[obsolete] SS2 Sound Guide

[673fc9d8d54eaKolya]

The information in this topic has been obsoleted by the NewDark v2.4 patch which is best installed through the SS2Tool. This topic remains here for historical reasons.
Make sure you've read the SS2 Technical FAQ before you go on. Post problems in Helpdesk.

If certain sounds in SS2 are non-existent or too silent check these points:

● Check if you have the file OggSetup.exe in your game folder and run it if you haven't yet. You have the HOTU version of SS2.

● In the game go to the Main menu -> Options -> Audio. Make sure the Positional Sound Bias slider is set to the middle of the scale. Turn on Hardware Acceleration, EAX and set the Sound Channels to 16.

● If EAX cannot be enabled try the EAX fix from the SS2Tool.

● Starting with Windows Vista (and Windows 7) Microsoft omitted the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for DirectSound3D, that System Shock 2 relies on for advanced 3D effects (EAX). Sound will still work but sound very flat by comparison (stereo only). On these systems DirectSound3D is software-emulated and EAX effects cannot be applied to it.
To solve this on Vista/Win7 with a Creative X-FI/Audigy sound card you'll want to install Creative Alchemy for EAX sound support. For settings see the screenshot by EvaUnit02 below.
A similar software exists for Realtek cards: 3D SoundBack (Also attached to this post.)

● Note that you can only set EAX and Hardware Acceleration options before you start a game or load a savegame