[Fix/Workaround] Beats Audio Volume Problem (leveling/random etc)

Applicable to: HP Notebook PCs with IDT Audio + Beats

NEW WORKAROUND (ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP TONE CONTROLS AND EQUALIZER SETTINGS):

0. Disable this device:



1. Install this file by double-clicking:
Download IDT_Volume_Fix.reg

2. Reboot.

(Or alternatively, for advanced users, copy this into Notepad and save as IDT_Volume_Fix.reg):

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IDT\Apo\LFX\LineOut\plugins\SRS]
"idEffect"=dword:00000054
"idEffectType"=dword:00000032
"load"=dword:00000000
"order"=dword:000001f4
"ApoClsId"="{176F4E15-8F7C-4833-ADED-81FAE8CCD186}"

OLD WORKAROUND BELOW (SIDE EFFECT: DISABLES BEATS AUDIO AND EQUALIZERS COMPLETELY)
1. Install latest IDT audio drivers from here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...rs-hp-envy-15-3xxx-envy-17-3xxx-intel-13.html
2. Open Registry Editor (WinKey+R, type "regedit", hit Enter)
3. Browse to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render
4. Find the entry {xxxxxxxxxx} where under "Properties" it says "Speakers and Headphones".
5. In that {xxxxxxxx} entry, go into "FxProperties"
6. Set the key located in the image below to 1:


7. Reboot.
8. Enjoy.

 

I'm not familiar with this issue. What does this solve?

 

It solves the issue where the volume keeps changing by itself while playing music or gaming.

 

Thanks for this. It was pretty dang annoying.

 

Just out of curiosity since I don't have the laptop with me now, are the IDT drivers that came with the machines out of date?

 

YES!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been searching for a solution for this for days!

EDIT: By the way, how did you manage to find this?

 

You're welcome.

Desktop PC with Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi, ProcessMonitor, knowledge of Win32 API.

etc.

 

Remember, this workaround is equivalent to the Disable all enhancements option, which as the name implies... disables all enhancements.

That means, no Beats Audio, no Equalizer, etc.

The true solution needs to come from HP / IDT.

 

i have noticed this issue well on my 32xx Envy 17.

is this some sort of volume leveling feature that doesn't work right? and there is no other way of just turning this feature off?

was this an issue on the 30xx Envys also?

 

I updated the driver, but now I don't have any sound through either headphone jack (HP Envy 17 3200). When I plug them in, the system detects them and stops playing sound through the speakers, but no sound comes through the headphones. I tried rolling back to the original driver, but still no luck. Any ideas?

EDIT: Instead of downloading the original driver via the HP support website, I just rolled back to the same driver through HP Recovery Manager and it works now.

Also, even though the Beats/IDT equalizer doesn't work, you can still use the equalizer in the media application (ie. iTunes, winamp, etc)

 

I talked to an HP support specialist about this. He had me uninstall IDT audio from the device manager and then gave me this link http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp56501-57000/sp56900.exe to reinstall the IDT audio. I have just done this and am now seeing if it is fixed. I dont know about you guys but the problem comes and goes so as of now I am not sure if its permanently fixed but if you guys try it we can come up with a consensus

 

That's the driver posted on HP's web site, not the latest version.

 

So do you have the latest version and is it fixed? Or are you saying the old driver didnt fix the problem nor the new one?

 

The latter.

 

The support guy said something about they updated the drivers(which is weird cuz you pointed out its an older driver) and right after i talked to him I got a prompt from HP telling me a new BIOS update was available. After installing that and uninstalling and reinstalling IDT, I am not noticing the audio problem anymore, as of right now that is

EDIT: It did not fix it. You think I should return my new envy for this issue? What's the likely hood there will be a fix at some point?

 

Has anybody tried what is described here?

HP Envy 15 (15-3040nr) keeps adjusting the volume automatica... - HP Support Forum

Once I get home, I will give it a shot.

 

There is no "Enhancements" tab on the newer machines, hence this thread.

But remember: it will disable everything including Beats Audio. (No, you will not be able to adjust bass levels with the workaround applied)

 

bummer. i was afraid of that.

does the volume knob and mute button still work after your workaround?

 

Yes, those are separate functions from the audio driver.

 

ok this is going to sound ridiculous, but i spoke with hp customer service.

and this is exactly what they had me do.

1. install new idt audio drivers downloaded from hp website (sp59600.exe). they specifically told me not to delete the previous drivers.

2. reboot.

3. install new bios downloaded from hp website (sp57537.exe).

4. reboot.

call me crazy, but i think it helped. now i don't know if my ears are playing tricks on me or not. anyway, i will continue to run some tests to see if the volume leveling has been truly fixed.

 

Standard procedure for tech support to burn your time. All you did was reinstall the latest official HP drivers and BIOS.

 

The reinstall of the same drivers worked for me though. No clue why, but now no issues with sound now.....

 

yeah, i'm also gonna say my sound issues have been much improved.

i believe volume auto-leveling is still active, but it seems to be doing a much better job at it now.

 

doh! maybe i spoke too soon.

starting to notice the problem again. or maybe i'm just going crazy.

 

Hopefuly, but I'm not holding my breath, there are new drivers on the horizon. As of 5:30pm eastern 7/14/12 the audio drivers for the 17t-3200 CTO, " sp56900.exe ", are gone . Hopefully they are gone because they are updating them. This audio fluctuation is driving me nuts! FYI guys, it's looks likes it's there, till you actually hit download for " sp56900.exe " then it goes to a page "Sorry, we can't find that page. The page you are looking for is no longer available or has been moved". For reference the driver is 2012-04-26 , Version:6.10.6381.0, 38.53M

 

Works on my dv6z-6xxx aswell, tone control not longer have effect (yeah)
Any one compare these to stock windows driver?

 

Im gonna need to do this, volume dropping randomly has recently became an absolute frustration on my 15-3200

 

Well guys after searching around I found out that a new driver just came out... TODAY!
it says :

Nothing on the problem of volume changing by itself... hopfully this may do the work...
link :

IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver HP ENVY 15t-3200 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

 

Odlly enough they listed that as a "fix" on another driver or somewhere. It really doesn't matter where I saw it but I'm about to take a ice pick and run it through my speakers, or my ears! After looking at the driver version and size (Version:6.10.6381.0, 38.53M) it looks like it may be the same driver they had up there before they took it down. When they added it to the site it may have just updated the date. I hope I'm wrong but I did see the "fixed LED" problem before somewhere on the driver. Anyway I hope it works. PLEASE ADVISE US IF THIS HELPED!!!

Thanks

 

And.. it did nothing to remedy the volume problem.

 

NEW WORKAROUND:
1. Install this file by double-clicking:
Download IDT_Volume_Fix.reg from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

2. Reboot.
(This one will allow you to adjust Tone Controls and equalizer settings)

 

Thanks! Will try this new fix shortly! I really like the way the enhancements sound with internal speakers on my 3200, but the audio auto leveling crap is just frustrating and if you disable all enhancements, the laptop speakers just sound tinny and thin. >

 

Design to just stick with windows driver as I don't see anything positive from using IDT "bests" driver...

 

The Windows driver will only use two out of your six speakers. Not a good idea.

 

Well, it didn't work.

Am I missing something, MacHater? I installed the registry edit and rebooted, but I'm still getting sound compression/auto volume problems. Beats enhancements are still enabled, though.

My speakers really do sound nice and loud with the enhancements (since the IDT drivers utilize all 6 speakers and sub) but the auto volume leveling crap is just so frustrating!

 

You might be missing this step:

 

Oh, shoot! I totally did! I'll give it another shot and see if it works. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Nope, still doing it.

Are the enhancements working for you without all that auto volume leveling crap, MacHater? If so, which version of the driver are you using?

 

6.10.6395.0:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp57001-57500/sp57345.exe

Remember: applying the new workaround will not undo the old one. You need to manually undo the old one.

 

Holy crap! It worked! I'm getting sound from all speakers and they sound great. No sound compression whatsoever! The bass and highs are perfectly audible. Although, the overall volume sounds slightly lower than before, but it's still loud.

The only thing that I noticed is that the "specific" sliders on the left side of the Beats control panel are grayed out/disabled. Either way, they basically do the same thing as the EQ. (Except for maybe the "space" & "focus" sliders, which seemed to control panning or individual speaker volume)

Thank you so much for the registry edit. I managed to disable all enhancements in the registry back when I had my 3040nr, but I never figured out how to disable just the loudness equalization.

This is great, MacHater! I'll keep testing this out with my DAW programs and Spotify. I'll report back if the problem comes back.

 

You sir are the man. The sound is so much better now and being able to keep the system wide EQ is fantastic.

 

Thank you SO MUCH! This problem was incredibly annoying - I'm not exactly an audiophile, but I do appreciate good sound, and the auto-leveling stuff was making it virtually impossible for me to listen to music. I don't understand why whoever wrote the drivers would do this. Don't they realize that dynamic contrast is a huge part of music, and that this totally screws up dynamic contrast?

 

#irrelevant post

 

You can blame IDT/SigmaTel and/or Dr. Dre.

 

Thanks for what looks to be a good fix for the audio issue. Just one quick question:
Looking at your modified first post, literally all I need to do is just download that file and run it right? Or are there other steps necessary?

Thanks again!

 

Just download the file and run it, then reboot.

Then do this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...roblem-leveling-random-etc-4.html#post8723742

 

Excellent, random audio spikes seem to have gone away. One thing though, the maximum volume level seems to be a lot lower than before. Any way to change this?

Edit: that one specific video file I opened the first time to test this had really low volume by itself for some reason. Other video files and games work great. Thanks dude!!

 

If you need to globally boost the volume for any reason, you can use the Equalizer and raise everything.

 

Even in pressing my ear against the top grill i cant distinguish whether or not all of speakers are working. Is there a way to determine this on-screen.

 

Thanks for this again, I need to try the new fix you posted up when i get a chance.