apps muting each other

In Windows 8 I have apps effectively muting each other. When I go to omegle while I'm playing music, the browser sets VLC to an extremely low audio level, about 5% of what I set it to. Same thing with when I run test drive unlimited 2, except VLC mutes TDU2. Also everything mutes Mass Effect 3. I looked in properties, every setting I could find, every square byte of the software and nothing I change fixes this. I know W7 did this until I disabled a few settings in the speakers' audio settings panel, but it doesn't do anything in 8.

It's really making me mad. I have FLAC files and it does the same in every program I can use, but of course I can't test WMP because that doesn't support FLAC.


Oh and one other thing- if I don't use my volume wheel on my logitech g110 for a few minutes or more then try to lower the volume it crashes explorer and my volume is stuck at whatever.

Have you dried removing the check from the box:

Control panel/Sound/Advanced/Exclusive Mode - Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device

Yeah definitely, that's what stopped it in W7. I don't know if maybe the audio drivers just don't work 100% and say it doesn't allow apps to control, but it still does. But it's possible. Especially since the last drivers that came out for my motherboard were from windows 7 on release day lol. And it's realtek, not exactly cutting edge software.

If you're using the on-board Realtek HD chip, there's a new driver (March 12th) here x86 or here x64

Calico said:

If you're using the on-board Realtek HD chip, there's a new driver (March 12th) here x86 or here x64

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try and report back

Uh how do I use the cab file? I try to update it by going to the device manager and clicking update driver, but it says that it's up to date already. I really don't see a point in having a driver installer in windows if it's allowed to block the install based on what it knows about drivers.

Right click speaker icon in notification area. Playback devices. Right click on your default. Properties | Advanced.

Try messing about with these check boxes.

Also, your driver might have a setting to use WaveRT for Windows Audio or not. That might affect things as well, but unlikely.

GMan said:

Right click speaker icon in notification area. Playback devices. Right click on your default. Properties | Advanced.

Try messing about with these check boxes.

Also, your driver might have a setting to use WaveRT for Windows Audio or not. That might affect things as well, but unlikely.

Click to expand...

I uncheck them but it doesn't do anything, then when I restart it resets everything to default.