Alerts and Sounds are Low Volume

[abowlofsoda]

Recently upgraded (ya, ya, downgraded) to VISTA and had to install Messenger again to get my email alerts.

I noticed I wasn't getting any sounds when receiving messages so I turned up the volume and heard it barely audible on the next one.

Some sounds were normal volume when I picked them from the Browse feature but some were muted.

I then installed a Beta 9 version (uninstalled 8.01) and now I can hear them better but still not at full volume..

Also, couldnt find any sounds for email alerts in Vista version.. bummer

Any ideas?

[David]

There should be a volume icon in your notification area, next to the clock. (If not, I have absolutely no idea where you can access the mixer, I'll find it if it isn't in your tray--let me know)

Check that the levels match what you like for sound, each application should be at 100% by default, but perhaps it was changed somehow.

[abowlofsoda]

I forgot to mention that I checked there.. but good thinking!

Like I said, some sounds are low and some work at normal volume when I change which sound its using.

[David]

Originally Posted by abowlofsoda

Like I said, some sounds are low and some work at normal volume when I change which sound its using.

I'm not really sure exactly what this means. Certain files are lower than others, Or the sound file will 'randomly' play at the correct volume?

[abowlofsoda]

In preferences there is a section for Alerts & Sounds, and in that section you can setup a .wav file to play on an incoming email. There is a browse button that defaults to a folder in Yahoo messenger with a bunch of different .wav sounds you can choose to play for that alert.

Some of those .wav's play at full volume while others do not. I want the yodel.wav to play at full volume but its one of the muted ones... its not random.. I can switch to one that plays louder, but the yodel one, as well as all the .wav's in that subfolder (Ringtones) won't play at full volume

I'm computer savvy but this has me stumped... in fact alot of Vista things have been getting me stumped.

Research turned up with nothing so I'm hoping someone runs across this thread with the answer

[David]

I see. Have you tried getting a copy of the wav files from someone else (who says the work properly)? How about playing the wav files in a different player?

[abowlofsoda]

Yay I tried looking for them with a google search but I didnt spend much time at it

But you said trying it in a different player.. I didnt think of that!!
I just played them in Windows Media Player with success.. the file is playing full volume so for some reason yahoo messenger isn't letting it play out loud

So, I opened up the Volume Mixer and looked at the sound byte playing (it shows a green line shoot up the volume control, depending on how loud the sound is at any particular second like an EQ display) and it looks the exact same when I play it in Messenger.

So why isn't the sound louder.. its barely audible on a cranked up 5 speaker system.

Then to double check, I louded back in a sound that I know works and its full volume, in Messenger.

So some sounds loud, some barely

So strange

[abowlofsoda]

I just tried taking the WAV file out of the Ringtones subfolder and putting it on C: drive

Played fine in Windows Media Center and barely audible in Messenger

I tried changing the file name


Played fine in Windows Media Center and barely audible in Messenger

[David]

Okay, so it's certainly specific to Y!--are there any sound output options in Y! Messenger? Like I said, I'm not familiar with it, but perhaps it lets you select the sound output device? I've never seen anything like this before, but short of you having some strange setup with your sound card, it should affect far more users.

[patndoris]

I personally don't have any problem with my YM sounds BUT I have 2 plugins installed that may make a difference.

First, I like the old YM sounds, so I have the [url=http://www.wackyb.co.nz/dl/Download/Yahoo_Messenger/Old_or_New_Alert_Sounds_Toggle/]Wacky B Old/New Sound Alerts Toggle[url] installed. YM overwrites it with some updates, but since it's a separate download, it's easy enough to re-apply if needed. I don't have any trouble with the volumes on them. I might mention is says in there some people don't like the new sounds as they have trouble hearing thme...

I also have the Spoken Status/Alert from the YH Plugin Gallery. While I don't like the spoken part it does make customizing sounds for individual contacts very easy and I've always found the volume levels just fine.

I hope one of these will help. I've used the Wacky B Toggle for some time now and never had a bit of trouble with it. The YH plugin is a newer option I've tried and it seems ok, but if YM shuts down unexpectedly, you do have to re-enable your plugins which is a bit of a pain. Good luck!