High pitched screech and crash

Hi, I’ve been having this issue for quite a while (first time I encountered it was probably about 2 years ago) but lately it’s getting more obnoxious and happening more often, so I figured I’d drop something here and see if anyone has any ideas to stop my eardrums being randomly blown out.

I have a wireless headset (HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless - Connects via USB Receiver), after booting the PC there’s about a 50:50 chance that any sound put through the headset just produces a max volume screech. This only happens with the headphones, never with the speakers (Realtek Digital Output). The EQ visualiser is maxed out across the spectrum whenever this happens, but then if I change to another output it’ll return to normal, and back to maxed out when changed back to the headphones. It’s really odd. If the bug has hit, the maxing out on the visualiser will be there regardless of whether the headphones are turned on or not.

The only way to resolve this when it happens is to change the output to the speakers and back until it stops doing it, which is further frustrated by the fact that, whilst this issue is ongoing, when changed to the digital output FX sound crashes out with no error/dialogue whenever I change to the digital output. When restarted, the screech persists until the output changes successfully (without crashing), this might take 2 cycles or 20, there’s no consistency. This is the only output which causes the crashes, but also the only output which resolves the issue. Once the issue is resolved, I can change outputs at will with no further issues until a reboot, at which point the issue may or may not reoccur.

Not sure if this is a problem specifically with the interaction between this headset and FXSound (the headset is fine if used without FXSound), or if it affects others as well, as I don’t have another USB wireless headset with which to test.

FXSound Version: v.1.1.31.0
Windows 11

Can’t seem to upload the dump files but can supply them if needed.

That’s awful… sorry about this. @bvijay got any troubleshooting ideas?

Hi @Illyran, Do you use any other application for the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset like the HyperX NGENUITY which is available in their website?
In the headset device properties in Windows, if it configured in exclusive mode or if any other software also processes the playback on the device, we can experience some unexpected behavior on the device in FxSound.

Hi Bvijay,

I do not use any other software no. And yes, it is set to allow exclusive control. To clarify does that want to be on or off? Wasn’t entirely clear from your reply.

Hi @Illyran,
If exclusive mode is enabled on the device any other exclusive mode application can take control of the device and FxSound cannot playback audio on the device.
So it should be disabled.