Itunes sound rubbish off the computer.

[John Duncan]

idc:Did anyone ask what you were up to?

Nah, they're too scared. Rod of iron, mate, rod of iron...

 

[idc]

My next plan is to challenge one of the staff (or whatever they are called) at the Glasgow Apple store. Everything I turn up on the www is more of a general problem. There is a bit on the Apple discussion forums, but some fixes work for some and not for others and sometimes fixes are only temporary. I have also posted there myself and got no replies.

No pressure, JD, but you are my only hope and I am getting desperate.........................................

 

[John Duncan]

None felt*

We've kind of ruled everything out apart from your laptop itself. Do you have any other computers in the house that you can try in the same setup to confirm it's the lappie's fault (which seems to be the case)?

*this is a lie

 

[idc]

Yep, did that with the wife's Dell Inspiron 6400. I have back up discs for downloads and imported the offending file you also have. It immediately crackled. If it had not I would have badgered her to swap computers and the problem would have been 'solved'!

Its itunes I tell you, its evil, it plays with your mind. I'm logging off now to drink more and watch 5th Gear.

I've just had one rational thought, I will stick that back up disc into the DVD and see if it crackles when it plays. Its the only other thing I have not tried. Tomorrow sometime. Cheers.

 

[John Duncan]

Did you create the backup disc by burning it from iTunes though...?

 

[idc]

Yes, I did. I should make another one from the non crackling version on WMP and try both. I am supposed to be decorating so this may take a while.

 

[Anonymous]

May be you should try this one!

 

[idc]

That is an excellent site for novelty presents for PC addicts, unleash_me.

 

[knacker]

idc

I would be more than happy to try and help you if you would like me to try- if not then no worries

can you play the file in itunes and let me know what other things are running at the same time- press ctrl-alt-del and go into task manager and note the processes that are running. List them for me and I will see if there is any conflict possibilities that could be causing this. I would also need the file or a link to the file you are having trouble with.

I have three test rigs at my office running Windows XP, Vista Ultimate 32 & 64 bit, Win 7 and Linux which I can try and replicate what is happening. I had a similar problem when I initially imported some files into itunes but after a bit of elimination I found what was causing my issues- an old version of DirectX was my bugbear!

McT

 

[John Duncan]

Ooo, now I saw DirectX mentioned in some of those troubleshooting threads...

 

[idc]

Thanks knacker. All asistance appreciated.

In task manager, am I looking in applications to see what is running? In which case the answer is itunes and IE and nothing else. Or is it the big list in processes?

Re the file, I emailed a copy to JD and he found no problem with it. If you want a copy we need to request an exchange of e-mails which I am up for and then JD will kindly oblige

As for DirectX, I also remember seeing that somewhere, maybe Microsoft or Dell help?

 

[idc]

I did a search on the laptop for DirectX and it found 8 results. Each had a different title and there were various versions, but all were created on the same date.

EDIT - I have also found a site where advice was given on which programmes it is safe to remove, I followed it, no problems but crackles still there. It just seemed like a good idea incase there is something in the background compromising itunes.

 

[knacker]

idc

I need to see what programes are running in the background when you are running itunes so go into task manager (ctl-alt-del) and click on "Processes" tab. There are likely to be anything between 20-100 running at any one time. I know it is boring but please list them all- Image name will do ie CCC.exe etc as there is likely some program or service which is running in the background that is conflicting with itunes.

DirectX MUST NOT BE UNINSTALLED as this is the instructions that keep all of the direct music/graphic stuff working

Can you also let me know what version you are on: you need to run "dxdiag" from the run box It could be something as simple as an old version or part version that is causing this.

Finally- are you using any of the ASIO or WASAPI plug ins? If so let me know what ones

If you can let me have all of this stuff I will see what I can do-

McT

 

[idc]

Hi McT, the big list follows. I have left DirectX alone. I don't know what 'run dxdiag from the run box' means. I don't have ASIO or WASAPI plug ins, or I don't think I do as I have not downloaded them, unless they came with something else? That a lot of don'ts isnt it! Hope you don't regret this!

IPodService.exe

mcsysmon.exe

iexplore.exe

taskmgr.exe

DLG.exe

msmsgs.exe

GoogleToolbarNot..

WksWP.exe

AntiMalware.exe

Error Fix.exe

ctfmon.exe

ITunesHelper.exe

igfxpers.exe

svchost.exe system

hkcmd.exe

Iexplore.exe

Issch.exe

Sprtsvc.exe

McProxy.exe

McNASvc.exe

Svchost.exe local service

SynTPEnh.exe

Spoolsv.exe

Explorer.exe

Mcmscsvc.exe

Schost.exe system

BCMWLTRY.EXE

WLTRYSVC.EXE

McSACore.exe

Msksrver.exe

Jqs.exe

Svchost.exe local service

Svchost.exe network service

Svchost.exe system

MpfSrv.exe

Svchost.exe system

Svchost.exe network service

Wkgdcach.exe

Mcagaent.exe

Svchost.exe system

Hnm_svc.exe

WkDStore.exe

Isass.exe

Services.exe

win logon.exe

Csrss.exe

Dlcgcoms.exe

Mcshield.exe

Itunes.exe

CTSVCCDA.EXE

Smss.exe

MDNSResponder...

AppleMobileDevic..

Alg.exe

System

System idle process

 

[The_Lhc]

idc: I don't know what 'run dxdiag from the run box' means.

Start button - Run (or on the keyboard hold down the windows key and press 'R'), type "dxdiag" (without the quotes) in the little dialog field that pops up, hit the enter key.

It also means you're probably better off getting a professional to look at it...

 

[idc]

Thanks the_lhc. It is DirectX version 9.0c. There a diagnositc check that ran and said there was no problems detected.

I take your point about a professional. After trying to follow advice before and it going a bit wrong, unless it is simple and I really am confident I have got it right, I wont do it.

 

[knacker]

idc

Firstly, are you on WIndows XP or Vista? Doesn't really matter as I have tried both

looking at your task manager items, there is a lot of stuff running in the background. I have looked at various items to see if any of them cause your problems and to be honest nothing came to the front. There wasn't a single item that I found would give me the same errors in itunes. Dell machines are notorius for setting up the machine with a load of rubbish from day 1 which most normal humans wouldn't need in a million years.

Have you tried running a Windows update by chance? If not then do so and see if there are any updates for your laptop and especially any audio driver ones.

Let me know and I'll have another strokey beard sessioh

McT

 

[idc]

Windows XP. I found a post on another forum exactly about all the stuff that comes with Dell, so based on answers to it I spent time last night deleting about 7 or 8 programmes, mainly to do with video and pictures, but to no effect.

I will do a Windows update later and report back.

EDIT - Windows all up to date.

2nd EDIT - Played back up CDs from both itunes and WMP and no crackling off either. So it only crackles with itunes.

3rd EDIT - Went to the Apple store, explained the problem and various staff stated they have not heard of such an issue before and they had no idea of what to do.

 

[idc]

Update -

I have been searching about the Dell Support site clicky and no clear, simple, permanent solution is available. There is a good deal of discussion about updating drivers and the BIOS, which I have done to no effect. There is also criticism of the lack of a permanent fix.

Itunes Support has been a waste of time, with no solution available.

Bumber!

 

[knacker]

idc

Sorry you haven't been able to fix your issues with itunes and your Dell. Looking through some of the threads there does seem to be a contant thing in all cases- Dell!!

I have installed and used itunes on a huge number of different laptops, desktops, tablets, notebooks and can honestly say that I have never had this issue at all. I have also spoken to a former colleague of mine who used to work for dell, intel and is now a project manager for a large software house (EA) and he tends to agree with me that there must be some issues with Dell's integrated drivers for audio, visual and Direct X issues.

He is going to try to see if it is possible to bypass all of the driver and software from a Dell machine and use an external DAC, in this case a DM as it is all he has!, to see if there is any other things to try.

I will get back to you with his results!

 

[idc]

Thanks knacker, nothing too techie mind!

 

[knacker]

idc

My pal will give me the lowdown in his geek talk and I will attempt to translate into bog standard language!

I would think it will take a couple of days before I receive the results

McT

 

[idc]

........ problem solved, by getting a Sony Vaio. The same files that crackled on the Dell do not crackle on the Vaio. I am presently listening to 'The Long and Winding Road', one of the worst cracklers and apart from a very slight crackle at the very start, no problems.

So we never did get to the bottom of the problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I had a similar problem to this with my Acer laptop and had also tried just about everything. Solved my problem by buying an Apple Macbook Pro upgraded to 4gb RAM and 500Gb HDD! Loving it and now really enjoying loading up all my CDs again in lossless format - sounds fantastic! Will sound even better I guess once I get over the Christmas financials and go and buy a Dacmagic!

 

[idc]

I have been able to recreate the crackling on the Sony Vaio. I go into View and equaliser and if I set any of the middle sliders from 125 to 4K to above +6db, I get crackles. I have the eq off. I may not have at the very start, but when I unstalled and reinstalled itunes, the preset I had made for myself should have gone. My preset did have the middle sliders at above +6db. So that explains the initial cracking, but not after I reinstalled itunes. Mmmmmmmm, I wonder?

With eq switched off the sound is thinner at lower volumes. That is easily overcome by turning up the amps volume. The sound is more high fidelity and realsitic.