a Hesuvi HRTF file
Move and rename a Hesuvi HRTF file to ~/hrir_hesuvi/hrir.wav and add this script to ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/hrir.conf and then restart your computer

Issues fixed

Sounds not playing on rear speakers when listening to 5.1 content on a 7.1 or higher system

The standard 5.1 setup does not have rear speakers. The "surround" speakers are actually placed close to where the side speakers on a 7.1 setup go.
Use a surround sound upmixer that supports 6.1 or 7.1
Suggested upmixers include Dolby Pro Logic II X and DTS Neo:6.
If using an upmixer that also incorporates height speakers; such as DTS Neural:X, Dolby Surround Upmixer, or Dolby Pro Logic II Z; you may want to disable your height speakers to remain faithful to the original mix.
Disable side speakers[citation needed]

Use the receiver's speaker layout configuration settings to disable the side speakers. Note that this is different from simply muting said speakers.

Older games not using surround sound on Windows Vista or newer

See DirectSound 3D restoration software.


Notes

  1. This includes games from multiple systems, not just PC

References

  1. Verified by User:Dandelion Sprout on 2021-08-10
  2. Verified by User:Dandelion Sprout on 2021-11-25
  3. Verified by User:Dandelion Sprout on 2021-11-25
  4. Microsoft Spatial Sound - last accessed on May 2023
  5. X3DAudio HRTF: Fix for sounds playing at full volume at any distance - YouTube
  6. Microsoft Spatial Sound - last accessed on May 2023
  7. Dolby Atmos for Headphones - last accessed on May 2023
  8. DTS Sound Unbound FAQ - last accessed on May 2023
  9. Verified by User:Aemony on 2019-10-28
    Can't find anywhere to purchase the pro version nowadays.