Best Audio Settings in Valorant

One thing that makes Valorant different from other FPS games before it, is the sound diversity. Counter Strike players could never imagine that a bird flying towards you can flash you, but that’s how Valorant works. The cooler part is that every ability, agent and map section in the game has a different sound queue and that’s a part of the learning curve in Valorant.

Best audio settings

The best Sounds settings

These are the general sound settings in Valorant and usually you should have everything on and at 100%. This is so you can manage your volume only through your device. However you can notice that the Voice Over Volume option is set at 75%.

What this setting does is lower the overall sound you receive at 75% when someone in your Party or Team Voice Chat speaks. That way you can more clearly hear what someone is trying to say, by giving callouts and other useful information, with lowered distractions.

OVERALL VOLUME	ON/ 100%
Sound Effects Volume	On/ 100%
Voice-Over Volume	On/ 75%
Video Volume	On/ 100%
All Music Overall Volume	Off
Meny and Lobby Music Volume	On/ 75%
Agent Select Music Volume	On/ 75%
VOIP Ducks Music	On
Mute Music When Game Window Out Of Focus	On
Speaker Configuration	Stereo
Enable HRTF	On

The VOIP Ducks Music setting also does the same, but to the overall music volume. By turning off the All Music Overall Volume setting we also canceled the Meny, Lobby and Agent Select music but you don't have to do that. It’s just preference. For Speaker Configuration we recommend you use the Stereo option and not the Mono.

This way you use two audio channels rather than one, and you can pinpoint where the sound is coming from more accurately. HRTF also builds upon this and is a really important setting for FPS games, so make sure it’s turned on. We will explain the importance of HRTF below.

The best Voice Chat settings

Your Input and Output devices need to be chosen individually depending on what you’re working with. But try to have a headset, even if it’s a budget one.

Playing FPS games without a headset is just nerfing yourself. Also you don’t need a Loopback Test if everything is at 100%, just make sure to control your emotions.

OUTPUT DEVICE	DEFAULT SYSTEM DEVICE
Input Device	Optional
Incoming Volume	100%
Mic Volume	100%
Loopback Test	Off
Mic Sensitivity Threshold	100%
Party Voice Chat	On
Party Voice During Custom Game	On
Party Voice Activation Mode	Push to Talk/ Automatic
Team Voice Chat	On

The best Voice-Over settings

In this tab everything should be On unless maybe Agent Flavor. All of these settings are meant to control what sound is given more priority when there’s no one talking.

The only one you might want to disable is the Agent Flavor. This setting enables the agent interactions in game, that we have learned to love.

GAMEPLAY	ON
Agent Flavor	Optional
Tactical Callouts	On
Announcer	On
VOIP Ducks Flavor VO	On

Unless you are in a really competitive environment this shouldn’t affect you too much. But it can make a difference when all you need to hear is one step, and you hear your agent trash talking after a kill in a clutch situation.

Why is audio important in Valorant?

If you are new to the FPS games you probably don’t have an idea of how really important audio is. Especially in a game like Valorant where many agents can be distinguished by the sound of their footsteps, abilities or gun sounds. Different parts of the map give out a different sound while doing the same action, and we all know how important communication is.

What is HRTF?

HRTF or short for Head Related Transfer Option is a setting that was introduced a while back  in CS:Go and luckily Riot Games have implemented it in Valorant. What this setting does is play the audio in a simulated surround sound audio space. Or simply, you hear everything like it’s happening around you.

And we can’t explain how important that is in FPS games. Having sounds like footsteps, reloads and and all abilities rendered in 3D makes it so much easier to pinpoint where they are coming from. Having this much information can help you position yourself and your crosshair better, and it in turn improves your gameplay.

How to improve your audio

Using a headset

We already said that playing without a headset is like playing Valorant on hard mode and there’s a few reasons why. While you might think that your speakers do a fine job, that’s just not the case for FPS games. Unless you have a crazy expensive speaker lineup fit for a cinema, speakers lack a trait that all headsets have and that’s virtual surround sound. This feature modifies sound waves to sound like they are coming from a certain direction and distance.

This fits perfectly with HRTF but you won’t get any of that information if you are playing without a headset. Even earbuds are better than speakers, but the sound quality and clarity between a headset and earbuds is night and day. Do yourself a favor and get yourself at least a budget gaming headset.

Windows Settings

If you are new to HRTF or haven’t gotten used to it, there is a great way to replicate that through a Windows setting called Spatial Sound or Windows Sonic for headphones.

In the bottom right of your taskbar you will find your speaker icon and once you click it, you can find the setting and turn it on. This setting is great at creating a surround sound and mimics what HRTF does.

What sounds should you be listening for?

Footsteps

Obviously the first thing you should be listening for is the enemy footsteps. Apart from seeing them, revealing them with an ability, or unless they give up their location by shooting, sound is the best way to gather information.

As we mentioned, in Valorant different agents have different footsteps. And with most walls in this game being paper thin, you can clearly hear and anticipate the plans of the enemy team. Having information on what the enemies want to do is the first step to countering it.

Gun Sounds

Listening for gun sounds is as important as following bullet tracers through a smoke but most Valorant players still neglect both. Not every weapon is an Odin,a Guardian or an Operator, but if you listen closely you can locate your enemy.

You can’t hear your enemy swapping weapons and abilities or when they pick up a weapon or the spike. Weapons like the Ghost, Spectre and Phantom are silenced when shooting from beyond 40 meters except in the direction of fire, but outside of that you can hear everything. You just need to listen closely enough.

Ability Sounds

You might not be able to hear an enemy swapping through his abilities but once they decide to use them, there is a clear audio signal. Apart from ultimate voice lines and taking Ultimate Orbs, listening for ability sounds is something that you must do.

Imagine the difference in a round it would make if you couldn’t hear the Chamber Ultimate, the Omen Shrouded Step or Brimstone’s Stim Beacon being dropped. You and your team will get mowed down by a rain of bullets ending your round.

Voice Chat 

I’m pretty sure there’s not a lot to say that already has not been said about using Voice Chat in multiplayer games. The amount of information and coordination that can be shared by using this feature is insane and it vastly improves your gameplay. The reason pro and high elo players perform better as a team is because they know a lot more.

If you are really passionate about the game and you care about your rank, please use Voice Chat. It’s cool to want to win every game and to want to improve. Don’t be the toxic person in the lobby or the one blasting music while his teammate gets shot in the back. GLHF