I regularly lose all sound in Arma 3, using a USB headset
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Description

I've got a Plantronics GameCom 780 USB headset, which I use when playing Arma 3. Frequently, I'll hear the Windows 'device connected' or 'device disconnected' (not sure which) sound, and I'll lose all sound in Arma 3 until I close the game and restart it again.

This has never happened with any other game (but I've never played Arma 2). However, it happens more frequently when I'm also running TeamSpeak. In that case, in addition to losing all sound in Arma 3, I'll also lose my microphone in TeamSpeak. For some reason, I'll still be able to hear everyone in TeamSpeak, but they won't be able to hear me, until I close TeamSpeak and restart it.

This has happened for months, since I first got Arma 3 alpha. And it would happen, occasionally, whether or not I was running TeamSpeak as well. But it was always rare until the beta version of Arma 3 was released. Then it started happening four or five times a night (one time, four times in the first 20 minutes!).

If I don't run TeamSpeak, it happens less often, but still a couple of times a night, on average. (It's hard to tell, because I often quit playing when this happens, or else I just continue playing Arma 3 without sound - which is pretty much impossible, since I can't even tell if I'm taking fire.)

I've checked all my drivers. I've completely removed the Plantronics software and reinstalled it. I've tried different USB ports. I've posted questions on forums (the Arma 3 forum, the TeamSpeak forum, and the Plantronics forums) and found just one other guy with the exact same problem. (He hasn't found a solution, either.)

Note that I don't have another headset to try, and I don't know any other people who play Arma 3 - or play any other computer games, for that matter. (I'm 62, so I'm a little outside of that age group, I guess.)

I could put up with the annoyance of this at first, but since Arma 3 beta was released, the game has become pretty much impossible to play - at least, in multiplayer. (Since I don't need a microphone, I can still play single-player without the headset - just using my computer speakers, instead.)

Details

Legacy ID: 3263817757
Severity: None
Resolution: Open
Reproducibility: Random
Category: Sound

Steps To Reproduce

It's intermittent, and I can't reproduce it. Note that I can wiggle the USB connector and the cable in my headset without causing this, so it's not a loose cable. That's the best I can say.

However, it's gotten worse since the beta version was released, and it's also worse when I'm running TeamSpeak along with Arma 3. (By "worse," I mean that it happens much more frequently than it did with the alpha version.)

Additional Information

Note that it's happened with ALL versions of Arma 3, as far as I can tell. It's just worse with the latest ones.

Event Timeline

Bohemia added a project: Arma 3.May 7 2016, 3:31 PM

WCG edited Steps To Reproduce. (Show Details)Jul 17 2013, 2:37 AM

WCG edited Additional Information. (Show Details)

WCG set Category to Sound.

WCG set Reproducibility to Random.

WCG set Severity to None.

WCG set Resolution to Open.

WCG set Legacy ID to 3263817757.May 7 2016, 3:31 PM

wUFr added a subscriber: wUFr.May 7 2016, 3:31 PM

"However, it happens more frequently when I'm also running TeamSpeak" - i dont think thats Arma 3 problem, you should check for latest drivers and there is option your motherboard USB doesnt have enough power to power up these headphones.

I have USB sound card (Creative) so i know what i talking about, a lot of problems were just becouse drivers, for example my soundcard was constantly connecting and disconnecting before i updated drivers. And for me, mission impossible was just installing drivers correctly, becouse Creative drivers are total sh*t-work :D

TIP: Try to disable integrated soundcard on motherboard, try another USB port. But at first, update drivers. OR it can be problem with codecs

WCG added a subscriber: WCG.May 7 2016, 3:31 PM

Thanks for the reply. I've already updated drivers, but I don't have any idea what codecs are. (I've also tried multiple USB ports.)

As far as disabling the integrated soundcard on my motherboard,... how will I get any sound at all, then? I don't have a separate sound card.

You said your headphones are USB, that means, they have integrated sound chip, if i am right :) becouse soundcard can't "redirect" audio to USB ports

I've no idea.

try buy this: http://www.ppctechs.com/images/items/USB-YCABLE01.jpg :) but i think problem is simply in drivers

and not sure if this is your post: http://forum.teamspeak.com/showthread.php/90896-Plantronics-USB-headset-losing-sound-in-Arma-3-and-TeamSpeak also "Well TeamSpeak uses the sound device pretty constantly and heavily since that is what it does" so its driver problem or USB doesnt have enough power = you need that cable, or motherboard with better USB power, just question what MB you have ?

Yes, that was my post. I've been posting questions everywhere. :)

I've got an ASUS P8h77-V LGA 1155 H77 DDR3 CrossFireX motherboard. My computer is less than a year old, so still under warranty. I had a place here in town build it for me, so if it might be the motherboard, I'll probably take it back to the shop and have them check it out.

The USB Y-cable would double the power available to the headset, then? Is that the idea?

Thanks!

but not enough USB power is not warranty fail ;) that cable CAN double power, that depends on how its made on motherboard, you must try

It might not be a warranty fail, but I won't be happy if they built me a gaming computer without enough power to operate a USB headset!

At any rate, I'll take it back next week and they'll check it out. If they don't find anything wrong, I'll probably try that Y-cable. Thanks for the suggestion.

ASUS and Plantronics are both well-known brands, though, so I'd think there'd be a lot more people with this problem if they just don't work well together.

Thanks again.

MadDogX added a subscriber: MadDogX.May 7 2016, 3:31 PM

Mass closing ancient tickets with no activity for > 12 months; assume fixed or too trivial.

If this issue is still relevant in current dev build, please re-post.

I regularly lose all sound in Arma 3, using a USB headsetClosed, ResolvedPublicActions

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I regularly lose all sound in Arma 3, using a USB headset
Closed, ResolvedPublic
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