Cracklin Noise When Importing From CD Itunes 7.5 New Problem?

I am having the same problem - I copy audiobooks into iTunes and put them on my iPod. It always worked perfectly until the last version update. I tried going back to a previous version, using a different CD driver, restoring my computer to 10 days ago, cleaning the CD drive. Both audiobooks and music play perfectly - as long as I don't try to copy them into iTunes. I hope someone can help!

My computer guy doesn't have a clue. Thanks, Whitney

I emailed Michael (Aldoblog) and asked for help. When he replies, I will post his answer here. Whitney

My son changed speeds from 32 mono/64 stereo to 64 mono/128 kbps and it works again! So - iTunes/Preferences/Importing/Settings = Custom and 64/128. That is the only change in the Aldoblog instructions. Hope this works for you. Whitney

Hi everyone, it's the Aldo on Audiobooks guy. Sorry for the delay in responding here.

From what I have read online, and in reader emails, there's definitely a problem that is most likely due to changes in QuickTime 7.3., most likely for both Windows and Mac OS X. The problem seems to only occur at low bit rates, like those I recommend for importing audiobooks. So as Whitney discovered, if you increase the bit rate, you can eliminate the static.

That will eat up more disk space, but the good news about this solution is that you can always downsample the tracks later, after Apple fixes the problems in QuickTime 7.3, by simply re-setting your import preferences back to what I've recommended on the site ( http://aldoblog.com/audiobooks/itunes/import-settings/), selecting the track(s), and choosing Advanced > Convert Selection to AAC. This will give you a new track (or set of tracks) at the reduced bit rate. If you then throw away the originals, you'll save the disk space.

Or, that might be too much trouble, especially if you're only using the higher bit rate for a few books. Hopefully Apple will get the static thing fixed quickly, and we can go back to a lower bit rate.

FWIW, if you use a different tool to import your tracks from CDs (like Max or LAME), you shouldn't experience this problem. I was testing Max ( http://sbooth.org/Max/) while on vacation in October, and while it has a...challenging interface, it also has terrific error correction, for importing CDs that are scratched or otherwise damaged, and which don't import in iTunes. A useful tool to know about.

If you use Max, you can simply drag the resulting tracks into the iTunes Library window, and then follow steps 8-12 in my instructions, and you should end up with the same results.

I don't know if Max can join all of the tracks on a CD together, but you can always use the free JoinTogether tool from Doug Adams, http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=jointogether to do that.

HTH!