If all sound is low, in/out of cockpit check the volume control in windows, alt tab out and see if the o/s has set the sound slider low for DCS. just left mouse click on the speaker icon in the task bar and it "should" pop up with what ever is running and its sound level
Have had a similar issue to what you describe. hope it helps
you need to reload the data cartridge via the mcfd load button. press and hold an osb, then press load, then press the same osb again, then press load, then load dsms. should be good to go from there.
i use the WH: hotas on different things, ROF IL2 BS ....... i chose the WH over a 65 as i did not like the force sensing on the 65. i wanted a stick with travel.
Horses for courses though