I have a massive sound issue with my ASUS Windows 11 laptop. Happened from one moment to the other.
Whatever sound driver or output I use - Asio to my audient 14, Windows Latency to a bluetooth headphone. normal speaker of the laptop: The sound that comes out is very low, muffled and very distorted. Basically the systemis unusable.

Only happens when using whatever Instrument in standalone mode. Does not happen when e.g. using Youtube or working inside a DAW.

Turned off the laptop a few times, reinstalled the Audient driver etc.

No plan, no solution.

Need your help:


Thanks

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2025

Almost sounds like there's some crap from Asus interfering with your audio. I would start from there.

 

It could be a hardware problem.. this is a sympton if you have a broken or failing capacitator. the sound can get muffled or you loose dynamic range.

Then again, if it only happens if you use a plugin in standalone mode, it should not be the issue.

 

Try disabling the ASUS sound driver in the device manager and go exclusively through the ID14. See what happens.

 

I'd feed my post into the AI so I was not just guessing at stuff. Instead I would have a step by step printed diagnostic path to follow precisely step by step. When I got the end of the checklist, I would either have already fixed it, or been able to say these are the precise steps I have already taken to rule all these things out. That way I could work methodcally instead of guessing at various things checked in no particular order.

I think the biggest clue to your problem is that "in standalone applications" you have the problem, but not when using your DAW. I would say it is probably 99% software related, and would lean heavily towards it being driver related issue. Your DAW is a standalone application. However, it is allowed to force the system to use a certain driver. A synth standalone version can choose what outputs it wants, but it does not override the system default driver; as a rule of thumb.

Spoiler

Yeah, that’s a nasty one — and the clues you gave actually narrow it down quite a bit. Let’s unpack it carefully.

Symptoms summary:

• Audio is low, muffled, distorted in standalone instrument apps.
  
  
• All outputs (ASIO, Bluetooth, built-in speakers) behave the same.
  
  
• Normal system audio (YouTube, DAW playback) is fine.
  
  
• Reboots and driver reinstalls didn’t help.
  
  
• So the issue appears only when something runs standalone audio engines, not when going through the shared Windows audio path or a DAW host.

That pattern almost always points to a sample rate mismatch or system-wide shared audio device conflict rather than a hardware or driver failure.

Here’s the checklist to isolate it:

1. Check sample rate lock conflicts
Open your Audient iD control panel (or Windows Sound Settings if using built-in output).

• Make sure both Windows and the Audient panel are set to the same sample rate (for example, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz).
  
  
• Many standalone instruments open at 96 kHz or 192 kHz by default, which can throw the driver into an unstable or resampling mess if Windows has the device open at another rate.

Also try:

• Closing every app that can play sound before launching the standalone instrument (browsers, media players, DAW, etc.).
  
  
• Then open one instrument (say, Serum standalone) and test again.

2. Disable “Exclusive Mode” for the device in Windows
Go to
Control Panel → Sound → Playback → (select your device) → Properties → Advanced
Uncheck both “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” boxes.

Some synths grab exclusive access to the device in a bad state and never restore it properly afterward.

3. Test with Windows “Audio Troubleshooter” disabled enhancements
In the same playback device Properties window:

• Under Enhancements, check “Disable all enhancements”.
  
  
• Under Advanced, select a stable format like 24 bit, 44100 Hz.

Sometimes “spatial sound,” “enhancement,” or “Windows Sonic” layers interfere with low-level driver calls used by standalone apps.

4. Try ASIO4ALL briefly
Install ASIO4ALL and see if the standalone instrument sounds normal when using that.
If it does, it confirms your Audient ASIO driver is getting confused when the instrument app requests exclusive access.

5. Check standalone synth’s audio settings
Inside the standalone app itself, look at its audio/MIDI preferences.

• Make sure it’s not set to some ridiculous buffer size (like 16 samples or 4096).
  
  
• Ensure output channel routing matches the device’s main outputs.
  
  
• Try different sample rates and see if one suddenly sounds normal.

6. Windows audio service reset (last resort)
Open Services.msc, restart:

• Windows Audio
  
  
• Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
  Then reboot once more.

If all else fails, it’s sometimes a stuck sample-rate negotiation bug in the Audient driver or Windows audio stack. A clean reinstall can fix that:

• Unplug the Audient.
  
  
• Uninstall its drivers.
  
  
• Delete C:\Program Files\Audient, and remove hidden entries in Device Manager (View → Show hidden devices → Sound, video and game controllers).
  
  
• Reboot and reinstall the latest driver.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2025

I once got that, and needed to change soundcard sample rate to 48kHz.
44.1khz was not working anymore.
Whereas it was my default standard for decades.

I suspect some crappy Windows update months ago messed sound management at system level ...

 

Hello @Thomba, here's the Grok AI help:

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

I'm sorry to hear about this frustrating audio issue—nothing kills the flow like distorted, muffled sound when you're trying to jam in standalone mode. Based on your description (sudden onset, affects multiple outputs like built-in speakers, Bluetooth, and ASIO to your Audient i2, but spares YouTube/DAWs), it sounds like a Windows 11 audio processing or driver conflict that's triggered specifically by how standalone apps (e.g., VST hosts like standalone Kontakt, Omnisphere, or similar instrument plugins) handle real-time audio rendering. This could involve enhancements, latency tweaks, or even ASUS-specific features interfering.

Since you've already tried restarts and Audient driver reinstalls (smart first steps), let's troubleshoot systematically. I'll prioritize quick, non-destructive fixes first. Test audio in your standalone app after each step to isolate the culprit. If you share the exact standalone app/instrument (e.g., Native Instruments standalone), I can refine this further.

Quick Checks and Easy Fixes

1. Disable Windows Audio Enhancements (Common Culprit for Distortion/Muffling) These can over-process real-time audio in standalone mode, causing clipping or muffling.
   • Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar > Open Sound settings.
   • Under Output, select your device (e.g., Speakers, Bluetooth headphones, or Audient ASIO).
   • Click Device properties > Additional device properties.
   • Go to the Enhancements tab.
   • Check Disable all enhancements (or uncheck specific ones like "Loudness Equalization" or "Room Correction" if available).
   • Click Apply > OK. Test in standalone. Why this? Enhancements often distort low-level or high-fidelity audio from instruments but don't affect simple playback like YouTube.
2. Toggle ASUS AI Noise-Canceling (If Enabled) ASUS laptops often ship with this feature, which filters non-voice audio (e.g., music/instruments) to "enhance" calls—but it can muffle or low-pass filter everything else, especially in standalone apps.
   • Open the MyASUS app (pre-installed; search for it in Start menu). If not installed, download from Microsoft Store.
   • Go to Hardware Settings or AudioWizard > Look for AI Noise-Canceling or Smart Amplifier.
   • Disable it completely.
   • Also, in AudioWizard (if present), set the profile to Music or Standard (avoid "Voice" modes). Restart and test. Why this? It's a frequent Windows 11 + ASUS issue for muffled/distorted non-voice audio, but it spares browser/DAW playback.
3. Run the Built-in Audio Troubleshooter
   • Right-click speaker icon > Troubleshoot sound problems.
   • Let it scan and apply fixes (it often resets volume limits or detects driver glitches).
   • Also, check More sound settings > Playback tab: Ensure your default device isn't muted or low-volume, and drag the slider to 100% in the Levels tab. Why this? It catches low-volume caps or conflicts without manual digging.

Deeper Driver and Settings Tweaks
If the above doesn't nail it, it's likely a driver mismatch—Windows 11 updates can overwrite ASUS-optimized ones, causing distortion in high-res audio scenarios like standalone instruments.

1. Reinstall ASUS Audio Drivers (Model-Specific) Generic Windows drivers often suck for ASUS hardware, leading to distortion.
   • Go to the ASUS support site: asus.com/support. Enter your exact model (e.g., from the bottom sticker or Settings > System > About).
   • Under Drivers & Tools > Windows 11 > Download the latest Audio package (usually Realtek or DTS). Install it, restart.
   • If you have a Realtek audio chip (common on ASUS), also grab the Realtek Audio Driver and DTS Audio if listed.
   • Post-install: In Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager), expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click your audio devices > Update driver > Search automatically. Why this? Many users fix muffled/distorted sound this way after Windows updates nuke the originals. Avoid third-party sites—stick to ASUS.
2. Standalone App-Specific Tweaks (Buffer/Latency Focus) Since this only hits standalone mode, adjust the app's audio engine:
   • In the standalone app's settings: Increase buffer size (e.g., to 512 or 1024 samples) to reduce CPU strain and distortion. Lower sample rate temporarily (e.g., from 96kHz to 44.1kHz) if it's set high.
   • For ASIO (Audient): In the Audient control panel, ensure instrument input mode is enabled if using MIDI, and check gain levels aren't clipping.
   • Test with a different standalone app to confirm it's not app-specific. Why this? Standalone rendering can overload low-latency settings, causing crackle/distortion—unlike DAWs with better buffering.
3. Power and Hardware Checks
   • Plug in the charger—some ASUS models throttle audio processing on battery, worsening distortion.
   • Update Windows fully (Settings > Windows Update) and check for BIOS/firmware on ASUS site (rare, but can fix audio glitches).
   • Test with a USB audio adapter (~$10) to bypass internal hardware if it's speaker-specific.

If Nothing Works

• System Restore: If this started recently, roll back via Settings > System > Recovery > Go back (to a point before the issue).
• Hardware Fault? Unlikely since it hits all outputs, but run ASUS diagnostics: MyASUS app > System Diagnosis > Audio test. If it fails, contact ASUS support with your model/serial.
• Post more details (model number, exact standalone app, error logs from Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System, filter for "audio") for round 2.

This should get you 80-90% there—most similar cases resolve with enhancements off or drivers refreshed. Let me know how it goes or if you hit snags! ️

Spoiler: Source: Perplexity KI

The sound issue you are experiencing on your ASUS Windows 11 laptop—low, muffled, and distorted audio only in standalone instrument mode, but not in YouTube or your DAW—is commonly reported and often related to audio driver conflicts, software settings, or Windows audio enhancement bugs.

Troubleshooting Steps

Check Standalone Instrument Audio Settings
Many standalone instrument apps use different audio drivers and output settings than general applications (like YouTube or DAWs).
Make sure the correct output device is selected within the standalone app preferences and that no custom audio enhancements or effects are active.

Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
Go to Device Manager → Audio inputs and outputs. Right-click each device and select “Update driver.” If no updates are found, uninstall each audio device, then reboot and allow Windows to reinstall the drivers automatically.
Download the latest audio drivers directly from ASUS support for your laptop model rather than using Windows update alone.

Windows Sound Settings
Right-click the speaker icon, open Sound settings, and ensure the preferred device is set as the default for playback. Also, check the volume levels and ensure “Mute” is not enabled.
Visit "App Volume and Device Preferences" in Sound settings and confirm there aren’t any app-specific output settings forcing standalone instruments to use a problematic driver.

BIOS and Windows Updates
Sometimes BIOS updates resolve underlying hardware communication issues. Use MyASUS or visit the ASUS support site to update your BIOS.

Disable Audio Enhancements
Go to Sound settings → Select your playback device → Properties → Enhancements tab. Try turning off audio enhancements.
Use Windows Troubleshoot
From Sound settings, select ‘Troubleshoot’, and follow the on-screen prompts. Windows might detect and resolve issues automatically.

Restore System
If the problem began recently, try a system restore to a point before the issue started. This can undo any recent changes that might have affected sound performance.

Additional Advice
If Bluetooth and wired outputs all exhibit identical issues only for standalone apps, it implies a software or configuration issue rather than hardware.

If none of the above works, try reverting (rolling back) recent Windows updates, which sometimes introduce driver or sound system bugs affecting only select software workflows.
Applying these steps should resolve most such audio issues on ASUS Windows 11 laptops. If problems persist for standalone instruments specifically, check with the instrument software’s support, as recent Windows or driver updates sometimes disrupt compatibility.

 

Last edited: Nov 3, 2025

I don't think it's related, but this happens to me every time I hybernate and wake the pc, but I have Asio Link Pro routing Magix Asio driver (should be the same for Asio 4 all).
My solution: stop and start again Asio Link Pro.
This probably is an ASIO buffer related thing, but just my guess.

 

Try to unplug / replug USB cable.
And see if it solves anything.