Solved! Sound coming out low Windows 10

[Zalgo]

Alright so I recently ran into an issue that I have only noticed very recently because of specific circumstances.

I am running windows 10 pro 64 bit, I use logitech z623's for sound plugged into rear 3.5 jack of my X99-A II motherboard. I am a twitch streamer who is constantly paranoid/paying attention to my sound levels when streaming so I notice any slight sound changes. And recently I noticed that I am suddenly having to bump all my sounds up pretty much to max to hear everything, as I looked further into this I notice that on my windows sound mixer levels meter all of my sounds do not match what usually happens at all. It seems as if all normal sounds are cut down in half? if that makes any sense.

I first noticed it when I had to turn my speakers beyond the 25% mark which is usually the point in which (I feel) "true sound" is achieved before things sound too loud. after I noticed that happening I started to noticed that everything sounded way too quiet. Video games that I stream/play that I needed to cut down to about 20% because they were so loud at 100% now sound too quiet and levels at 100% only reach to half? Spotify is now super quiet unless the program is set to 100% and even then it only goes half way. The only time the meter goes up to the top is if something is ridiculously loud or if I use youtube/things on mozilla because everything is loud on there.

I have tried every basic step that I can think of and most are covered on this:https/www.thewindowsclub.com/computer-volume-low-windows

Here is how it looks with a pretty loud song playing at max volume on spotify (it is also the same when I play Overwatch at max volume which used to hit max easily at 100%):https/i.imgur.com/G2Evr9I.png

Here is how the sound looks if I pretty much use anything other than 100% on spotify. This is the level I would keep it at when I would stream and play a video game that sounded fine now its too quiet and that is what really made me star to look at this issue.https/i.imgur.com/EkBF8m4.png

UPDATE. I also did a test with firefox using a pretty loud song and noticed that on the mixer firefox's sound does not match up with my speakers output when the volume is maxed out.
https/i.imgur.com/rnum7Fy.png

idk if this proves or means anything just thought it was odd because I remember always looking at sounds with firefox and almost always remember it being at the same exact levels as my speakers readings.
2 comments

 

[Zalgo]

YAY!!! OKAY UPDATE! I have fixed the issue haha. Will explain this for anyone else who may be having the issue.

Okay so windows has been having major updates recently, the last one prior to this latest one was about 3+ weeks ago. it required me to restart my computer multiple times. What I did not realize/overlooked because I wasnt paying attention is that after major updates for w10, it is very common for it to straight up remove and/or hide "realtek HD audio drivers" this was a crucial thing for me as i've used it for years and without it I have ran into lots of problems (like this one haha). SO it turns out that it had removed those drivers and/or hid them. After realizing this, I then go to my motherboard's website and download the latest version of the drivers that worked with my motherboard. Installed them, did a PC restart and then I now see that my speakers are being controlled by realtek drivers AND that the volume was set to 67% (supposed to be 100% since theyre speakers with volume knobs). literally just enough to explain why my sound was quieter, but not so quiet that I would notice unless I payed close attention to them as I am forced to when I stream. Now everything sounds just as it did before.

in conclusion, im guessing windows "hides" these driver controls/settings during major updates. Which also hides their settings theyre left with, so in my case it was set to 100% using windows default audio control drivers, all while realtek was hidden and set to 64% which made everything quieter. Not having the drivers also made some youtube videos straight up not play no matter what browser/devices I played on. Only my USB headset worked. which is not controlled by realtek. SO theres that too. If this helps anyone out there. Hope they find this.