# WTF, is wrong with sound on my computer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 21, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236 "2010-05-21T11:36:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236/1 "2010-05-21T11:36:36Z")

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This is bizzare.

I can hear music a sounds just fine but if some one tries to talk, it’s either garbled or the sound is very low.

Any ideas on how to fix this would be appreciated.

I have window vista if that helps.

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**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236/2 "2010-05-21T12:34:32Z")

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Are people talking in videos? Or on Skype, for example?

Try reinstalling AC3 filter; and check audio settings for any Skype or voip usage as microphones and speakers can sometimes get jumbled.

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**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236/3 "2010-05-21T16:18:26Z")

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No, I’m talking about DVD, streaming video, everything.

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**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236/4 "2010-05-21T17:32:56Z")

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I am wondering if it is some sort of mixer issue, in the event your sound drivers include a mixer. Perhaps some of the frequencies that cover the human voice are turned down a lot. I know that the frequencies for human voices are a subset of the frequencies for music, so it is a long shot.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-sound-on-my-computer/540236/5 "2010-05-21T17:39:51Z")

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Do you have 5.1 sound enabled? Try stereo sound only.