Hello All,

I have the problem that the sound (music + background) stutters, right from the beginning; but not always.
When the window comes up where one chooses Single Player/Multiplayer etc, everything is ok. When the window 'Create Emperor' comes up: still ok; when the input window for the emperor name comes up, the sound stutters.
When the 'Campaigns' window comes up, the sound stutters; when 'Choose Campaign' comes up, sound is ok.
When the main game window comes up with the description window, everything is just quiet. When I close the description window, the sound stutters.
Then, when I open one of the sub-menues of File/Options/Help, the sound is ok. When I close the sub-menu window, the sound stutters again. Same when I hit 'Esc': the game is running and the sound stutters: I hit 'Esc' and the window for leaving the game comes up, the sound is fine...
Running the game in compatibility mode etc. did not help so far.

Setup: Win 7 Pro 64bit SP1, NVIDIA GForce GTX 960 2 GB (most recent driver), Realtek ALC887 High Def. Audio Controller. Program is installed on C:\... (SSD).


Thanks.

Could you upload a video to YouTube demonstrating this behaviour? I tested the game today and I had no issue with the sound at all, it played just like the original CD copy (which still works on Windows 10). As the GOG version is literally just the CD copy patched to 1.0.1 and removes the CD requirements, it is likely a hardware issue, but a upload to youtube demonstrating will help. :)

Sorry, I have no YouTube account. Besides, I do not know how to record the game when it is running.

I have found a way to avoid the audio problem: in the Emperor.ini file, 'PlayIntroMovie=no' must be used. Then I start Emperor.exe directly from the folder, or create a new shortcut with copy/create shortcut. I played the tutorial for half an hour and got no problems...
However, when i minimize the program by pressing the 'Win' key and then maximize it again by clicking it in the task bar, the audio stutters again. Strange behaviour.
The only difference I could find are in the security properties of the shortcut. In the original one, my user has only 'Special authorization' (I guess this could be the name in English) checked, in the shortcut I have created myself, my user has all rights checked, except 'Special auth.'. I have no idea if this makes any difference.

And now I have found the real reason for the problem. In short: my USB-1/2 mouse and keyboard where plugged into USB-3 ports (since I re-arranged my workplace some weeks ago). And although the Intel drivers for USB 3.0/3.1 are loaded, they did not work properly. I ran into this problem this weekend when both my external Boot-CD for system restore and the WIN 7 Install DVD seemed to freeze the system when coming to the point where Win should be started. In fact, the system was running, but the programs did not recognize the devices that where plugged into the USB 3 ports.
However, since my system came with a mainboard with USB 3 ports an the USB 3 drivers where up and running, the problem with 'Emperor' should not have occured...

Oh well, at least I have fond memories of my first PC. It was a Sinclair ZX-81; great machine, no problems... :)

The wonders of modern technology - being able to crash faster and in a more complicated fashion than ever before!

I'm running Windows 7 Pro as well (with a realtek audio onboard chip) using a HDMI cable with sound through my TV/Monitors speakers, and i had the same stuttering sound issue too.

My mouse is connected via an old PS/2 connector and the keyboard via USB 1/2 connection (so not a USB 3.0 issue in my case).

Your tip here fixed the ingame stuttering: So thanks for that :)

I have a problem with stuttering sound as well.

I was able to complete the first tutorial mission without issues, but after I exited the game and started playing again, I immediately got stuttering sound problems in the main menu. When I try to play any map, the stuttering is so bad that the game becomes unplayable.

Disabling the intro movie did not fix it. Any suggestions?

Update: I tried a clean reinstall and it again worked fine the first time I played, but the stuttering sound came back upon a second launch. I will point out that the game does automatically change the WIndows 7 color scheme to Basic (from Aero) so maybe that has something to do with it??

Disable Overlays or close these programs:
- GeForce Experience (Shadowplay, Share)
- AfterBurner
- RivaTuner
- Steam? (Steam overlay doesn't seem to interfere)
- other
Shadowplay, known as Share, must be disabled in the GeForce Experience Settings Panel.
Closing the process in Task Manager will not disable Shadowplay!

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Looping audio problem
When you have more than 2 speakers (2.1 or 5.1 or 7.1 sound)
Also, modern sound cards can work in surround sound emulation mode.
Older games don't know what surround sound is.
Download "Version 0.12", unpack and move to the folder with the Game.
www.indirectsound.com/downloads.html
(or "Version 0.14" where EAX=off by default)
This dsound.dll replaces the native one from DirectX, like a wrapper, reconciles the old with the new.