Sounds become too quiet when player isn't facing sound source

Apparently I'm the only one who believes this is terrible! I for one am not entertained when I have ghasts firing at me from behind and I don't even hear the explosions, let alone their tormented screams.

Which reminds me, the way sounds are affected by distance from the player is just completely wrong, but that is a different issue altogether...

Using 14w30c, Java 7 update 65, and Windows 7. This problem still exists. It makes rain very annoying. As you look around, the sound seems to rapidly change where it's coming from. Also jukeboxes are stupidly quiet unless you're facing them, which makes no sense. It should be audible evenly in a general area.

Not getting this problem in 1.8-pre2, Java 7 update 51 (build 1.7.0_51-b13). (BTW I am an audio geek too)

I dunno, it still seems pretty severe in 1.8 full release.

Unable to reproduce in 1.8 or 1.8.1-pre2. Try forcing a crash by holding F3+C for 10 or more seconds and attach it here (it helps to identify things such as the LWJGL version, etc).
Based on what I heard from the MC Forums it seems that this might be a LWJGL issue.

I can confirm for 1.8.4.

To reproduce, turn your character to face in the exact opposite direction of a continuous sound source. The sound will fade sharply, becoming nearly inaudible.

Below is my crash report for 1.8.4:

---- Minecraft Crash Report ----
// Daisy, daisy...

Time: 4/29/15 9:29 AM
Description: Manually triggered debug crash

java.lang.Throwable
	at ave.s(SourceFile:1587)
	at ave.av(SourceFile:888)
	at ave.a(SourceFile:325)
	at net.minecraft.client.main.Main.main(SourceFile:124)


A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Head --
Stacktrace:
	at bdb.a(SourceFile:309)

-- Affected level --
Details:
	Level name: MpServer
	All players: 1 total; [bew['nate_dawww'/248, l='MpServer', x=243.65, y=71.00, z=258.70]]
	Chunk stats: MultiplayerChunkCache: 169, 169
	Level seed: 0
	Level generator: ID 00 - default, ver 1. Features enabled: false
	Level generator options: 
	Level spawn location: 240.00,64.00,252.00 - World: (240,64,252), Chunk: (at 0,4,12 in 15,15; contains blocks 240,0,240 to 255,255,255), Region: (0,0; contains chunks 0,0 to 31,31, blocks 0,0,0 to 511,255,511)
	Level time: 625 game time, 625 day time
	Level dimension: 0
	Level storage version: 0x00000 - Unknown?
	Level weather: Rain time: 0 (now: false), thunder time: 0 (now: false)
	Level game mode: Game mode: survival (ID 0). Hardcore: false. Cheats: false
	Forced entities: 40 total; [tt['Pig'/85, l='MpServer', x=195.50, y=64.00, z=279.50], tt['Pig'/84, l='MpServer', x=192.50, y=64.00, z=278.50], tt['Pig'/83, l='MpServer', x=183.44, y=64.00, z=274.50], tt['Pig'/82, l='MpServer', x=185.50, y=64.00, z=275.50], tt['Pig'/99, l='MpServer', x=213.50, y=63.00, z=179.50], tx['Squid'/585, l='MpServer', x=248.47, y=59.34, z=215.53], tt['Pig'/108, l='MpServer', x=219.50, y=77.00, z=317.50], tt['Pig'/106, l='MpServer', x=223.50, y=76.00, z=313.50], tt['Pig'/107, l='MpServer', x=221.50, y=77.00, z=315.50], tt['Pig'/105, l='MpServer', x=220.50, y=78.00, z=313.50], tv['Sheep'/127, l='MpServer', x=246.53, y=74.00, z=305.50], tv['Sheep'/126, l='MpServer', x=245.38, y=73.00, z=305.50], tv['Sheep'/125, l='MpServer', x=245.38, y=73.00, z=305.50], tv['Sheep'/124, l='MpServer', x=248.78, y=76.00, z=304.47], tt['Pig'/123, l='MpServer', x=242.66, y=82.00, z=223.97], tt['Pig'/122, l='MpServer', x=241.50, y=82.00, z=220.50], tt['Pig'/121, l='MpServer', x=241.50, y=63.00, z=219.50], tt['Pig'/120, l='MpServer', x=239.50, y=65.00, z=219.50], tt['Pig'/129, l='MpServer', x=245.56, y=63.00, z=322.69], tk['Bat'/678, l='MpServer', x=190.73, y=24.80, z=211.16], tt['Pig'/128, l='MpServer', x=245.53, y=63.00, z=321.34], tt['Pig'/131, l='MpServer', x=244.44, y=63.00, z=323.53], tt['Pig'/130, l='MpServer', x=246.50, y=64.00, z=322.50], tv['Sheep'/157, l='MpServer', x=279.84, y=64.00, z=216.13], tv['Sheep'/158, l='MpServer', x=278.63, y=64.00, z=217.34], tv['Sheep'/159, l='MpServer', x=278.50, y=70.00, z=219.50], tv['Sheep'/163, l='MpServer', x=267.00, y=75.00, z=328.06], tv['Sheep'/162, l='MpServer', x=277.50, y=77.00, z=318.50], tv['Sheep'/161, l='MpServer', x=279.50, y=76.00, z=317.50], tv['Sheep'/160, l='MpServer', x=279.06, y=64.00, z=223.97], tv['Sheep'/164, l='MpServer', x=275.50, y=75.00, z=323.50], ua['Wolf'/191, l='MpServer', x=312.63, y=73.00, z=310.34], tv['Sheep'/179, l='MpServer', x=300.56, y=72.00, z=338.56], tv['Sheep'/180, l='MpServer', x=299.44, y=73.00, z=337.09], tv['Sheep'/181, l='MpServer', x=300.47, y=75.00, z=326.16], ua['Wolf'/194, l='MpServer', x=315.72, y=72.00, z=310.72], bew['nate_dawww'/248, l='MpServer', x=243.65, y=71.00, z=258.70], tk['Bat'/860, l='MpServer', x=264.11, y=11.04, z=233.82], tk['Bat'/410, l='MpServer', x=259.81, y=26.94, z=299.72], uz['item.tile.doublePlant.syringa'/2369, l='MpServer', x=306.00, y=63.00, z=284.75]]
	Retry entities: 0 total; []
	Server brand: vanilla
	Server type: Integrated singleplayer server
Stacktrace:
	at bdb.a(SourceFile:309)
	at ave.b(SourceFile:2296)
	at ave.a(SourceFile:334)
	at net.minecraft.client.main.Main.main(SourceFile:124)

-- System Details --
Details:
	Minecraft Version: 1.8.4
	Operating System: Mac OS X (x86_64) version 10.6.8
	CPU: 2x Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz
	Java Version: 1.6.0_65, Apple Inc.
	Java VM Version: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Apple Inc.
	Memory: 3859509920 bytes (3680 MB) / 4290641920 bytes (4091 MB) up to 4290641920 bytes (4091 MB)
	JVM Flags: 2 total; -Xmx4096M -Xms4096M
	IntCache: cache: 0, tcache: 0, allocated: 12, tallocated: 94
	Launched Version: 1.8.4
	LWJGL: 2.9.2
	OpenGL: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M OpenGL Engine GL version 2.1 NVIDIA-1.6.36, NVIDIA Corporation
	GL Caps: Using GL 1.3 multitexturing.
Using GL 1.3 texture combiners.
Using framebuffer objects because ARB_framebuffer_object is supported and separate blending is supported.
Shaders are available because OpenGL 2.1 is supported.
VBOs are available because OpenGL 1.5 is supported.

	Using VBOs: Yes
	Is Modded: Probably not. Jar signature remains and client brand is untouched.
	Type: Client (map_client.txt)
	Resource Packs: []
	Current Language: English (US)
	Profiler Position: N/A (disabled)

I can also confirm this for 1.8.4. To reproduce, drop an item on the ground, then look straight up and notice that you won't hear any sound. It's really annoying if you know of this.

Can confirm for 15w35b.

Confirmed for 1.9. The bug is still in the game, I wonder why this ticket is not packed with thousands of duplicates.

Confirmed for 1.9.2 and 16w14a.

Still in 1.9.4

Still in 16w20a

Still in 16w21a and 16w21b

Still in 1.10-pre1

Still in 1.10

Still in 16w33a

Still in 16w35a.

This is not a bug.
My sound configuration was set to quadrophony (whyever), although I used stereo headphones.

@@unknown: I don't understand, you're not the reporter of this ticket?

Yep, but I'm the only one who could confirm this "bug" since 1.8.4. As I said, my sound configuration was incorrect, so I suspect that's the same for the reporter of this ticket (who is inactive since April 2015).
So, I cannot reproduce this issue (anymore). Can you?

Don't worry, I'm still here.

I just re-tested the issue and I can still reproduce it.

If you turn around to face the opposite direction of a sound source (say a mob inside of an enclosure), the volume of the sound source falls significantly. If you then walk away from the sound source while continuing to face away from it, the volume of the source falls to 0 after only travelling a block or two away.

Another, odder, example occurs when climbing a ladder. Facing forward towards the ladder as you climb will produce the ladder sfx as normal. But if you turn your head straight up while climbing, the sound source disappears completely. My guess is that the sound source is centered at the player's feet, and turning your head up increases the distance between your head and feet sufficiently enough to produce the issue.

My sound system is not set to quadrophony, or to any other surround setup. I use a pair of stereo studio monitors connected to an audio unit which cannot output to more than 2 channels, and it is selected as my sound output source in System Preferences.

Tested in 1.10.1 and 16w38a.

Confirmed in 1.11

@unknown, you, as the reporter of the bug, can update the list of affected versions yourself

As of 17w43b, the new LWJGL version seems to be causing a new issue with the sounds (see MC-121364). I'm still not getting the issue where facing away from the sound makes it inaudible, but weird filters are getting applied depending on where your head is facing and the audio quality seems degraded in general.

Can confirm this, even from before the snapshots of 1.13.

Yeah its realy annoying it sounds so flat and the ass is gone too.

confirmed for Minecraft 17w45a

confirmed for Minecraft 17w45b

confirmed for Minecraft 17w47a

confirmed for Minecraft 17W47B

I am especially noticing a difference with the piston sound being too severe a change in panning.
Have a piston in front of you running on a clock (ie: 3 on 3 off), and slowly turn left and right pausing at about 45 degrees from center.
The location of the sound does not agree with your rotation and seems to move too quickly, and too much to one side.

confirmed for Minecraft 17w48a Hope this is fixed befere it got released its weird some developers wear Headphones while working/testing that they dint notice it yet.

confirmed in 17w49a

Confirmed for 17w50a

if you use a headset you notice this weird sound confirmed for 18w01a

Confirmed for Minecraft 18w02a

Confirmed for 18w03b

Confirmed for 18w05a

May just be me but this effect seems to have gotten worse a few snapshots back. Please if you assessing this, use decent headphones and compare to 1.12.2. Pistons sounds are the most noticeable.

Confirmed for 18w09a

Confirmed for 18w10a

Confirmed for 18w14a

Now that we have LWJGL 3.2.1 (that also has an updated OpenAL Soft) in 19w06a, can someone please check if that's still an issue in that snapshot.

I wanted to say confirmed for the latest snapshot (20w13b), but actually, after installing the correct audio drivers the directional sound system works perfectly for me on multiple snapshots and releases tested (no fully-quiet sounds when facing opposite from them). So I think this is just a driver issue. (the default windows driver 'High Definition Audio Device' probably just doesn't support it correctly)

I'm on a Mac, so audio drivers are not really an issue. I will try out one of the recent snapshots to see if I'm still experiencing it.

Changed the title to distinguish it from MC-121364 (as this predates that report by a few years and describes a different issue related to panning).

Is this still an issue in 1.16.3 or later?

Per MC-263814, yes, yes it is.

This report is currently missing crucial information. Please take a look at the other comments to find out what we are looking for.
If you added the required information and a moderator sees your comment, they will reopen and update the report. However, if you think your update to this report has been overlooked or you want to make sure that this report is reopened, you can contact the Mojira staff on Discord or Reddit.
_{-- I am a bot. This action was performed automatically! If you think it was incorrect, please notify us on Discord or Reddit}

I have tried and failed to reproduce it with different audio devices built-in Realtek with headphones or speakers, headphones connected through HDMI display, external USB sound card. Everything with "Directional Audio" in-game setting ON and OFF.
Could people who can reproduce it share their audio device setups, operating systems and driver versions?

I can confirm it in 23w44a. If the sound source is behind the player, but press f5 so that the third-person camera is turned towards the sound source, then the sound will be heard as if looking at it in first person. Turned on and off the positioned sound option. Play on Windows 10, dynamic Logitech G35 Headset.

I had this issue. It seems that it depends on the device and the configuration, not entirely on minecraft.

I fixed it by changing this option in the windows configuration (yes, it is in spanish, i cant change it)

I can also record the audios if you want to, just ask...

Edit: I found the audio with that option activated disgusting, so I turned It off and it is still fixed... Weird. Again, If you need (or want) more data, just ask for it.

(I am in windows 11, and i am playing in 1.21.1 optifine, but I believe that it also happend w/out optifine)

On windows 11, this was resolved by disabling the audio enhancements option found at Settings->System->Sound->(Specific audio device)->Properties.

My audio device is the default Realtek(R) Audio device provided by my built in drivers (ver. 6.0.9689.1).

Minecraft version 1.21.1, tested on complete vanilla.

Obviously this is not a complete solution but hopes this helps point developers in the right direction.