diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
index d93fb8683..c3ac4838f 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void setUserGain(float gain) { NLMISC::clamp(gain, 0.0f, 1.0f); m_UserGain = gain; updateSourceGain(); }
 	virtual float getUserGain() { return m_UserGain; }
+
+	virtual void setGain(float devGain, float userGain) { NLMISC::clamp(devGain, 0.0f, 1.0f); NLMISC::clamp(userGain, 0.0f, 1.0f); m_DevGain = devGain; m_UserGain = userGain; updateSourceGain(); }
 	//@}
 
 	inline float getFinalGain() const { return m_FinalGain; }
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
index 533f29936..54a28b835 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ public:
 	virtual void setUserGain(float gain) = 0;
 	virtual float getUserGain() = 0;
 
+	virtual void setGain(float devGain, float userGain) = 0;
+
 protected:
 	virtual ~UGroupController() { }
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.cpp
index b15a5269b..a82e4b422 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.cpp
@@ -138,9 +138,11 @@ CSoundManager::~CSoundManager()
 	// detach the sound from the particule system
 	NL3D::UParticleSystemSound::setPSSound(NULL);
 
+	_GroupControllerEffects = NULL;
+
 	// free the audio mixer (and delete all sources)
-	if (_AudioMixer)
-		delete _AudioMixer;
+	delete _AudioMixer;
+	_AudioMixer = NULL;
 
 	// release sound anim properly
 	releaseSoundAnim();
@@ -404,6 +406,8 @@ void CSoundManager::reset ()
 
 	NL3D::UParticleSystemSound::setPSSound(NULL);
 
+	_GroupControllerEffects = NULL;
+
 	delete _AudioMixer;
 	_AudioMixer = NULL;
 
@@ -477,6 +481,9 @@ void CSoundManager::init(IProgressCallback *progressCallBack)
 		 */
 		new CSoundAnimManager(_AudioMixer);
 
+		// get the controller group for effects
+		_GroupControllerEffects = _AudioMixer->getGroupController("effects");
+
 		// restore the volume
 		SoundMngr->setSFXVolume(ClientCfg.SoundSFXVolume);
 		SoundMngr->setGameMusicVolume(ClientCfg.SoundGameMusicVolume);
@@ -1536,7 +1543,7 @@ void		CSoundManager::updateVolume()
 		_AudioMixer->setEventMusicVolume(_GameMusicVolume);
 
 		// update sfx volume
-		_AudioMixer->getListener()->setGain(_SFXVolume*_FadeSFXVolume);
+		_GroupControllerEffects->setGain(_FadeSFXVolume, _SFXVolume);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.h b/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.h
index 260ab6e81..e5db85648 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.h
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/sound_manager.h
@@ -332,6 +332,9 @@ private:
 	/// Pointer on the audio mixer object
 	NLSOUND::UAudioMixer		*_AudioMixer;
 
+	/// The root effects group controller for volume settings
+	NLSOUND::UGroupController	*_GroupControllerEffects;
+
 	/// Pointer on the root of the environmental sounds tree (if any)
 	NLSOUND::UEnvSound			*_EnvSoundRoot;