BioShock: No Sound?

Posted August 26th, 2007

If you’re playing BioShock on Vista, you might run into the same problem I did – no sound. One thing you can try that worked for me is to run the game in Windows XP compatibility mode. You can enable compatibility mode by right-clicking on the executable, selecting Properties, clicking on the Compatibility tab in the resulting window, and checking the compatibility mode box shown below.

Note that you have to do this on the executable itself. Enabling compatibility mode via the desktop shortcut did not work for me.

As a sidenote – what’s the deal with the corporate logos that can’t be bypassed? By my watch, there are 23 seconds worth of logos that *I can’t skip* each time I start the game. Maybe it’s not such a big deal, but it sure was annoying when I was trying to figure out how to get sound going.

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116 Comments, Comment or Ping

Vlad

Thanks a lot. It worked for me.

Sep 21st, 2007
Bob

By my watch, there are 23 seconds worth of logos that I can’t skip each time I start the game.

Use the -nointro command in the command line for the exe and you can skip right to the menu. Reducing load time to around 5 to 10 seconds.

Sep 21st, 2007
Double Parity

@Bob

Thanks for the tip!

Oct 2nd, 2007
Nick V

Thanks: this fixed me up too; I wasn’t getting sound either.

As for the -nointro command (and since this post was specifically discussing Vista) you can add it to the shortcut in your Games folder so that it appears when you right click the shortcut (or even make it the default launch target). Just right click the link and choose customize then add the following as the browse location (include the quotes, you also might have to adjust the directory structure if you installed in a different location):

“C:\Program Files\2K Games\BioShock\Builds\Release\Bioshock.exe” -nointro

You can add in the -dx9 command too if you prefer (or create a second link with both) then put them in the desired order on the list. The first item will be the default action and will always be called Play.

It’s not that intuitive but if you tinker you’ll find the best setting for your system. Now you’ll never see the intro movies again.

Oct 18th, 2007
matt byrne

god. no good.

still not working.

the -nointro is good though. But whats the use cant play the game with no sound.

VERY annoyin.

Oct 26th, 2007
matt byrne

ok. run STEAM in xp comp. mode.

sound working now.

m.

Oct 26th, 2007
Insider

Very nice. First game that I can play in Diretx10 mode and no sound. (

Nov 17th, 2007
Anonymous

thanks so much man!!!! worked like a charm!

Mar 29th, 2008
wuzz

wow…
it works on me..
thx dude..awsome

Apr 28th, 2008
Zteve

Try this. Worked for me.

Realtek & Windows Vista Troubleshooting

In some cases you may encounter stuttering sound or no sound at all when playing Bioshock with a combination of Windows Vista and Realtek onboard sound. To ensure the best possible sound performance from your system when playing Bioshock, please follow the steps below:

- Ensure you are running the latest Realtek drivers, these can be downloaded from Realtek directly via Realtek. Alternatively your motherboard manufacturer will also be able to provide up to date drivers.

Note: If you are encountering any other issues with your sound or if you are in doubt as to what software you need then please contact your motherboard manufacturer prior to installing any driver software.

- Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.

May 4th, 2008
Ryan

Check out my blog post on the same thing and how I got it working in vista with my creative sound card. http://blog.devkinetic.com/entries/no-sound-crackling-in-bioshock-fixed/

May 15th, 2008
bauerbomb

what is a executable?
and how do u find it for bioshock?

Jun 2nd, 2008
bobberman2000

Now that is funnY! Whats an executable! And where can I find it! O dear, that brought a smile to my face.

Jun 3rd, 2008
anonymous

bauerbomb,
C:\Program Files\2K Games\BioShock\Builds\Release
it’s the file of type “application”

Jun 6th, 2008
Maq

for Me worked “windows 2000″ comapatibility

Jun 14th, 2008
Kevin

thanks that worked for me too. Does anyone know whether that loses any graphic/audio quality? I doubt it, but just want to know what others think.

Jul 25th, 2008
bill

thanks

Jul 27th, 2008
Robert

Thanks for the info and tips about xp compatability mode and teh no intro. They worked for me

I am loving this game too by the way

Aug 5th, 2008
kg

Im running xp and it didn’t work for me. Still no sound and I can’t find the stereo mixing thing for my realtek card. Since I’m running xp I think I may not have it. if you got a solution let me know at – alldayjunk@hotmail.com

Aug 31st, 2008
Locksmith

Thanks! It works great. and -nointro is usefull too

Sep 14th, 2008
Ghost

- Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.

This was all I had to do and it worked perfectly,

Shot a lot dude, u rock!

Sep 15th, 2008
Ionium

Thanks for that game was driving me crazy with no sound. Agree with the cut scene logos bit annoying but most games nowadays have them just wish they would give us the option to turn the suckers off, Assassins Creed is a nightmare to play because of them.

Sep 23rd, 2008
matt

that solved my problem. thanks a bunch!

Oct 9th, 2008
Kirk D.

Another thankful gamer here.
(BTW, I’m using Steam and only had to mess with the Bioshock exe, not Steam for some reason.)

Oct 23rd, 2008
jake g.

ok so i was did the xp svc pk 2 and applied the settings then ran the game. the screen went black and the computer wasw busy working (the lil red light was flickering on and off non stop) and then that light stopped and the screen stayed black….. what does that mean guys?

Oct 24th, 2008
jake g.

thank you!! finally it worked!!!

Oct 24th, 2008
Avinash

yes, the stereo settings method works flawlessly without the xp compatibility…thanks

Oct 29th, 2008
spielereins

used the stereo mixing method on vista, works fine now, thx!

Nov 2nd, 2008
lol

press the number keypad enter bypass logos

Nov 14th, 2008
jose

thnks

Nov 30th, 2008
jake

i love you
the games no fun silent

Dec 1st, 2008
Dalian

Thanx a lot man !!!!

Dec 13th, 2008
Chris

The Stereo Mixing worked perfectly thanx…my son says you rock

Dec 25th, 2008
Greg

I bought this game on steam for $4.99! I enabled the stereo mixing and now the sound works great, thanks so much. I’ll have to replay the opening now, I played most of the first part without sound…

Dec 29th, 2008
Ryan

well ive tried the xp compatability thing
that brought me from no sound to crackly awful terrible death in my ear sound.
its not the speakers because ive changed them they all did the same
i tried the stereo mixer that didnt work
i tried getting the latest drivers from realtek and i couldnt figure out their site
so if someone can help me get the drviers that’d be excellent
or if you can figure out why its doing that even better

Dec 30th, 2008
JM

Zteve,

Thanks! Your advice regarding the Realtek card worked for my son’s set up, we didn’t have to use compatibility mode.

Dec 31st, 2008
Ben

Thanks, worked a charm for me. like kevin said does it cause any graphics/audio loss. doesnt running in xp compatibility mode disable dx10 because dx10 is only vista compatible?, i sure hope not.

Jan 5th, 2009
Zazabar

I also have xp and can’t find a stereo mixing option for my SB Live card. 2k can’t even help me.

Jan 9th, 2009
Easwar

Thank you so much for the Stereo Mixing. It worked like a charm.

Jan 18th, 2009
boldstar

alright it works! after i update my audio codec..and try the compability.
thanks a lot!

Jan 20th, 2009
Tanaka

THANKS!!!!!!

Feb 13th, 2009
Tom

Thx ZSteve!! No other method worked!

Feb 14th, 2009
doode

How do i get into the executable, im really newb

Feb 18th, 2009
Slanted

Sterio Mixing worked perfect for me in Vista Ultimate x64

Feb 22nd, 2009
Snaers

No Stero Mixing for me only line in and Microphone, help anyone?

Snaers@gmail.com

Mar 7th, 2009
Snaers

Also whats the name of the newest Realtek driver?

Mar 7th, 2009
AK

There seem to be different solutions for different PCs. For me the only thing that worked was plugging in a microphone. Read this on another blog and was very dubious but it worked. Assume it must be related to the Stereo mixing fix.

Mar 11th, 2009
veritas175

So i had no sound on my game, typed in somethin like “Bioshock support no sound” this was the number one site on there, and it worked first time!! so awesome, thanks man.
but i don’t get how to skip the intro logos. where do you type “-nointro”?

Apr 2nd, 2009
Atwooooood

I was able to get the sound to work by doing the XP compatability mode, but now the game is “Not Responding” when i try and make it go full screen. It will only work in Windowed mode. Anyone else have this problem?

Apr 9th, 2009
Spiticus

I’ve done EVERYTHING you could possibly find to do to fix the sound. Stereo mixing, updated realtek drivers, updated directx, changed the options (EAX and reverb), other stuff I can’t remember now….

Still nothing. On top of that, the game only occasionally loads fully. Other times it hangs on the black screen (I’ve also looked that up and tried everything I could find too).

Anyone know what the hell is going on here? Using Vista U 64-bit

Apr 17th, 2009
Paul Westerman

I had this on my Dell XPS. Read somewhere that you need to enable a disabled audio device, but I had no disabled ones. At it seems that it wants an active audio input, all I did was plug in the mic on my headset. Bingo, worked first time. I don’t have EAX but I’ve got reverb enabled and I’m running it on Vista (32) without XP compatibility.

Hope this helps someone.
Cheers, Paul

Apr 23rd, 2009
dgsinclair

Running vista 64. I get the sound to work, but it keeps reverting back to original screen size, and crashes every time I try to get it up to widescreen size.

When I had no sound, I could adjust the graphics up. Argh!

Apr 27th, 2009
dgsinclair

well, when i added the -dx9 it worked, but it thought that my 8800 gts was dx10 compatible. hmmm.

Apr 28th, 2009
gtamike_TSGK

Thanks works now, damn Vista crap. ^.^

May 3rd, 2009
Annonymous

Guys, just in case anyone’s looking, using Windows 7 RC x86, using compatibility mode for “Windows 2000″ worked perfect with sound and video!!

May 13th, 2009
dre-22

who have real tek on board ?
so in windows vistas (64) goto /start /konfigu /sound /record /stereomix /abel/.
in game go to /
opsions / sound /use reverb off /use creative eax off audio /than restard. game.

ok and vga is ….

vga / turn win background to ( 1024×768.depends of jour pc) to 16 bits .
in the game in enything jou wand end kan do whit jour pc .
sorry vor my poor lengwitsh ha ha lol .
i hoope enywan have some good ad this .
my pc con fig is …..
aser aspire whit a/ i7 procecor / 6 ghz onboard memddr3 /1ghrdati radeon ddr3 vga / and / 1000gig hd /for me it workt !!.
so i hoope eny wan have somthing from this .afz dre

May 26th, 2009
roch

ZTEVE
Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.

WooT! worked like a charm, navigating through that menu I also disabled “PC speaker” that generated that annoying buzz whenever I moved my mouse and literally could hear cpu working, now it is gone, for that it is mayor tweak of today!

vista 64bit sp1 (damn small vista) asus M4A79 deluxe.

Thanks a lot ZTEVE, U a live saver.

May 26th, 2009
jago

Thanks it work

Jun 9th, 2009
Woa

Worked for me too! Thanks alot m8, you have saved many lives!

Jun 11th, 2009
Ben

What worked for me: Bioshock.exe properties, compatibility mode set to Windows 2000.

Jun 11th, 2009
someone

Thanks works great

Jun 28th, 2009
Nikolaj

No, running in compatability mode doesn’t work. And I can’t believe they still hasn’t fixed that game – never been able to play et with sound.

Jul 1st, 2009
Greg

Stereo mixing does the job. (running in xp compactibility crashes the game on higher resolutions for me.)

Thanks alot!

Jul 5th, 2009
Beth

THANK YOU!!!!!

Jul 11th, 2009
Matheus

THANK YOU MAN!!!!
you saver my life! ;D hehehe

Jul 13th, 2009
Iluminatus xD

to me happens a different thing the game starts and the logos and the menu itself have sound but the actual game doesn’t…

Jul 15th, 2009
Thiago26792

Enabling the Stereo Mixing made it work for me. Thanks a bunch!

Jul 22nd, 2009
Tristan

My problem is like everyone else’s except worse…

I am running Windows 7 RC (build 7100) (and all my hardware is easily good enough) and I too have no sound when running it normally in dx9 and 10. I have a realtek on-board audio chip and I tried to download the latest driver from realtek but there website is a bunch of shit and the downloads don’t work. I have also tried the ‘Stereo mixing’ method but when I ‘show disabled devices’ nothing more shows up…I also get sound when running in windows 2000 compatibility mode directly from the .exe but it is forced at to run at some awful resolution and freezes after a few minutes of gameplay… No other compatibility mode like xp works as the game doesn’t even start up. The whole thing is one massive cock up. The only method I haven’t tried is plugging in a mic but unfortunately I do not have one.

Aug 5th, 2009
Tristan

Never mind…I found a microphone and plugged it in and the game works perfectly. I guess at least one solution works per person.

Aug 5th, 2009
Eddie

Thanks, it works! But now i don’t think I’m in DX10. Oh well.

Aug 24th, 2009
gregb7677

Followed the “stereo mixing” instructions and everything works fine now!

Win 7 RC 64-bit

Thanks

Sep 5th, 2009
Foss da Boss

Hey, instead of changing the compatability while in win 7… just try and update direct x. It worked for me.

Sep 7th, 2009
Patente

Yeah thanks a lot mate.
It works for me.
You’re my hero…:)

Sep 18th, 2009
kenzy

I have vista (32) and had two monitors. I unpluged one of them and the sound came back for me.

Sep 26th, 2009
JJ

Plugging in a microphone worked for me when none of the other options here did. I’m using Windows 7 with an Asus MB with integrated sound and a Radeon 4850.

Sep 29th, 2009
Jim Beam

Vista 64 Ultimate here with Realteck sound drivers. Sterio mixing work perfect. Thanks, you da man!

Oct 1st, 2009
Radovan

Plugged in microphone and it worked. Running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

Oct 15th, 2009
Bede

yeah i’m on windows 7, and the sound didnt work after the intro, so i did wot u sed with the compatibility mode and now when i run the program it says bioshock, than it just has a black screen, i press ctrl alt delete and it says bioshock is not responding!

Oct 26th, 2009
Hanomag

Plugging in microphone worked for me, Windows 7 32bit RC

Oct 29th, 2009
Dayton

For anyone that this doesn’t work for, you might be doing it to the shortcut. Just open your start menu and there’s a search bar, type in “bio” and it’ll be right at the top. right click it and then follow his instructions, it’s really simple

Nov 5th, 2009
Trampboy931

This worked for me… but now i get a weird sound stuttering effect. :S

Anyone else get this?

Nov 7th, 2009
ScorpiaBCN

“Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.” => That worked for me too. Thank you very much ZTEVE!!!

Nov 11th, 2009
mobias

ok, i have vista ultimate 64-bit, and have a creative x-fi titanium. i right click on the recording tab, and there is no such entry ‘stereo mixing’ ! i only have microphone, microphone FP (Whatever this is) digital -in, and ‘what u hear’ whatever that is.
why am i the only one with this question? the other funny thing i notice, is the EAX option in the ingame menu doesn’t highlight [allow you to select] either yes or no…like it can’t detect the hardware or something. i think vista is f’ed, this just makes me want to get win7 even faster.

Nov 13th, 2009
dries hoebeke

i’m running windows 7 and putting in my microphone solved the problem.. kind of weird but hey
thanks for the advice

Nov 20th, 2009
Finagle

Plugged in the microphone, sound now working. Next time, it started in Windowed mode. Tapped Alt-Enter until it went back to full screen.

Nov 26th, 2009
poonog

I LOVE YOU!!! the stereo mixing thing worked…thank god for forums.

Dec 19th, 2009
Miguel

tnx works like charm

Dec 22nd, 2009
marco

Not working in windows 7 ultimate. Right clicking on recorder devices… shows no stereo mixing.
Still no sound. Also in all compatibility modes.

Dec 25th, 2009
marco

Update: plugged a headphones stereo jack in the microphone port and now works without any different change!!! Crazy thing!

Dec 25th, 2009
Jaron

Fuck compatibility go into control panel make sure its in classic mode its easier to spot in cp>sound>recording tab>Sterio mix right click on that an enable. cheers compatibility mode just makes your sound sound well.. terrible. Okay if you are having problems email me at wargamer111@gmail.com

Dec 25th, 2009
robert

tnx a lot!

Dec 31st, 2009
Grant

Thanks so much. I’m running Windows 7 64bit and running it in XP Service Pack 2 compatibility worked like a charm.

Happy New Year.

Dec 31st, 2009
twister

thanks i sovled my http://www.google.tt/search?q=fail+to+create+the+gameExplorer+object&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a by running the program in comptibility with xp service pk2 i still can’t get the sound to work with realtek and vista 32bit

Jan 6th, 2010
OneRound

I tried every single thing I could found on the internet and still there is no sound. I have sound in menus but when I start the game its all silent.
Running windows 7 x64 with realtek hd audion on abit mobo.
I tried compatibility, latest drivers, enabled audio mix and CD audio,…
Nothing is working for me and it sucks big time!

Jan 6th, 2010
Vlad

Thanks so much. I’m running Windows 7 64bit and running it in Windows 2000 compatibility worked like a charm.

Jan 7th, 2010
DRecon

Tried WinXP SP2 compatibility AND Stereo Mixing with Realtek.
None of them have worked. Does anyone have another suggestion?

Jan 10th, 2010
mcouthon

Plugging in a Mic did it for me. Quite a ridiculous problem (and solution) if I might say so. Cheers mates!

Jan 11th, 2010
Windows 7

Windows 7 no sound after intro i didnt have a mic to plug in so I disabled my mic jack on my PC and viola worked like a charm.

Jan 21st, 2010
BioTIBS

Zteve, thanks a lot – may well be over 2 years later but that’s just helped me a treat @ enable stereo mixing =) Slight prob still with it being crackly though but better that than no sound at all

Jan 31st, 2010
PETE

I have updated my nvidia driver, and direct x. the game says “bioshock stiopped working…” if I add -nosound to the executable it works.

I am on windows 7, rocketfish, and I don’t have stereo mix under my disabled devices. the only suggestion I have not tried it plugging in a microphone but I don’t own one. sigh.

oh and compability mode xp service pack 3 did not work nor 2000

Feb 2nd, 2010
PETE

update: plugged headphones into microphone jack…instead of logo and crash it was logo then black screen.

Feb 2nd, 2010
Ross

I had issues with both crashing and no sound. Until I ran it in compatibility mode, Xp service pack 2 and vista service pack 2.

For the no sound issue I tried about everything I could til I figured it out while messing with my audio settings.

Start -> Control panel -> Sound
In sound i had multiple items in the Playback tab. I had to set my headphones as Default. and it worked.

Hope this helps anyone who has had issues as well

Feb 2nd, 2010
Wozzy

umm, what if the game worked just fine at first, with sound and all, then suddenly it just stopped putting out audio? the game boots and the menu has audio but as soon as the game starts the audio stops…

Feb 13th, 2010
Wozzy

Update: i updated audio drivers now game doesn’t boot at all in any compatibility mode.

Feb 13th, 2010
DiscoBitch

@Zteve – nice one! That worked for me. On, vista; there was sound on the menu but not in-game. I enabled stereo mixing via Control Panel as you suggesting and now I have sound in-game. Sorted!

Feb 13th, 2010
Sean

I get no sound and the game runs fine in non-compatibility. When I set it to XP SP 2, nothing runs, the game doesn’t start. Any Ideas?

Feb 14th, 2010
AlienOrigin

Hi. My brother bought Bioshock way back then, but our old computer wasn’t up to run it. Resently, I bought a new one (with windows 7, 64 bit), installed Bioshock and told him to come over soon. You can just imagine my wrath, when I found out my computer didn’t get those (censored) game sounds to work. With any other than win 2000 compatibility the damn thing gave me only black screen and “not responding”…

Then I found this forum, did the stereo mixing thing and today sounds seemed to work just fine. With my bad english I say thank you for the help.

Mar 4th, 2010
Gary

Worked for me. Had to revert to vista after my windows 7 disk for one of my dells didn’t activate on the other. Oh well. Vista, again. Thanks for the fix!

Mar 4th, 2010
mattias

hi everybody out there i found out how to fix the game and im showing it in my video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtZHZO4ucMM

Mar 29th, 2010
Alex

Thanks for this solution. Gonna finish Bioshock n then continue wif Bioshock 2

Apr 22nd, 2010
AdY

ThX…:D! ThX a Lot!:D!…

Jun 16th, 2010
Arcagh

Thx! I’m running Win 7 and also experienced no in-game sound. Switched to Win XPSP2 comp & all sorted! MUCH APPRECIATED!!

Jun 19th, 2010
Johnny

Thank you so much. I had the same problem as ARCAGH, but used Win XPSP3. Awesome game.

Jul 17th, 2010
Gabriel

FINALLY! plugged a microphone and it worked (well I just plugged a pair of headphones in the microphone lol

Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit, 1900*1080, HD 4850

finally got this bitch to work xD

Jul 17th, 2010
Tony

Cheers for the realtek sound fix, Zteve, you saved my lass a lot of sweary words lol, so she thanks you also Thanks.

Jul 21st, 2010
fala

Thanks very much, now, game is more intresting XD

Aug 29th, 2010