Sound is the second most important information source in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Sound tells you how many enemies are running around the corner, which guns they use, and even hints at reloading so you can attack a defenceless enemy. Therefore, all players need to know and understand how does sound work in CS:GO. Another episode of the BASED series by CS.MONEY Blog will help you out!
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Sounds Basics
Sounds work pretty simple in CS:GO. There is no sound ray tracing (Jesus!), echoes or any other features that could significantly affect sound perception. Instead, the game has simple rules. For example, the farther the sound, the quieter it is; footstep sounds vary by surface; the sounds from behind the walls can sound muffled; there may be no sound at all. It all depends on the in-game settings. Let’s start with them.
Best CS:GO Sound Settings
Let’s start with the basics of CS:GO sound settings. There’s a separate menu section, which can be divided into three more subsections: Sound, Music and Voice.
No big deal about the Music submenu: Menu Music volume and C4 Explosion Alert (meaning ten seconds before the blast) are self-explanatory and obvious. The Voice submenu is also relatively simple, having three options in total. Enable Voice allows you to activate in-game voice communication, and our advice is to switch it to Activate On Click. Be honest, you would instantly mute anyone with Voice permanently turned on during your match because, most likely, they would be just disturbing. VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) Volume is responsible for the volume of the in-game voice communication received, meaning the higher the parameter, the louder your teammates are. Just find what’s optimal for you here. The last thing, VOIP Positional, modifies the sound of voice communication depending on the speaker’s position. In competitive, it’s pretty useless, so better just turn it off. First part of the promo code: 6ID.
The last one is Sound Settings. There are six points:
- Master Volume
- Music Volume In Steam Overlay
- GOTV Caster Volume
- Audio Output Configuration
- Audio Device
- Advanced 3D Audio Processing
The first three are clear. Master Volume sets up the overall in-game sound volume, Music Volume In Steam Overlay is responsible for the volume when the overlay is open, and GOTV Caster Volume helps configure the volume of GOTV commentators.
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Explanation required for the remaining three. For Audio Output Configuration, just choose the sound devices you use. If it’s headphones, choose headphones. Trying to switch to Speakers or Dobly 5.1 will do no good. For Audio Device, select your default output device. Note! CS:GO usually automatically detects the device needed; if your sound works fine, don’t touch anything.
Let’s discuss Advanced 3D Audio Processing separately. Turning this setting on will allow the game to work with sound sources, changing the points where they come from. Remember how we told you about the sounds behind walls previously? This effect is exclusively done by Advanced 3D Audio Processing. So it’s only up to you to decide if you want it to be activated. This setting seemingly increases audio positioning, but, as we already mentioned, it can become faded and smoothed, so you won’t be able to easily recognise where it comes from. Thus, CS:GO beginner better turn it on.
Still, mayne CS:GO pros prefer to have stereosound. It makes harder to tell the source (as of 360 degrees), but the walls won’t interfere your perception. Up to you and your habit. In order to fully understand what this all is about, take a look at 3kliksphilip’s video.
Windows Sound Effects
You can configure additional effects in Windows settings. Most of them will be highly disturbing while playing CS:GO, with the only exception being Loudness Equalization. We bet you know how loud the game can be, especially if you have ever encountered a flashbang blast right in front of you. Or got a headshot. If these volume peaks make you uncomfortable, turning Loudness Equalization on is a good idea. Second part of the promo code: RZR.
But! Loudness Equalization will affect the sound in the game. Many players noted that it becomes more difficult to determine where the sounds come from with this thing activated. So, use it only if CS:GO sounds cause discomfort since health always must come first.
Equalisers, console commands and driver settings
CS:GO Community has numerous guides to custom settings that can “make steps louder” or “C4 sound clearer“. These headlines are attractive, but you need to be careful with the content consumed. In most cases, playing with the equaliser and copying settings from an unknown Internet adviser is a very dubious idea.
The same applies to console commands, settings, third-party filters, and in general, any other attempt to modify the sound in CS:GO. If you don’t know what each setting from the YouTube video guide does, don’t use them and don’t change anything. A lot of unverified or outdated information circulates among the players. Also, there are even guides with launch options that stopped working years ago—considering sound settings or whatever else.
Let’s sum it up. Sounds in CS:GO are quite simple; setting them up won’t take much time. Just follow one simple rule: do not interfere with something you don’t understand, know, or are sure of. In addition, try not to use any custom mods or devices that affect the sound. In 95% of cases, they will only make the situation worse.
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