Audio setups are one of those things that may work for one person but do not necessarily work for someone else. The reason being is that everyone’s hearing is different. In the video game Escape from Tarkov for example, you can choose headphones for your in-game character which affects how you hear the gameplay and footsteps. There are no real set rules around this and there are many different youtube videos explaining what’s best around this topic. However, what’s best for one person does not mean it is going to be best for you. So it’s a matter of trial and error because everyone’s hearing is different.
In this article, we do not cover information based on headphones. In fact, we will go back a few steps to your PC or Console settings and this is where the magic happens.
Have you ever played a game and you can hear footsteps everywhere and it was very hard to pinpoint where the footsteps were coming from? For example, hearing the footsteps was not the issue, right? But pinpointing where the enemy player is. Let’s look into this a bit deeper.
Why Can’t I Pinpoint Exactly Where the Enemy Player is?
This may have to do besides a few other things how your audio is set up on your Console or PC. What I am talking about here is the output audio settings. This is in reference to Stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 surround sound.
What is Stereo Audio Mode?
Basically, this mode gives you 2 positions where you can hear your audio. This is from your left ear and right ear. Then there are 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound settings and this is where the issues start.
What is 5.1 Surround Sound?
In this mode, you are able to hear audio directly from:
- The front of you.
- Left side and right side
- Slightly behind on your left and right side.
In total, there are 5 positions where you can hear the audio from. So if you gaming with 5.1 Stereo you have 5 areas of audio you need to work out and pinpoint where your enemy is.
What is 7.1 Surround Sound?
In this mode, you are able to hear audio directly from:
- The front of you.
- Left side and right side
- Slightly behind on your left and right side.
- Behind you on the left and right sides.
In total, there are 7 positions where you can hear the audio from. So if this option is available to you and you are gaming in 7.1 Stereo you have 7 positions of audio you need to work out and pinpoint where your enemy is by hearing footsteps.
By now you may have worked out why you have had in-game issues trying to figure out and pinpoint where your enemy is. The 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Sound modes “seem” to set a sophisticated vibe that these are what you need to choose right without knowing any better? In fact for me anyway gaming in 7.1 and playing Escape from Tarkov was an absolute nightmare. Though I can hear the enemy trying to pinpoint the enemy’s position gave me 7 options which confused me.
What is the Best Audio Setting?
In my opinion with the experience, I have in-game and that suits my ears is the Stereo mode.
Why Stereo Mode?
Generally, because I only have 2 positions where I can hear the in-game audio including the footsteps from. It’s either on my left side of the sight side. I don’t have 5 or 7 positions of audio I need to analyze and try to work exactly where the enemy player is. And the less analyzing I need to do the less confusion I have on where the enemy player is in-game.
Some of you reading this article may prefer 5.1 or 7.1 but for most of us, I think the right setting is the stereo mode.
How Do We Change the Audio Settings
For console, users check your settings section under Audio and look for the stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 options if this is available. Change and test to suit.
For PC users do the following detail.
- Right mouse click on the speaker icon (bottom right of your taskbar).
- Click on Open Sound Settings.
- Then Click on Sound Control Panel.
- Now Click on Playback
- After this Click on Your Play Back Device. I am using a Sound Blaster G6.
- Finally, Click on Configure.
- Choose your Configuration. Here is where you should see the Stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 Surround Sound Options. 7.1 may not be available depending on drivers or your audio hardware setup.
Click on next and complete this change and you have now changed this to what you need this changed too.
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