Distortion on iTunes

[Messiah]

Hi Guys,

Since updating iTunes (I think this has happened with the last couple of updates) some of my tracks are now accompanied by varying levels of noise/distortion.

I have Googled the problem and there are lots of reports but no solutions that I can find. Has anybody experienced this and know how to fix it? Is it a case of waiting for Apple to fix the issue?

I have tried other programmes such as Foobar and they play the tracks flawlessly. Whilst this will do for now I want to use iTunes.

(As an aside I have also had issues with an iPhone 4 and iPhone 3G. Since being updated these do not play some tracks correctly when docked. I guess Apple have some issues with the software at present??)

 

[pwiles1968]

iOS 4.3 seems pretty stable from audio playback perspective, 4.0 and 4.1 had issues.

Have not noticed anything on my iTunes but I listen mainly on the ATV or AE not so much direct from iTunes/PC any more.

How is your iTunes set up? You have all processing turned off and Windows session selected in Quick Time preferences ? I assume you are on a PC.

 

[Messiah]

How is your iTunes set up? You have all processing turned off and Windows session selected in Quick Time preferences ? I assume you are on a PC.

It is on a netbook running Windows 7 starter.

Not sure about the processing or Windows session. I have never changed any settings. Previous versions of iTunes on the same netbook have had no issues with the same tracks that are now affected.

Thanks for the assistance pwiles.

 

[chebby]

Have you tried a complete iTunes program removal and re-install?

First... can you restore your iTunes music library from your latest backup? (Re-installing iTunes should not touch the music library - it will just find it all again including settings & art work etc. - but best to be safe.)

 

[Messiah]

Not yet. I have considered this but need to clear some space on my external HDD to back up my tunes.

As you say, I do not want to risk losing them if something did go wrong.

If this did not work then I could try an older version of iTunes.

 

[pwiles1968]

Bit of a copy and past from another forum post of mine, might be helpful -

If you are playing your music back via a computer turn off all audio processing, room effect EQ etc, specifically for iTunes turn off Sound check and sound enhancer.

If playing back via PC make sure your sound card is set up to be the same as the source material you are playing if you ripped a CD this will be 44.1 kHz & 16 Bit. If you have anything else set the sound card will be re-clocking the digital stream and creating bit errors.

If you are using an external DAC to feed in to an amp make sure that your source volume is at 100%, this means iTunes volume and the PC master volume if you are using the digital out from a streaming device to a DAC the same applies, any volume adjustment is done in the digital domain, reducing volume in the digital domain hotmail generally is done by reducing resolution, I.e. Going from 16 bits to 8 bits this is not good. There are some exeptions but they are generally high end kit.

Playing back iTunes from a PC specifically in order to get bit perfect audio playback you need to open up Quick Time go to Preferences and in the audio tab select Windows Audio Session, I am not a PC expert but it bypasses some of the windows internal processing.