Automatic volume leveling during audio playback

Jerry,

I'm starting to think that this issue is down to certain Windows 7/Motherboard/Soundcard combinations as I know many people are not having problems with this at all. We must also consider the possibility that it may be something to do with the external hardware. Not the amp you are using itself, but perhaps there are some incompatibilities with the impedances/loads in the whole system and the output may have a safety feature that prevents it from distorting/overloading by reducing its output. I'm now clutching at straws, but if that's the case you could test it by reducing the output volume in Windows 7 (to say 30%) and compensating for this by increasing the amp volume, or by seeing if you get the same effect when you plug a pair of headphones into your computer outputs.

Sorry about not being much help for now,

Matt,

OK, here's what I have…  When I right click the speakers, those for the SB Xtreme Audio Notebook, I have no enhancements tab.  I do, however, have a soundblaster tab.  Under this is a check box for Disable Sound Blaster Enhancements.  The enhancements that it's referring to are listed right below it: Bass Boost, Bass Management, EAX, EQ, X-Fi CMSS-3D, X-Fi Crystalizer.  I am very familiar with all of these features because I used this same exact sound card with my older XPS M1730.  None of these features would produce this kind of equalization "effect".  Plus, I've played with all of them just in case.

In looking around, I did right click on my laptop speakers, those marked as IDT High Definition Audio CODEC.  Under the property for these speakers, IS the enhancements tab that you spoke of, including the loudness equalization.  I played around with it a little bit to see how it worked, and this may be a solution for others with this similar issue.  But for me, this of course has no bearing on my sound blaster output.

So…  The mystery goes on…  :-)

Jerry

Thanks for the reply, Matt.  However, I'm not using Windows Media Player.  I use Winamp for my music, and Zoom Player for all my video and DVD's.  This normalization that windows is doing is something universal.  It does it with all players and all sounds.

Something like this can't be an accident.  It had to be programmed intentionally.  It should not be that difficult for Microsoft to figure out what's causing this, and release some kind of fix or update that will allow us to turn it off.

I absolutely love Windows 7, but this is so disheartening.

Any other ideas?

Add one more to the list.  I am also experiencing the same exact problem.  I'm running Windows 7 Professional (64 bit) on an Alienware M17x.  I'm using a Soundblaster Xtreme Audio Notebook with 5.1. 

This system is my home theater as I also have it hooked to a 42 inch LCD HDTV. 

This automatic volume Leveling issue is very annoying.  Here's an example…  Everyone knows Phil Collins, right?  Everyone knows his song "In The Air Tonight".  It has a very long buildup with no drums until several minutes into the song.  Then the drums kick in with a loud thunderous explosion.  It's awesome.  I always test my sound systems with the song, among others.

However, with windows 7, as soon as it gets this point, the volume cuts back as if it's trying to regulate the volume and normalize it.  It's terrible!  I have looked through every windows setting I can find, as well as the drivers and applications for my sound card.  I can't find anything to turn this on or off. 

I really love Windows 7, but this is an extreme disappointment.  Microsoft, please tell me you're aware of this problem and working to fix it. 

Thanks,

Jerry