I have my audio (Master/Sound/Dialog) set fairly low (40/ 30/30), and the game sounds fine.
But when I enter a cutscene, the music and dialog are far too loud, and don’t respond to Control-M or Control-S. I have subtitles on, and would disable dialog altogether if I could.
I’m using a brand-new PC, but I had this problem on my old one as well. Any tips?
In this thread: Cutscene Music Volume (A problem since at least 2018) …someone says it’s related to “spatial sound”, but I don’t see that setting anywhere in my game or PC settings. Has it been renamed to “Distance filtering”, maybe?
Spatial sound is in the General Windows sound settings for devices like headphones. However, your issue may be the result of an addon that deals with dialogue.
OK, I see the setting in Windows 11 now, and it’s always been turned off, so that’s not it.
I don’t have any addons that relate to dialogue – are you thinking of any in particular?
Isn’t it much more likely that this is just a bug for Blizzard to fix?
Edit: Just to confirm, I did the following test.
With my usual audio settings (as described above), in ZM, ask Bolvar Fordragon to show me what happened to the jailer. Result: Music and sound pop up to annoyingly loud for the cutscene. Cancel the cutscene.
Disable all addons. Restart the game. Re-enter, talk to Fordragon again, ask to see the scene.
Doubt it. I don’t see other reports for it that weren’t related to addon or peripheral issues.
This is not remotely conclusive evidence that they aren’t the problem. Disabling addons does not prevent them from interfering with the game. And since they are created by third-parties, not Blizzard, they may not always function properly. You would need to remove the WTF and Interface folders (put them elsewhere), then try the cutscene.
Quit the game, renamed both WTF and Interface to _WTF and _Interface. Restarted. (WoW created new, default WTF and Interface folders, as expected.)
Set master volume and music volume to low. Confirmed that I could barely hear them in game. Opened Bolvar’s cutscene. BAM, sound effects, dialog and music are 20x higher than what I have set in the game.
Here’s an interesting update. I listened to the Emperor Shaohao/Lorewalker Cho cutscene today, from the end of the Siege of Orgrimmar (quest: Why Do We Fight?), and it correctly respects my audio settings. I did this as part of finishing a quest, so I thought maybe that had something to do with it. But after clicking the rock to replay the cutscene again, it was also the correct volume.
…In case that helps the devs track down what is clearly a Blizzard bug.
I’ve encountered a few instances where it seems like they don’t properly classify an audio file into the right channel. There is a quest near the end of the Zereth Mortis campaign where the Maldraxxi forces charge into the dunes and the charging yells are extremely loud and startling, despite all my channels being low and properly tuned. I put in a bug report for it, however I don’t think it was fixed yet. You could file a report in the bug forum, as well, if you think that’s what is happening here. I do notice my cut scenes have been louder lately, though. I swapped covenants and the soulbind cutscene was louder than I remember. I’ve not yet tried to adjust my settings further since I encounter them rarely and quickly turn down my computer volume. You also can’t really tweak game settings during a cinematic which doesn’t help.
Now that I’m in-game, I had a chance to look at my sound settings. I did another soulbind ritual and also did the pocopoc unlock (a cinematic there, too) and both were extremely loud. I confirmed that all sound settings were in the lower quarter on the bar and master volume at 64% with computer volume at level 4. Everything in-game is typically quiet aside from these cinematics. I went ahead and made a report myself if you want to contribute.
under Master Volume ← ESC — System – Sound settings —> there are four sliders – Sound — Music — Ambience — Dialog .put them to about 45% (or lower) Master Volume to around 63% then retest
I’m on a Mac, so I’m guessing probably not! (Edit: I’m wondering if it possible that many people have their game turned up a lot louder than I do, so it seems normal, but for those who have the sounds low, it is louder than it should be?)
My settings have always been on the extremely low end, and the master volume at 62 (was 64 previously). Any lower, and I can’t hear the game at all. I don’t experience it on cutscenes introducing covenant features, like the command table.
Editing to add I did receive a response from another player on my bug report that they have had this problem for years.
i don’t know if this will help but – sometimes the audio driver gets Corrupted and needs a uninstall / reinstall. if your computer has Bluetooth or any other audio output. switching to another output may help
