X-Plane 12: NAV1 Morse code audio only audible when overhead panel is visible

NAV1 ident audio tied to “overhead” visibility

That behavior usually points to the aircraft’s 3D audio source (the NAV ident “speaker”/audio panel) being attached to the overhead object in the cockpit. In other words: when the overhead isn’t being drawn/active, the sound source (or its FMOD event) isn’t being played, so you only hear the ident when you’re looking at/bringing up the overhead.

Before chasing settings, I’d narrow down whether this is (a) aircraft-specific FMOD/3D sound behavior, or (b) a sim-wide audio setting issue.

Checklist to isolate it

1. Try a different aircraft (ideally a default XP12 aircraft) and tune NAV1 to a known VOR/ILS with ident enabled.
   If the ident works normally there, it’s almost certainly an aircraft/FM0D implementation issue with the original plane.

2. In the problem aircraft, test both cockpit views:
   • 3D cockpit view (head/camera turned away from overhead)
   • 2D pop-out / instrument view (if that aircraft provides it)

   If it’s strictly tied to whether that overhead object is visible, that’s a strong “sound source attached to that panel” clue.

3. Check whether the volume changes with head position:
   • Move your viewpoint closer/farther from the overhead while keeping the ident ON.
   • Rotate your view away from it.

   If it fades/pans like a 3D source, that’s expected for FMOD “spatial” audio, but it should still play even when you’re not looking at it.

Workarounds you can try (no aircraft editing)

1. If you’re using a “headphones/3D” type output mode in your audio driver/software, temporarily set Windows audio to plain stereo and re-test (just to see if the ident is being spatialized oddly).
2. Make sure you’re not accidentally relying on a “speaker” knob/selector that only exists on that overhead. Some aircraft model the audio panel realistically and if that panel logic isn’t running unless the overhead is active, you’ll get exactly what you described.

What this usually ends up being
If it only happens on one specific aircraft, the fix is typically on the aircraft developer side: the NAV ident FMOD event or the audio panel logic is being started/stopped based on panel visibility (or the sound emitter is inside/attached to the overhead 3D object that gets culled). That’s not something you can reliably “toggle” with an X-Plane setting.

A few quick questions so I can point you to the right next step

• Which exact aircraft is this happening with (default XP12, or a specific add-on)?
• Does it also happen with a default XP12 aircraft, or only this one?
• Are you in VR, TrackIR/head tracking, or standard monitor view?
• Do you have “3D cockpit only” enabled (no 2D panel), or are you using any pop-out panels?