10.4.10 Snap, Crackle, Pop - a workaround

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10.4.10 Snap, Crackle, Pop - a workaround

If you're suffering from the Snap, Crackle, Pop problem, here's a little workaround if you don't mind sacrificing some CPU cycles and know how to open the command line.

The basic strategy is to use mpg123 to play a silent mp3 file continuously in the background. By doing this, the audio subsystem doesn't have a chance to go to sleep, and therefore the pops disappear.

Open up a Terminal window

cd ~
mkdir nopop
cd nopop
wget http://www.noderunner.net/~llin/old/4second.mp3
wget http://www.mpg123.de/download/mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
bunzip2 mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
tar xvf mpg123-0.66.tar
cd mpg123-0.66
./configure
make
sudo make install

obviously you can change the locations to your heart's content.

The command below will play a 4 second silent mp3 file continuously until you log out. This means that the audio subsystem never goes to sleep, and therefore you won't get the Pops.

mpg123 -Z -q ~/nopop/4second.mp3

Perhaps one of you Cocoa programmers could package this up nicely for everyone else?

On my macbook, it'll cost you about 2% of your CPU, but at least you won't get the pops.

Any suggestions, improvements, feedback very welcome!

cheers,

Tony.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jun 23, 2007 5:39 AM

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Answer 1

cdiggy

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Jun 23, 2007 9:51 AM in response to Tony Piper

good idea.. now lets simplify this....

cd ~
mkdir nopop
cd nopop
wget http://www.noderunner.net/~llin/old/4second.mp3
wget http://www.mpg123.de/download/mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
bunzip2 mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
tar xvf mpg123-0.66.tar
cd mpg123-0.66
./configure
make
sudo make install

....and just play iTunes silently (or not) in the background 🙂

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

164,118 points

Jun 23, 2007 9:58 AM in response to cdiggy

Guys

Brilliant workaround.

But could you explain step by step what's being done with each line, for the er, Terminally nervous?

Regards

TD

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Answer 3

Tony Piper Author

Level 1

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Jun 23, 2007 10:08 AM in response to Yer_Man

sure:

cd ~
# change the working directory to your home directory

mkdir nopop
# make a new directory called 'nopop' in your home directory

cd nopop
# make that directory your current directory

wget http://www.noderunner.net/~llin/old/4second.mp3
# download a 4 second silent mp3 file

wget http://www.mpg123.de/download/mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
# download the compressed source code archive for mpg123

bunzip2 mpg123-0.66.tar.bz2
# decompress the archive

tar xvf mpg123-0.66.tar
# extract the files from the archive (creates a new directory, 'mpg123-0.66')

cd mpg123-0.66
# make the new directory current

./configure
# configure the source code so that it can be compiled on your mac

make
# compile the source code, ready for installation

sudo make install
# running as administrator, install the mpg123 utility (into /usr/local/bin)

If this is too complicated, I can make the mpg123 program and sound file available as part of a zip file - let me know.

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Answer 4

Tony Piper Author

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Jun 23, 2007 10:11 AM in response to cdiggy

good idea.. now lets simplify this....

....and just play iTunes silently (or not) in the
background 🙂

The easiest solution by far is to just press the 'mute' key or turn off your speakers. Only problem is, you won't get any sound at all.

I forgot to mention that my solution is for people who don't want to play itunes all day but who do want to hear IM notifications, mail alerts etc. without the pops. Hope it works for you as well as it's working for me.

:P

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Answer 5

Yer_Man

Level 10

164,118 points

Jun 23, 2007 10:16 AM in response to Tony Piper

Tony

Thank you so much for this.

Regards

TD

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Answer 6

Tony Piper Author

Level 1

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Jun 23, 2007 11:24 AM in response to Yer_Man

Terence, your request for an explanation prompted me to think about how to make this solution more accessible to all 10.4.10 users...

With the help of Platypus ( http://www.sveinbjorn.org/platypus) I created 'Pop Stop', a Mac App which removes the need to do any nasty compiling etc. etc.

PLEASE NOTE: this is a hastily bundled precompiled version of mpg123 from http://www.mpg123.de/. I'm not claiming any copyright, or, for that matter, liability. This has been compiled on an INTEL Mac running OS X 10.4.10.

To install:
Download it from http://www.tpiper.com/popstop/popstop.zip unzip it and drag 'Pop Stop' to your application directory. Then just double click it to run. You can even add it to your startup items if you want.

If you can give this a go, and let me know if it works for you, that would be great.

cheers,

Tony.

update: URL to the zip file was broken. now fixed. apologies for that.

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Answer 7

Jun 23, 2007 2:51 PM in response to Tony Piper

You can also run Rogue Amoeba's LineIn application (it's free).
As long as you have the 'Pass Thru' button enabled, the audio won't "go to sleep" (and pop when waking up).

I just set mine to Input: Silent Input and Output: Default System Output

You can download LineIn at http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/

Mac OS X (10.4.10)

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Answer 8

Jun 23, 2007 4:36 PM in response to Tony Piper

5 Stars to Tony Piper and Platypus.
Pop Stop Does It!
NO POPS when sound stops playing through
external speakers.
Still get a pop upon waking or putting to sleep.
Any thoughts other than turning speakers off before sleep
and on after MacBook awakes?
Thanx Again for Pop Stop!

MacBook 2GHz First Gen. Mac OS X (10.4.10) 2 GB Ram

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Answer 9

Tony Piper Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2007 5:12 PM in response to stewartpaul

5 Stars to Tony Piper and Platypus.
Pop Stop Does It!
NO POPS when sound stops playing through
external speakers.

Yay! Glad it's working for you.

Still get a pop upon waking or putting to sleep.
Any thoughts other than turning speakers off before
sleep
and on after MacBook awakes?

Nah - time for Apple to fix this properly!

Thanx Again for Pop Stop!

You're welcome. While you're giving thanks, please thank the people who created mpg123, platypus and the 4second.mp3 file used in Pop Stop...

cheers,

Tony.

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Answer 10

Tony Piper Author

Level 1

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Jun 23, 2007 5:21 PM in response to Sal Conigliaro

You can also run Rogue Amoeba's LineIn application (it's free).

this might use less CPU and Battery than 'Pop Stop'...

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Answer 11

Jun 23, 2007 5:41 PM in response to Tony Piper

Hey Tony.
Here are the other thank you's, you brought to my attention.
Thank You to the people who created mpg123, platypus and the 4second.mp3 file used in Pop Stop.
I also agree with you that the complete fix is on Apple.
Be Well.

MacBook 2GHz First Gen. Mac OS X (10.4.10) 2 GB Ram

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Answer 12

Tony Piper Author

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Jun 23, 2007 5:47 PM in response to stewartpaul

thanks, stewartpaul!

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Answer 13

p+j

Level 1

10 points

Jun 24, 2007 7:56 AM in response to Tony Piper

thanks for the workaround!

interestingly, this bug seems to have repaired (intentionally or unintentionally?) another bug: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3832945&#3832945

it makes sense, as the audio is essentially rebooting everytime an audio event happens. still, it is pretty annoying.

cheers...

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Answer 14

Jun 24, 2007 8:09 AM in response to Tony Piper

Pop Stop working fine on day 2.
Thanks again Tony...
do you know why they've locked "10.4.10 Snap, Crackle, Pop " ??

MacPro&g4&g5&laptop Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 15

p+j

Level 1

10 points

Jun 24, 2007 8:16 AM in response to Dan Welter

you know, i don't know why they locked it. i was wondering that myself. sure, people were vocal about being frustrated, but it was a very tame forum - rated pg at most - so it seems like a not nice thing to do.

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