Windows Audio and sounding like a chipmunk/on helium!

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  1. Posts : 2,585
    Win 11
       #31

    AVG was one antivirus flagged by Sonar (my recording studio program) as a potential to cause audio problems. I switched to Microsoft Defender (back when it was called Security Essentials) and haven't had any antivirus issues.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #32

    For what it's worth, I had the same problem of squeaky voice in Skype and eventually came up with a workaround after persistent tweaking: disable "Nvidia HD Audio" in Device Manager, reboot, and "Troubleshoot" the webcam device in Control Panel. It's not clear what "Troubleshoot" does, but it's necessary to get it working after disabling Nvidia audio and rebooting. The troubleshooter claims the USB device "may have been disconnected" even though it was not.

    My default audio output uses on-board Realtek and the mic is Logitech. I know they're different devices and software mentioned in this thread but it sounds like a similar driver conflict and thought the info might help someone.

    Every once in a while the "Nvidia HD Audio" becomes enabled again but I can't figure out why. Nvidia drivers are not set to auto-update, so it's probably something with Windows.

    I'm checking with Nvidia to see if anybody else reported the same issue.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 44
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #33

    Thanks. I'd given up on this thread. The problem happens without starting Firefox which only left AVG and uninstalling that completely (full AVG removal malarkey) didn't fix it either. That had me assuming it was something else but to beyond caring to investigate. That sounds like a possible quick one to try so I'll give it a whirl. If it fixes it I'll report back.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #34

    Okay, good luck!

    Also wanted to be clear that "Nvidia HD audio" is not something I use on this PC, and I do not run AVG or any 3rd-party AV or firewall software, just Windows Defender.

    I might try uninstalling "Nvidia HD audio" and manually running the GeForce Experience "bare metal" driver update (or whatever they call it) to make sure the audio options are deselected.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #35

    If you perform a full uninstall of the nVidia driver set ( Display Driver Uninstaller Download ), when you re-install, the audio component is an optional install as are all the other additional bits (just un-check what you do not want
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 44
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #36

    I disabled/re-enabled all the audio devices in device manager and re-booted. Troubleshooting didn't help but when I re-enabled them all... the problem seems to have vanished! Fingers crossed that it stays gone.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 83
    Windows 10
       #37

    Chipmonk Workaround


    I had this problem after the Anniversary Update with my Logitech 9000 webcam. I eventually found a workaround which worked every time. After some other Win 10 updates, I tested it again, and the problem was gone, so I removed the fix The problem came back today. If it happens again, I'll reinstall my workaround. The basic workaround was to toggle the default recording device from the webcam to stereo mix, and back again. Here are the notes I kept on automating this process at startup:

    Automated workaround:

    1. Download nircmd from nir software. This allows the default device to be changed from a command line.
    2. Wrote a simple batch file (Called ToggleDefaultMic.bat) to toggle the devices –


    Rem - Toggle Recording Device
    nircmd.exe setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix"
    nircmd.exe setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone"

    Both nircmd and the batch file are in the C directory



    3. Put a shortcut to the batch file in the Windows Startup Folder –

    C/Users/YourUserFileName/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup

    [IMG]file:///C:\Users\Jeff\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png[/IMG]

    The shortcut display is set to “Minimized”.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #38

    JeffL said:
    The basic workaround was to toggle the default recording device from the webcam to stereo mix, and back again.
    Thanks for the feedback. I ended up replacing my Logitech webcam with a cheap mic and the new recording (which effectively applied your workaround of toggling recording devices) and it works fine on Skype. If the problem rears its ugly head again I'll try the device toggling again, and might automate it, too.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 x64 home latest version
       #39

    Sorry for the necro but this issue is still going on for many people. I am using a Logitech C300 webcam microphone (USB) and have tried every thing I could think of the past few years to stop this issue (seemed to only be on Windows 10). Your help with recommendation for nircmd has been a HUGE help.

    For some weird reason it doesn't seem to work if I only run the commands you stated, so I did a modified batch file. Also, you can right click on the nircmd.exe file and 'run as administrator' and it will copy the file to windows system folder, so you don't need to have nircmd.exe in c:\ or whereever the batch file is. Anyway here is the batch file that works for me after a couple of hours tinkering:

    Code:
    Rem - Toggle Recording Device
    nircmd.exe {showerror} setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 0
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 1
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 2
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 3000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 0
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 1
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 2
    nircmd.exe wait 15000
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 3000 setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 0
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 1
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Stereo Mix" 2
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 3000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 0
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 1
    nircmd.exe {showerror} cmdwait 1000 setdefaultsounddevice "Microphone" 2
    I set showerror in case any errors occurred, wait timers just in case needed time to 'switch' properly. As for the wait command and repeat of commands, I found if I only ran the commands once, it would still be chipmunk. Confusing as heck. Anyway running the commands twice seems to work just fine.

    Prior to this I had 'Sound' shortcut in startup folder and would disable and re-enable my mic every boot, but this batch file saves me that headache/annoyance. Really glad to have found this workaround, but still so annoyed that Microsoft never has gotten on to this. It's very clear that it is a frequency issue between Windows and USB microphones - here is a 4+ year old thread covering the issue. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...=1450841638650 Also the reason I added the 0/1/2 options is because each one is a different option for the recording settings, this is the only way I can fully get the stereo mix to be considered 'default' for a while before switching back to microphone.

    Another couple last things, if I left 'listen to microphone' option enabled, this fix won't work. You need to have 'listen to microphone' option disabled (however it seems to work after disabling listen and then enabling listen again). Also worth noting is you need 'Stereo Mix' enabled in your Sound - Recording devices, otherwise it won't be able to switch. If the names of your Recordings devices differ you need to change that in the bat file also "Stereo Mix" & "Microphone" etc. I think they are the default names anyway though.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #40

    FYI, I finally ditched the Logitech webcam and went with a standalone USB mic, as I rarely used video on the PC.

    Now, since with Windows 1903 update, Skype won't retain my mic settings. It's a simple matter of changing from default audio output to the USB mic in Skype settings, but it's still a hassle. For this reason and others I've ditched Skype, too, and use other software like Zoom.
      My Computer


 

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