Posts:
7
From:
Portland, Oregon
Registered:
Jul 16, 2008
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop out
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 1:03 AM
in response to: TimW...
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Hi TimW, I just wanted to say thanks for posting your solution to iTunes cutting out with the Airport Express. I have been putting up with this on and off for over a year and your solution worked for me! I turned off Windows Zero Configuration in services and I have played iTunes over my Airport Express all weekend without a single glitch! Thanks again!
PC
Windows XP Pro
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Posts:
15
From:
London
Registered:
May 15, 2009
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 7:12 AM
in response to: Alexroet
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conclusion, iTunes 9 is the problem - i also have an iTunes 8.x installation here that i might try on the winXP machine as i know there are posts previously about people having this problem with itunes 8 etc.
Thanks for all the troubleshooting.
But itunes 9 is NOT the problem- as many people had this issue BEFORE itunes 9.
I did say that i know people have been having this problem with iTunes 8 etc. If you want a more precise sentence then allow me to rephrase:
"conclusion, iTunes 9 is the problem within the parameters of the tests that i set up - i also have an iTunes 8.x installation here that i might try on the winXP machine as i know there are posts previously about people having this problem with itunes 8 etc. Then i will be able to say at least if it is the jump from iTunes 7.x to iTunes 8.x that causes the problem, or the jump from iTunes 8.x to iTunes 9.x that causes the problem"
better?
MBP 15" 2.4 GHz
Mac OS X (10.5.6)
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Posts:
15
From:
London
Registered:
May 15, 2009
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 7:40 AM
in response to: elliotw100
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OK, so i tried installing iTunes 8.1.1 (after having iTunes 7.7.1.11 installed), and the problem returns.
so following on from my tests, on my system, the results are:
- iTunes 7.7.1.11 - no dropout problems
- iTunes 8.1.1 - dropout problems
- iTunes 9 - dropout problems...
This is all in my windows bootcamp partition as i dont want to mess with iTunes versions on Mac OS X, since i sync my iPhone there.
MBP 15" 2.4 GHz
Mac OS X (10.5.6)
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Posts:
140
From:
Portland Oregon
Registered:
Feb 22, 2006
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 12:59 PM
in response to: mark77
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That confirms what I've been seeing. The dropouts started happening under iTunes 8.1.x and have gotten worse under 9. I had no streaming dropout problems whatsoever before 8.1.
Macbook Pro Core Duo 2.0 - Dual 1.8 GHz G5 - iPhone 3G - iPod Classic 160 gig
Mac OS X (10.5)
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Posts:
100
From:
Sarasota, FL
Registered:
Aug 29, 2007
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 1:13 PM
in response to: mark77
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...My dropouts occur usually 3-6 times per song, on rare occasions a whole song will play without dropouts, but very rare.
I think it's probably a good idea for people to describe what they mean by "dropouts", as well as what their network topology is.
For example, your above description of dropouts is different than mine. I don't get 'stutters' or audio coming in or out. What happens to me is that while playing, typically at the beginning of a new song, iTunes will STOP playing audio, both locally on my Mac and remotely on the AEX. iTunes appears to still be playing the song (the counter keeps moving, it advances to additional songs, and even in Wireshark I can see it sending data to the AEX) -- but there is no sound. Sound won't start until I hit stop/pause and then play again.
Also, my Mac is connected over Ethernet to a Netgear GigE switch, which the AEX is also connected to via Ethernet. So, the trouble can't be intermittent wireless connectivity/interference.
so, the last thing i've done is uninstalled iTunes 9 on windows XP and installed an old version of itunes that i found (7.7.1.11). guess what? it works, no dropouts.
This is my experience on my Mac as well. 7.7.1 under Leopard was the last time I never had dropouts. iTunes 8 under Leopard and now iTunes 9 under Snow Leopard are giving me dropouts (although I've only gotten 1 dropout under Snow Leopard so far; iTunes 8 under Leopard seemed much worse.)
MacBook Pro
Mac OS X (10.5.8)
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Posts:
4
Registered:
Dec 9, 2006
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 1:23 PM
in response to: elliotw100
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After instal - iTunes 9 - dropout problems...
Apple Help :))
MacBook 15" 2,16Mhz C2D
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
185
From:
CT
Registered:
Jan 21, 2001
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 2:39 PM
in response to: mark77
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conclusion, iTunes 9 is the problem - i also have an iTunes 8.x installation here that i might try on the winXP machine as i know there are posts previously about people having this problem with itunes 8 etc.
Thanks for all the troubleshooting.
But itunes 9 is NOT the problem- as many people had this issue BEFORE itunes 9.
I did say that i know people have been having this problem with iTunes 8 etc. If you want a more precise sentence then allow me to rephrase:
"conclusion, iTunes 9 is the problem within the parameters of the tests that i set up - i also have an iTunes 8.x installation here that i might try on the winXP machine as i know there are posts previously about people having this problem with itunes 8 etc. Then i will be able to say at least if it is the jump from iTunes 7.x to iTunes 8.x that causes the problem, or the jump from iTunes 8.x to iTunes 9.x that causes the problem"
better?
hey...
I wasn't trying to attack you.
i said "thanks for the troubleshooting" (sincerely).
I just wanted to add that it's not just itunes 9- so people don't think that's the whole problem.
Sorry.
20" iMac (Intel 2.33), MBA 1.8/80
Mac OS X (10.6)
AEBS, iPhone, AppleTV
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Posts:
185
From:
CT
Registered:
Jan 21, 2001
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 2:42 PM
in response to: J. Everett
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in my case, "dropouts" means the "remote speakers" (AEX and AppleTV) go silent. Sound keeps coming from my imac just fine. This happens several times per song... usually just for a few seconds at first- but eventually they just go quiet and stay quiet.
my net setup is comcast cable modem to AEBS, then AX and AppleTV connected wireless. But the AX is about 2 feet from the AEBS, so I don't think it's a signal issue.
20" iMac (Intel 2.33), MBA 1.8/80
Mac OS X (10.6)
AEBS, iPhone, AppleTV
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Posts:
15
From:
London
Registered:
May 15, 2009
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 3:53 PM
in response to: Alexroet
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hey...
I wasn't trying to attack you.
i said "thanks for the troubleshooting" (sincerely).
I just wanted to add that it's not just itunes 9- so people don't think that's the whole problem.
Sorry.
no stress, i didn't mean to sound attacked, was just being precise.
Certainly, it seems iTunes 9 is a problem (in that it hasnt fixed it), but that it probably originated earlier
MBP 15" 2.4 GHz
Mac OS X (10.5.6)
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Posts:
15
From:
London
Registered:
May 15, 2009
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 14, 2009 3:59 PM
in response to: J. Everett
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I think it's probably a good idea for people to describe what they mean by "dropouts", as well as what their network topology is.
good point. For me the dropouts means the sound cuts out quite abruptly for about a second, as i said at least a few times per song. If it makes any difference i don't think it is "pausing" the song for a second, the sound just stops coming out of my speakers but the song keeps playing.
My network topology is MBP 15" 2.4Ghz, connected through wifi to 1TB Time Capsule, with the AirPort Express joining this same network wirelessly, and optical from AirPort Express to my speakers, not that this should make any difference.
Also, my Mac is connected over Ethernet to a Netgear GigE switch, which the AEX is also connected to via Ethernet. So, the trouble can't be intermittent wireless connectivity/interference.
This is very interesting to know, as i hadnt yet tried a completely wired solution, and the initial posts i've seen on this were all about changing channels, strengths, multicasts etc etc
MBP 15" 2.4 GHz
Mac OS X (10.5.6)
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Posts:
380
From:
Los Angeles
Registered:
Jun 7, 2006
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 15, 2009 12:40 PM
in response to: elliotw100
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My definition of drop outs for this thread is that music streaming over airtunes stutters and then stops playing (no sound at all) periodically. The stuttering may last a second or two or three, the lack of any sound at all for anywhere from one to 30 seconds.
I had a discernable pattern for a while, the stutter would happen every 3-4 minutes, but that pattern no longer holds true.
I don't believe this to be a networking problem, which most people seem focused on, it really appears to be an iTunes audio problem. Here's why I think so:
On my network, the audio may drop out on the attached speakers, but if you look at the attached Airport Express, the green activity LED continues to flash, indicating something is being transmitted over the network, but the sound isn't playing. My LED only flashes when airtunes is streaming.
On my setup, the music never stops being heard on the iTunes machine, only on one or both of the AEX attached speakers.
Mac Pro Quad 11gb | Mac Book Pro 1.1 - 15" | Mac Mini (Intel 2ghz)
Mac OS X (10.5.4)
| AppleTV | iPhone 3g (White)16gb | iPhone EDGE 16&8gb | Video iPod 5th gen
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Posts:
4
From:
oslo
Registered:
Jul 16, 2008
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 16, 2009 6:34 AM
in response to: DSA1
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I can't live without airtunes !! This is worse than waiting for my new 3GS!!
I have read about the audio drop out problem, but I have never had this problem my self.
I did the big snow upgrade last night (from 10.5.8 and iTunes 8.1), + the 6.1 update. I remember something with the airport icon poped up and wanted to be updated...... WHY!! did I do that!! could it have been the 6.3 firmware??
If so..is it possible to downgrade? Yes, I am desperate !
My airport is joining my network router wireless, ..like it always has..
Multiple speakers does not help, sometimes iTunes also don't let me exit multiple speakers mode.
If I have multiple speakers on, it randomly selects both or one of them... Like that's not annoying!!
Airfoil works sometimes better than iTunes..
This is bad : (
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Posts:
15
From:
London
Registered:
May 15, 2009
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 16, 2009 6:56 AM
in response to: mvic
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I did the big snow upgrade last night (from 10.5.8 and iTunes 8.1), + the 6.1 update. I remember something with the airport icon poped up and wanted to be updated...... WHY!! did I do that!! could it have been the 6.3 firmware??
Excuse a possibly silly question, but what is the "6.1 update" ? Is it the firmware? If so, on what sort of device? I'm using an Airport Express to stream my music (with the dropout problems) and it is currently on 7.4.2 firmware. Just confused as to what the 6.1 update is, and if i have overlooked something myself.
MBP 15" 2.4 GHz
Mac OS X (10.5.6)
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Posts:
4
From:
oslo
Registered:
Jul 16, 2008
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 16, 2009 7:17 AM
in response to: mark77
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Excuse a possibly silly question, but what is the "6.1 update" ? Is it the firmware? If so, on what sort of device? I'm using an Airport Express to stream my music (with the dropout problems) and it is currently on 7.4.2 firmware. Just confused as to what the 6.1 update is, and if i have overlooked something myself.
Oh, sorry.. I ment the osx 10.6.1 the first update for snow.
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Posts:
4
From:
oslo
Registered:
Jul 16, 2008
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Re: Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop
Posted:
Sep 16, 2009 7:53 AM
in response to: mvic
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hmmm... I think a port forward on UDP 5353 was my solution.. I have know managed to played several songs without drop outs !!
Don't know why...because I did not touch any settings on my router after the snow upgrade... but it works, it is streaming my music in the air like I'm used to : )
...maybe Snow or iTunes 9 acts different than Leopard and iTunes 8.1 on this:
5353 UDP Multicast DNS (MDNS) - Bonjour (mDNSResponder)
anyway... I am happy : )
Message was edited by: mvic
...and then the dropout came back..... : (
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