Minecraft audio has many implementation issues we could get into, but this one is fairly new and quite disastrous.
If a source of audio is behind the player, it will become so quiet as to be nearly impossible to hear, even if the sound source is inches away. This has to do with the pan law implemented in the game, that is, how volume is raised or lowered as you pan, or in the case of minecraft, when the player turns left or right. If the player turns around so far such that a sound source is directly behind them, the volume of that particular sound is lowered too drastically as to become almost inaudible.
The problem is benign if the sound source is a jukebox. It becomes odd when quickly placing blocks and torches and having sounds fade in and out as you turn back and forth. It's a disaster when exploring, and monsters, who would normally give you a slight chance to detect them through their ambient noises, can no longer be heard at all when they're behind you.
I'm not sure why this was changed, but it seems to have been relatively recent. As a sound designer and general audio person, I find it particularly frustrating, so I hope you'll excuse my passion!
Linked issues
is blocked by 1
is duplicated by 7
MC-150751
Jukebox/Note Block volume is too low when not facing it.
Resolved
MC-162969
Sound is Directional
Resolved
MC-164142
Sound Engine bug
Resolved
MC-167210
When jukebox is playing, turning you character will change sound level.
Resolved
MC-263814
Can't hear jukebox unless it's in my FOV
Resolved
relates to 1
Attachments
Comments 53
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)
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.
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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...
[media]
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.
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...