Failed to create decoder for MP3
perhaps accompanied by Failed to find sample rate creating cache data for MP3, cache will be invalid
and crash in Half Life 2 Deathmatch, Team-Fortress, Counter-Strike: Source and other hl2.exe-ish games.
Caused by sound cache corruption. Renaming the ‘downloads’ folder is an effective way to make this occur.
Resolution is to purge sound.cache files out of the game folders.
To fix:
from the ‘hl2mp’ game folder (ie: delsoundcache.cmd)
del modelsounds.cache
del sound\sound.cache /s
del download\sound.cache /s
del custom\sound.cache /s
and in game console:
snd_restart