Cities: Skylines (Steam) - Framerate issues and sound crackling

[Vanttezzle]

Description
Framerate issues and sound crackling

What is your game version?
Latest version

What expansions do you have installed?
All of the above

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
I have constant sound crackling/popping every few seconds and some framerate issues.

I've honestly tried everything now...Every possible command line argument, reinstalling drivers..everything
Can't fix the framerate nor the sound crackling

I'm starting to believe the framerate could be normal for the game but I would need some information about what are other peoples framerates.

70000 population=20fps zoomed in, max zoomed out=35fps

1500 population=35fps zoomed in, 50-60 max zoomed out.


No mods except the included hard mode and no assets.

Windows 10
I7-7700HQ
GTX 1070 8GB
16GB RAM

Can you replicate the issue? If yes, please explain how you did it.
Happens always.

Attachments

 

[AndrewT]

As a non-action game, any framerate above 24 is fine, from a human visual PoV.

Has the noise problem always happened ever since you've had the game? Or only since what change or update?

We'll need to see two diagnostic files that contain information about your computer, and about the game.
Please gather both these two informational files, and attach them to this ticket:

...\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines\Cities_Data\output_log.txt

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.

 

[Vanttezzle]

The sound crackling happens on two different computers, can't remember if it was from the beginning as I haven't played in ages. Here's the logs.

 

[MrNeeds]

As a non-action game, any framerate above 24 is fine, from a human visual PoV.

Incredible, I have no words...

 

[AndrewT]

The sound crackling happens on two different computers, can't remember if it was from the beginning as I haven't played in ages. Here's the logs.

No obvious problems in there, although you may as well check for an update to that realtek driver.

Does the crackling sound go up and down with the main volume control in the game? Or stay the same regardless?

If it goes up and down, can you then see which of the other volume controls it varies with: effects, music, ambient etc.

 

[Vanttezzle]

No obvious problems in there, although you may as well check for an update to that realtek driver.

Does the crackling sound go up and down with the main volume control in the game? Or stay the same regardless?

If it goes up and down, can you then see which of the other volume controls it varies with: effects, music, ambient etc.

The volume of the crackling seems to change with the master volume slider but the other sliders don't seem to make any difference unless I lower them all..Drivers didn't help either.

 

[AndrewT]

Sheesh, I don't know then. I don't suppose the new 1.10 patch helped either?

 

[Vanttezzle]

Nope..No change after the patch.

 

[AndrewT]

We had one like this in Stellaris and a simple reboot fixed it. If you've always had it and see it on two machines, that's obviously not going to help.

Why you would see it twice and hardly anyone else ever I cannot explain.

I don't suppose you have access to a third machine to try it on?

 

[Aexrael]

I get the audio stutter/crackling/pop/skip also.

Vanilla no mods active
River Valley map
Rock radio station
The audio/game hitches every ~10 seconds or so

Win 10 Pro 1803 latest update
Intel i5 3570K
16GB 1600Mhz memory
Nvidia GTX 970 397.93
Asrock Z77 Pro 4 with Realtek chip using driver 6.0.1.8432
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB

All drivers, bios, etc are up to date.

Recording from in game that illustrates the crackle/pops,

they happen multiple times within the first 10 seconds of the video, notably around 4 seconds, 6 seconds and 9 seconds specifically.

It's a long standing issue which have never been addressed. Last time I looked in to it, it pointed towards being a Unity Engine specific issue, because other games using a similar version of Unity had the same issue, notably Kerbal Space Program according to other players.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/610574827762271646/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/1318836262668738479/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/610574394240127389/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/610574394239557427/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/535151589910924873/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/517142892058400370/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/255710/discussions/0/152390014784194967/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-the-audio-crackling-is-still-a-thing.883929/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/annoying-sound-crackling.844904/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/sound-stuttering.842432/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/audio-stuttering-issue.1061964/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/sound-crackling.934725/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/sound-stutter.854427/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/7iq7g4/audio_crackling_cutting_out/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/3wx5kl/sound_popping_every_few_seconds/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/4emxmd/suddenly_developed_microstuttering/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/48prxe/audio_stuttering_problem/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/7v3mtc/audio_stutter/
https://www.reddit.com/r/CitiesSkylines/comments/4mqtwo/stuttering_audio_problem_help/

As a non-action game, any framerate above 24 is fine, from a human visual PoV.

Please stop perpetuating this falsehood, it was debunked many years ago.

http://amo.net/NT/02-21-01FPS.html
http://amo.net/nt/05-24-01FPS.html
https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/203839718570471424
https://www.blurbusters.com/blur-bu...000hz-displays-with-blurfree-sample-and-hold/
https://www.testufo.com/

 

[co_emmi]

Thanks for gathering the issues here, it helps our work a lot! Our QA will be investigating this matter.

 

[ColdSpiral]

Hi there,
I've had this problem for (wow, exactly) a year now. Just checked and it still occurs: fresh map, new patch, no mods, the dlcs I own on or off, any radio station, no radio station...

It seems like such a trivial thing but even with my own music playing any hitching in the ambient sound is like an itch in my skull and I can't not hear it. I really like the sound design in this game and would prefer not to play without it.

As seen in this thread: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...nderruns-suspect-unity-project-issue.1019345/
a user with some expertise in sound production suggests it could be an issue with Unity's sound buffer caused by an upgrade between Unity dev versions.
I have no idea what that means and I'm just parroting what doubledgedboard said, but they make a pretty good case.
The initial post went without response and I don't see it listed above so I'm just flagging it here in case it gives you an avenue to investigate.

 

[akeela84]

Sound Crackling
Not sure if this is going to work:
Have you tried to reduce or increase your Default Format?

 

[ColdSpiral]

Sound Crackling
Not sure if this is going to work:
Have you tried to reduce or increase your Default Format?

I've tried a few settings and haven't noticed any change.
Thanks for the suggestion, though.

 

[Szewa230]

I've tried a few settings and haven't noticed any change.
Thanks for the suggestion, though.

try start the game with command:
-force-gfx-st

 

[Johnny5clowna]

I get sound crackling even on my ps4, I converted the ogg files to MP3 and they still do it, especially the Country radio station, The source shouldn't crackle at all. so I'm not sure what's going on. Take for example Planet Coaster, I got a separate soundtrack for that game with lossless audio, no crackles obviously, and none in game either..

 

[-JR-]

I've had the music hitching issue as long as I can remember.. I just ignore it.

Using all latest drivers.

 

[Johnny5clowna]

I've had the music hitching issue as long as I can remember.. I just ignore it.

Using all latest drivers.

I used to ignore it too, until I transferred the music to my Perfect Home theater system, everything always sound immaculate except that radio station stuff, I also tried GOLD FM, there is a few minor pops here and there, nothing as bad.
I thought it was just the game doing it, when there was too much processing going on, especially in later games with 100k cims.. but even after putting the radio station on a dedicated player, it doing the popcorn static is a perfectly good sign ANYONE can replicate it..

 

[JayFlaxman]

4 years on and still no fix?