Audio Radar Issue: All Light Bars Flashing?

Audio Radar Issue: All Light Bars Flashing Together

There are two common causes for all of your Audio Radar light bars activating at the same time. This issue is most likely due to Mono Audio being enabled, which merges all sound channels into a single signal, or because your Audio Radar unit is in Customization Mode, where all light bars pulsate together for preset editing.

Follow the steps below to restore proper 7.1 surround sound functionality.

1. Check Mono Audio Settings

For Audio Radar to function correctly, Mono Audio must be turned OFF in your system settings. When this setting is turned ON, it converts 7.1 surround sound into a single mono channel, causing all light bars to activate simultaneously instead of displaying accurate directional cues.
PC Setup
On Windows:
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select System > Sound.
  3. Scroll down to Mono Audio.
  4. Ensure that Mono Audio is switched OFF.

*Mac & Linux setups have not been thoroughly tested with Audio Radar to provide recommendations at this time.
Xbox Setup
On Xbox:
  1. Go to Settings > General > Volume & Audio Output.
  2. Scroll down to Additional Options.
  3. Locate the Mono Output checkbox and ensure it is UNCHECKED.
When Mono Output is enabled, Xbox down mixes all audio channels into a single mono signal, preventing Audio Radar from receiving full 7.1 surround sound and resulting in all light bars activating together.

After disabling Mono Output, also verify that your Xbox audio settings are set to 7.1 surround sound for proper directional audio processing. Follow the Xbox Setup Guide for more help. 
PS5 Setup
PS5 does not have a system-wide Mono Audio setting, but it does have a Mono Audio for Headphones setting that should be turned off:
  1. Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output.
  2. Scroll to the Headphones section.
  3. Ensure that Mono Audio for Headphones is toggled OFF.
Important Note for PS5 Users:
PlayStation 5 has limitations when using a headset with Audio Radar due to how it restricts game audio output to a single device (either a headset or HDMI, not both). For more details, refer to the PlayStation Setup Guide for workarounds and alternative solutions.

 2. Verify Customization Mode

If all light bars are flashing together in a distinct pattern (below), your Audio Radar is likely in Customization Mode.
Audio Radar | Customization Mode Light Bar Behavior
When Customization Mode is enabled, all light bars will pulsate together rather than reacting individually to directional sound. This is a normal behavior designed for customizing lighting effects like color, brightness and behavior, and saving them as presets.

For more information on saving presets & guidance on exiting Customization Mode, refer to Saving Presets on Audio Radar​​.

Still Need Help?

If your light bars are still flashing together after following these steps, Contact Us for further assistance. We’re here to ensure you have the best experience with Audio Radar!

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