[2021] No Audio

Has it ever worked with this game for you? Or never yet?

Is that all sound - music, ambients, sound effects?


Run the game up to the main game menu then alt-tab to the desktop. Right click on the speaker icon in th etask bar and go into Volume Mixer. Scroll across until you see the game and check it is not muted or at a low volume.

If that is not the problem DXDIAG is a program you run from a command prompt or the Windows start menu 'run' dialog box (or 'search programs' in Windows 7 or later). After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach your Documents/Paradox/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox/CK3/logs/ folder, attach system.log , error.log  

Definitely a problem in the Windows sound setup here:

[21:45:55][audio2_fmod.cpp:392]: PdxAudio2: couldn't load bank 'sound/banks/Ambience.bank' (Operation could not be performed because specified sound/DSP connection is not ready.)

Although not one I've seen before.

That dxdiag shows 15 different audio channels, using 5 different audio drivers ... I've never seen a setup like that before. I expected to see RealTek drivers but there are noe.

It seems this is your current sound output:

Description: Headphones (2- Arctis Pro Wireless Game)
Default Sound Playback: Yes

Does it make any difference if you use any of the others?  

I assume this has not always been the case, it used to work up to some point?

The speakers and headset use different audio drivers, so I guess the problem is deeper in Windows. Does this also affect say CK2, HOI4 and Eu4?  

That pretty much confirms the issue is in Windows somewhere. In previous situations like this the fix has been to uninstall audio drivers and reboot, and let Windows reinstall them.

I guess that is still worth a shot here, although with two drivers affected this may be deeper in WIndows as I say.  

My guess would be this was triggered by a Windows update not installing perfectly; you could try running the Update app and apply everything it finds, then this Windows repair tool:

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista. support.microsoft.com
If that doesn't do it I am sorry , I think this needs qualified Window support help to progress.  

Yes, the game is not detecting any audio device despite them being there in dxdiag. I suspect that 'dsound' audio target will point them to the right place.

I'd pass on that error message, and make it clear this is not a known problem with the game but unique to your machine.

Good luck!