diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
index 1b910e07b..b2e601466 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ static BOOLEAN getLineWithinWidth(TEXT *pText,
 		 const unsigned char **startNext, SIZE maxWidth, COUNT maxChars);
 
 #define MAX_RESPONSES 8
-#define BACKGROUND_VOL speechVolumeScale == 0.0f ? MAX_VOLUME : (MAX_VOLUME >> 1)
-#define FOREGROUND_VOL MAX_VOLUME
+#define BACKGROUND_VOL \
+		(speechVolumeScale == 0.0f ? NORMAL_VOLUME : (NORMAL_VOLUME >> 1))
+#define FOREGROUND_VOL NORMAL_VOLUME
 
 #define SLIDER_Y 107
 #define SLIDER_HEIGHT 15
@@ -1913,7 +1914,7 @@ DoCommunication (PENCOUNTER_STATE pES)
 	StopMusic ();
 	StopSound ();
 	StopTrack ();
-	SleepThreadUntil (FadeMusic (FOREGROUND_VOL, 0) + ONE_SECOND / 60);
+	SleepThreadUntil (FadeMusic (NORMAL_VOLUME, 0) + ONE_SECOND / 60);
 
 	return (FALSE);
 }
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/gameopt.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/gameopt.c
index c9121f234..1324bd5d8 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/gameopt.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/gameopt.c
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ DoPickGame (PMENU_STATE pMS)
 		pMS->CurFrame = 0;
 		PauseMusic ();
 		StopSound ();
-		FadeMusic (128, 0);
+		FadeMusic (NORMAL_VOLUME, 0);
 
 		{
 			extern FRAME PlayFrame;
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sndlib.h b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sndlib.h
index 852d5b137..8c4b1fd75 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sndlib.h
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sndlib.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ extern BOOLEAN DestroyMusic (MUSIC_REF MusicRef);
 
 #define MAX_CHANNELS 8
 #define MAX_VOLUME 255
+#define NORMAL_VOLUME 160
 
 #define FIRST_SFX_CHANNEL  0
 #define MIN_FX_CHANNEL     1
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sound/sound.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sound/sound.c
index f772d9eb7..8d865f513 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sound/sound.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/sound/sound.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static Task FadeTask;
 static SIZE TTotal;
 static SIZE volume_end;
 
-int musicVolume = (MAX_VOLUME >> 1);
+int musicVolume = NORMAL_VOLUME;
 float musicVolumeScale;
 float sfxVolumeScale;
 float speechVolumeScale;