Synapse 3 - Audio Controller - Multiple Issues | Razer Insider

Synapse 3 - Audio Controller - Multiple Issues

  • 31 October 2020
  • 18 replies
  • 159 views
Adore33
Userlevel 2
I just updated my Synapse 3 today to version 3.5.1030.101917.

Having more issues now with the software than I already was. Now say on a computer restart when everything loads fresh. I open up Synapse 3 on my taskbar and my Audio Controller is not even loaded up in the Device list. It sits there with a spinning circle on it for a good couple of minutes. Then eventually loads and shows me my THX Spatial Audio list. It definitely didn't take that long to load before I updated the software to the current version. I was using the version right before this one, not sure what it was now that I have updated. I have even uninstalled a reinstalled the software.

Another issue as well with this update that was not happening before. On my physical Audio Controller dongle. I can press the THX button on it and it will toggle "in most cases" stereo to surround in a game. However, now the light indicating THX being on doesn't light up anymore.

See the attached image...
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

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18 Replies

Adore33
Userlevel 2
On a side note... I just tried to uninstall Synapse 3 again and install Synapse 2. Thinking it would be better. I couldn't even get into any settings or configuration. Synapse 2 icon shows up on the taskbar. I open it and get a Razer login screen. I log in and the screen goes away and just shows the icon in the taskbar again like it's working. I tried to single click, double click, right-click... no interface, and no options.

This software is just terrible and I expected a lot more from Razer. I've done all I can at this point except reinstalling Windows 10, which I am not gonna do. This is a new computer and headphones as well.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
I uninstalled Synapse 2 and reinstalled Synapse 3 again. I am back in the same boat again from my original posting. With half-assed working software.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
As originally mentioned in my first post. I said "it sits there with a spinning circle on it for a good couple of minutes. ". It is actually about 5 mins before it fully loads in Synapse from further testing.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
11/28/20 Just got a new update to version... 3.5.1130.111812

-Still having all the same issues
-Where are the release notes? I can't even see what it changed.
-Getting no responses from the forum users or Razer.

Haven't even had this Razer stuff for 6 months and already have no intention of ever buying another Razer product. Constantly fighting with the headphones to work with Synapse 3 correctly "every" time I try to play a game. Having to babysit the software because I can't rely on it to work. How is this cool and ok?
Adore33
Userlevel 2
12/19/20 - Updated to version... 3.5.1215.121019

-Still having all the same issues "still"

Now there are new issues, great. No games are being listed now in the Mixer tab. They all disappeared and when I play anything, nothing shows in the list. I tried resetting Synapse and I even uninstalled it completely and reinstalled it. This software is hopeless. Each update Synapse 3 has received is consistently making things worse.

I'll keep updating here each release until stuff is fixed if ever. If nothing else to keep a record of this crap. I don't have the luxury of throwing these headphones in the trash and going to buy Logitechs now, which is what I originally was going to do. So I have to use these until they fall apart, or quit working. Which Synapse is on its way to accomplish.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Back again... Still on version 3.5.1215.121019

Using Synapse 3 as usual and fighting with it. I went to minimize/X out of the app to get it to just go down in the taskbar like normal. I mis-clicked somewhere on Synapse UI trying to do this. For no apparent reason at all the Mixer list displayed everything that was there when it last worked. All the games I had used and settings for Stereo or Surround. I had to reboot the computer and of course Synapse went back to everything being screwed up as usual. I tried to click around on the UI like a damn fool trying to find Waldo. Looking for the glitch spot I clicked to make the Mixer do its thing and can't replicate it again.

I have never seen any software function this oddly. It behaves like a program with a virus corrupting it.

Anyway, nothing is fixed, still no help from Razer. Awaiting for the next Synapse update to see what that breaks. I'll report as new info comes up on my situation.

Here is how the list looks at present. Not working. YouTube playing in Chrome in the background.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
More information for the interested. In Windows 10, I went into Settings...System... Sound and then Bluetooth And Other Devices. I realized that even when trying to remove Synapse 3 software to do a clean install for instance. Windows 10 doesn't remove the "device" from the lists. Meaning it's still there after the software is removed. Realizing this I uninstalled Synapse 3 and then went in and removed the devices...

THX Spatial - Synapse
Razer USB Audio Controller

I did a fresh reinstall "which will put those device items above back in there fresh automatically when installing the software".
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Continued...

So what did this do you ask?

Well upon first use it made the 3 to 5 minutes Headset device loading time in Synapse instant as it should be.
See my first screenshot in my first post for reference. It also made my yellow/green light show up on the dongle indicating that THX is active. Also covered in my first posting above. I was really thinking this was gonna clear things and fix the Mixer list too. It did not, the mixer remains empty.

After rebooting the computer and rebooting Synapse. The 3 to 5 minutes loading in Synapse of the Headset is back. Still all the other issues.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Continued...

The only thing so far that has stuck is the yellow/green light for THX on the dongle. It has remained working but is of little consequence. I don't even use that THX button on the dongle because it too is unreliable. I can have Synapse open and looking at the THX Spatial Audio toggle in the Mixer. I can then press the THX button on the dongle and see the toggle in the mixer move. However eventually, when you press that button the toggle doesn't move anymore. So I manually adjust this toggle in Synapse, not on the dongle.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Continued...

There are other issues I haven't even mentioned in all these postings just because the ones already mentioned are more critical. Such as being on the THX - Spatial Audio input to get 7.1, and then having Synapse tell you...

Select THX Spatial Audio as your default playback device for the best audio experience

When obviously it already is. So then all you can do is reboot your computer or Synapse to try and address that. Trust me when I say this software is a joke, at this point I think its the software and the hardware.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Sorry for breaking up the last posting. Razer site is throwing stupid server errors when trying to post.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
Did another full uninstall along with the device uninstalling in Windows. I made a Restore Point first and then went into the Registry this time. Removed what I was safe with related to Razer. I am not going to go into detail on that or even recommend it. I shouldn't even have to be in there. Registry editing can Brick/Lock your system if you aren't careful. Anyway, the last thing I did was go into C:\\ and searched for Razer and deleted most everything. Surprisingly and only found when doing this sort of stuff. There were a lot of residual Razer related files left over after an uninstall. Rebooted, rebooted again until Synapse was happy. Went to open Synapse down on the Razer Central icon in the taskbar. Naturally, Synapse refused to open. I then Force shutdown Razer stuff with a .bat Re-open it and finally get back into Synapse.

Everything is screwed up still. I even lost getting back the little yellow/green light I thought I managed to fix. So it is not working again.

I've sent more feedback to Razer so we'll see.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
This is what Synapse 2 looks like for me by the way. I am not sure how this constitutes as software or anything. It has no settings or features to manipulate. Is it providing extra drivers? It just looks like an About or Help screen in any random program.

Adore33
Userlevel 2
I would also like to add that the version before "3.5.1030.101917" which I listed in my first post. It worked fine, none of these issues were present. The previous version is what I installed from Razer when I got the headphones new. Then downloaded the updates as they were pushed through. Been using the same computer through all of this as well. A new i7-9700K with an RTX 2070 Super, SSD, etc. My system is fully capable of whatever when it comes to software.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
2/6/21 - Updated to version... 3.6.130.11816

Nothing is any better or different for me. All the previous issues apply. If I could actually find Release/Change notes anywhere for this software that would be enlightening I am sure.

I've tried to contact Razer through the Feedback module in Synapse 3 and also through email. Gave them clear responses, info, and logs. This post is information enough which I also gave them the link to. No response at all.

I would steer very clear of this company and its products. There are too many options out there and "next" time you buy or replace stuff you don't have to put up with this kind of software or service.

My moto is "A product is only as good as its support".
Adore33
Userlevel 2
3/6/21 - Updated to version... 3.6.228.21813

Still have all the same issues. Nothing else to say really.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
3/19/21 - Updated to version... 3.6.331.31613

I'm really curious what these updates are even doing. That's 2 updates in the same month. I see no changes or improvements.
Adore33
Userlevel 2
6/7/21 - Version is current update whatever that is now. Doesn't matter at this point...

So I did a complete format and fresh reinstall of Windows 10. Not for the Razer issues mind you, just to refresh my systems file structure, etc.

It "fixed" my issues such as, headphones taking 3 mins to load in Synapse 3, Mixer list showing what it is supposed to, Dongle "THX" light illuminating again. Working like it was when I first got these headphones. Not surprising to me, after a few reboots and running Synapse 3 it all reverted back to the same problems as before.

So if Razer or some random person tells you this is the fix for issues like I have. Expect to have the same results. It may seem like it is fixed, but it isn't. I am 99.9% sure that it is either Razer Synapse 3, or my headphone model/drivers. My headphones are Razer Kraken Tournament Edition. Google tells me they came out in September 2018. I get they aren't a current model. However, I bought them new from Amazon and they are on the compatibility list for Razer Synapse 3. So there should be no issues.

Also remembering back when I first installed them and they worked correctly I am 99.9% sure I was on a Synapse 3 Beta. Once they switched it to the final release, which was the very next update I got. That is when I started to have all my issues.

Still have not heard a peep from Razer about my issues and I don't expect to at this point. Customer service is non-exsitant, not just with Razer but pretty much any modern company these days.

So there you go, I'm done troubleshooting this crap and wasting my time. Hope whoever takes the time to read all this crap in this post gets some benefit from it.
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