I can no longer hear voices, only background sounds

[Warden Onyx]

I had this probelm and just fixed it, have windows 10. go into windows, search Realtek hd audio manager. when you get into it, it should have a setting that says "main volume" turn that completely full, and it should start working for you, once more. I just did this not even a few minutes ago and it fixed this problem immediately. happy it did, I thought I broke another headset...

 

[childofthetao]

Your sound is most likely set to 5.1 and trying to play some sounds out of speakers you don't have. Change it to stereo 2.1, assuming you have two speakers.

 

[captaincranky]

ohh **** Man how can I thank you......you really got that right//////(y)(y)(y)

I never knew that standard on board computer audio cards actually had a phase cancellation function. I think it might be better if they named that "tick box" a "Karaoke button", as then its function would be more readily apparent in the vernacular.

Here's some more info about that's done, and how it can be done purposely, should you be so inclined: http://audio-production.wonderhowto...song-make-karaoke-instrumental-track-0163436/

Keep in mind there's a ton of sites with info about the topic, I just picked what seemed like the most accessible

This is the somewhat vague search term I used, and it would work for you as well: how are vocals removed for karaoke Is it phase cancellation

Your sound is most likely set to 5.1 and trying to play some sounds out of speakers you don't have. Change it to stereo 2.1, assuming you have two speakers.

This is quite a rational conclusion as well, as 5.1 sound uses phase differentiation to route vocals to the (presumed nonexistent), center channel

 

[Jacobmover]

Having the same issue with my sons RCA tablet right now. Background sounds nothing foreground....I.e voices or lyrics to songs....just background noise.....any ideas??? I was a computer tech 4 years about 8 years ago and I've tried everything I can think of....

 

[Jasonic]

Hi and thanks for sharing this info re the balance fix. I’ve been in IT for 35 years but also had run out of ideas.
This brings up an additional issue for me that using the test button in the Realtek app I could always hear this clearly but I didn’t notice it was in mono until now.
Both left and right speakers are sounding to each channel test sound.
I remember from school that equal sounds would cancel each other out which would be why altering the balance changes the signals in each channel stopping the clash.
So why are my all my movies local or through all browsers presenting in mono.
I'm using Win10 I've reloaded the Realtek drivers, checked all stereo options