The hum

I just wanted to know if I was the only one to experience this.
On most missions, but especially Council bases and office settings, there is a very loud bass hum under all noises that is very loud and distressing. It's the same sound that is in Atlas Park's City Hall. Maybe it's my sound system but it's driving me crazy because after a while it feels like my skull is vibrating.

Before you suggest it, I'm very aware that I can turn down sound fx in the game but I have to turn them ALL down meaning that I won't be cued to being attacked or any glowies that might be nearby.

I just wanted to know if anyone else is having this problem or if I should swap out my hardware to see if that makes a difference. Thanks.

I may have lost some hearing in the lower registers in my misspent youth, but that doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard.

I'm not sure I've experienced what you are describing. However, on my system, this game is *very* loud. For various reasons, I tend to play using headphones rather than the speakers, so I set the hardware volume so that the system (Windows beeps and plonks) are at a comfortable level at about 75% of the system volume slider, and then adjust each program individually. Using that system, I have CoH at about 30% for sound effects. If I turn the CoH volume sliders up to max, I can set the headphones on the floor, three feet away, and *still* hear what's going on.

All I can think of to contribute is that during Issue 18 Beta Testing they tried out a new "broken fluorescent lighting" sound FX. Most testers found it very annoying and I didn't think it was included in the Live release.

But it's possible that they just toned it down, and for some reason your particular sound card or even your own personal hearing is somehow amplifying the effect to the point of annoyance.

If that IS the case (and IMHO, a long shot) I'm afraid there's no remedy.

Why don't you try posting in the Tech Issues & Bugs forum to see if anyone has anything else to offer?

There is a low background hum, most everywhere. If you find a sound annoying (I know I have,) head to the How to silence specific game sounds thread.

I hear that background hum in Atlas and in labs and possibly council bases, I haven't paid that much attention. But it's not very loud so it probably is your sound system. Your drivers might be out of date causing it to emphasize the wrong sounds.

D'oh. I linked the editing version and not the published version.

Here it is.

And I've update my link above, too.

Confirmed working.

Thanks!