These Audio Settings Let You Hear Footsteps from 50m Away
You're holding A-Site. It's quiet. You think you're safe.
Then you die to a Phoenix running up behind you from A-Short. Your teammate asks, "Did you not hear him?"
You didn't. Because your audio settings are wrong.
This guide fixes that forever.
Quick Answer Box
The Optimal Valorant Audio Settings:
| Setting | Value | |---------|-------| | Master Volume | 50-70% (based on headphone sensitivity) | | Sound Effects | 100% | | Voice-Over | 50% | | Music | 0-10% | | HRTF | ON | | Speaker Config | Stereo |
With these settings, footsteps have maximum clarity and won't be drowned by other sounds.
How Sound Works in Valorant
Before we optimize settings, you need to understand how Valorant's audio engine works.
Footstep Range
| Movement Type | Audible Range | |---------------|--------------| | Running | ~50m | | Walking | ~15m | | Crouch Walking | ~12m | | Shift Walking | ~0m (silent) |
You CAN hear enemies from 50 meters away, but only if:
- They're running
- Other sounds aren't masking the footsteps
- Your audio settings prioritize footsteps
Sound Priority
Valorant creates many sounds simultaneously. When too many play at once, the engine prioritizes:
- Gunshots (highest priority)
- Abilities
- Voice-Over (agent callouts)
- Footsteps
- Ambient sounds (lowest priority)
If your voice-over and music are too loud, footsteps get deprioritized in the mix.
Step 1: In-Game Audio Settings
Master Volume: 50-70%
Don't max this. If master is at 100%, loud sounds (gunshots, abilities) will be painfully loud, and you'll subconsciously lower awareness to protect your ears.
Keep master at a level where gunshots are comfortable but not muted.
Sound Effects Volume: 100%
This is the footstep slider. Max it.
Voice-Over Volume: 50%
Agent voice lines like "Spikedown" and "Watch out, they're rotating" are useful, but they shouldn't overpower footsteps. 50% keeps them audible without masking movement.
Music Volume: 0-10%
Music is cool in menus. It's a liability in-game.
The round-start music can mask early aggression sounds. The spike timer music adds unnecessary stress. Turn it off or keep it at 10% for minimal presence.
Step 2: Enable HRTF
HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) is Valorant's spatial audio technology. It simulates how humans perceive 3D sound.
Turn it ON.
What HRTF Does
Without HRTF:
- Sounds are Left, Right, or Center
- No vertical audio information
- Harder to locate above/below
With HRTF:
- Full 3D positioning
- Vertical audio (above/below)
- More accurate directional cues
How to Enable
- Settings → Audio
- HRTF → Enable
- Takes effect immediately
Initial Adjustment
HRTF sounds "different" at first. Footsteps may seem slightly muffled because they're processed for 3D. Give it 5-10 games to adjust.
Step 3: Speaker Configuration
Set to Stereo, even if you have surround sound headphones.
Why Stereo?
Valorant's audio is designed for Stereo + HRTF. When you use "Surround" speaker configuration:
- Audio gets re-processed through virtual surround
- This double-processing degrades directional accuracy
- HRTF information gets lost
Your 7.1 headphones will still work—just let Valorant handle the spatial processing.
Headphone vs Speakers
If you're using speakers, you're at a massive disadvantage. Footstep directionality requires headphones.
| Setup | Directional Accuracy | |-------|---------------------| | Stereo Headphones + HRTF | 95%+ | | 7.1 Headphones + Stereo | 85% | | Speakers | 40% |
Get headphones. Any $30 pair is better than speakers for competitive games.
Step 4: Windows Audio Settings
Your PC audio settings matter too.
Disable Audio Enhancements
- Right-click speaker icon → Sounds
- Playback → Your headphones → Properties
- Enhancements → Disable all
- Apply
Audio "enhancements" add bass boost and virtual surround that interfere with game audio.
Set Sample Rate
- Same Properties menu
- Advanced tab
- Set to 24-bit, 48000 Hz
Valorant outputs at 48kHz. Matching your system prevents resampling artifacts.
Step 5: Training Your Ears
Settings are half the battle. The other half is knowing what to listen for.
Footstep Recognition
Different surfaces make different sounds:
| Surface | Sound | |---------|-------| | Metal | Sharp, high-pitched | | Wood | Deep, resonant | | Stone/Concrete | Dull, thuddy | | Carpet/Grass | Muffled, soft |
Learn each map's surface types. When you hear metal footsteps on Icebox, you know they're on pipes.
Audio Drills
Drill 1: Sound Localization
- Custom game with a friend
- Close your eyes
- They run around
- Call out their location based on sound alone
Drill 2: Footstep Counting
- In a real game, count enemy footsteps
- 1 runner = 1 person. Multiple sounds = multiple people
- Use this to estimate how many are pushing
Map-Specific Audio Tips
Ascent
A-Main has metal grating. Enemies pushing A make distinct sounds you can hear from Site.
Bind
Teleporter has a unique audio cue. If you hear it while on A-Site, someone's TP'ing to Showers.
Haven
Three sites = more rotation audio. Listen for footsteps in mid to determine which site is being hit.
Icebox
Metal everywhere. Footsteps echo and carry further than other maps.
Audio Cues You're Probably Missing
The Spike Tap
Defusing the spike makes a distinct sound. You can hear:
- Initial tap
- Half-way point (louder)
- Final defuse
Use these to time your peeks.
Ability Deployment
Most abilities have deploy sounds:
| Ability | Sound Range | |---------|------------| | Sage Wall | 20m | | Cypher Tripwire | 15m | | Killjoy Turret | 15m | | Sova Drone | 25m |
If you hear these, you know what's coming.
Reload Sounds
Each weapon has unique reload sounds. M4 sounds different from Vandal. AWP sounds different from Marshal.
When you hear reloads, you know:
- An enemy is nearby
- They're temporarily unable to shoot
- It's time to swing
Headphone Recommendations
Budget (~$30-50)
- HyperX Cloud Stinger
- SteelSeries Arctis 1
- Razer Kraken X
Mid-Range (~$80-150)
- HyperX Cloud II
- SteelSeries Arctis 7
- Logitech G Pro
Competitive (~$150+)
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
For pure footstep clarity, open-back headphones (AD700X, HD 560S) are superior. They sacrifice bass for audio separation.
Upload Clips of Your Awareness!
Did you hear a flank from across the map and turn around for a sick 3K?
Submit your best audio-awareness plays to GGameChamps and win cash!
That 200 IQ rotation prediction deserves some prize money.
FAQ
Q: Should I use audio equalizers or software like Dolby Atmos?
A: No. Valorant is optimized for flat audio + HRTF. External processing hurts more than it helps.
Q: Why do footsteps sound quiet even with these settings?
A: Check Windows volume, headphone connection, and in-game master volume. Also check if HRTF is enabled.
Q: Can enemies hear me if I shift walk?
A: Shift walking is completely silent. Use it when approaching areas where enemies might be listening.
Q: Does Valorant have audio occlusion?
A: Yes, sounds are blocked by walls. You won't hear footsteps through solid surfaces.
Information wins rounds. Audio gives information.
Fix your settings, train your ears, and start hearing plays before they happen.
The footsteps tell you everything.