KB4515384 for Windows 10 v1903 causes audio issues

Recently, Microsoft released a new cumulative update for all supported Windows 10 systems. Windows 10 May 2019 (Version 1903) also received the KB4512941 update, which introduced a number of security improvements and quality optimizations, but also led to a higher occupancy rate of the Cortana process, the search function was not working properly, and the screenshot background turned orange.

Subsequently, Microsoft released the KB4515384 cumulative update. Although it fixed the problem of high occupancy of the Cortana process (SearchUI.exe), some users reported that annoying audio errors and other problems occurred after installation. A user wrote:

KB4515384 (September 10) caused significant decrease in audio quality in 3D games

Basically title. IDK what is wrong with it, but with KB4515384 my in-game sound lost all bass notes. It didn’t affect video player, audio player or browser. Uninstalled it – sound in games went back to normal. Just leaving it here, maybe it will help somebody with the same issue.

Another user added:

I am experiencing the same issues. Both in PUBG and also APEX. Sounds in front of the player model sound normal, but everything coming from the sides or from behind, basically everything not in a roughly 90° wide area in front of you sounds muffled and quiet. Maybe 10% of normal volume. So far I have not found any solution except uninstalling the update.

If you change the Windows audio format to 16-bit, it looks like the audio problem will disappear:

If the above solution is not for you, another way to solve the problem is to uninstall this patch.

Via: wccftech