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New Powerbook Audio Stutter / Looping / Echo problem

I though people would like to hear the problem that some of the 15" and 17" powerbooks have been having.

I tried recording the sound from iTunes using Audio Hijack, but when the weird audio issue happened and I played back the recording, you couldn't hear it in the recording (i.e. it played normally), so it seems to me that it's related to some basic audio issue (because Audio Hijack couldn't hear it when it was recording iTunes) rather than a specific application.

I was able to record the sound using a cable from my powerbook to another computer (which then recorded the line-in using Audio Hijack).

Here's a short quicktime capture of the sound:

http://s89317810.onlinehome.us/AudioStuttering.mov

Has anyone heard anything about a fix? It doesn't seem to be related to Airport use for me since I don't often use Airport at home.

Powerbook 1.67 15", Mac OS X (10.4.3), 1.5 gig ram

Posted on Nov 21, 2005 8:51 AM

Reply
765 replies

Nov 21, 2005 12:54 PM in response to aspenboy

I am having the same problem. Thanks for the recording. It's hard to describe but that is the exact sound I have continuously occuring on my week old G4 powerbook. I cant figure it out. Today it occurred when I was streaming a file through the web so it has to be some sort of audio card issue I would assume. I'm also dealing with an airport problem. I dont know if they are related, but occasionally I am getting kicked off my wireless network and my mouse starts jumping erratically when I move it around. Once I shut down airport I get my mouse back but obviously lose internet capabilities. Kind of disappointed with the issues I am already dealing with.

Nov 21, 2005 7:19 PM in response to aspenboy

I am getting it also. On my spanking brand new PowerBook 1.67MHZ (straight and freshly built and shipped from Shanghai, China).

It happens at intermittent times (on Movies, iTunes, etc.)

Any solutions anyone?

I thank the first guy for making a recording.

I "borrowed" it so that I can have something for the Apple tech to hear. I'll be contacting them soon and will get back with you guys as soon as they have something for me.


Powerbook G4 15in 1.67MHZ Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Nov 24, 2005 3:32 AM in response to John_The_Baptist

I encountered this yesterday during a Skype chat. I had it occur 2x in a one hour call. I've not had it with sound going out via airtunes, so it's specifically linked to the actual sound output device being used (as you would probably expect).

This is quite serious and embarassing. I've also seen it mention on other mac sites. Can we have some action please?

Ian

Nov 24, 2005 8:08 PM in response to Ian Hobson

Hi All,

This has happend to me numerous times. Applecare has no answers as well. What they did suggest and worked was crearing a new username under Accounts. Type "test" into the 4 boxes to create a new user and play around with your iTunes for a bit and you will notice no looping or echoing.

There is a corrupt file located in your preferences somewhere that needs to be erased manually, which is not fun at all. Just for good measure, I am going to reinstall Tiger when I arrive back to my room to clear up any problems.

Nov 24, 2005 11:30 PM in response to cucubee5

Thanks cucubee5

That's an interesting explanation for the problem which has been reported by MANY users as far as I know.

It would however be useful if Apple or someone could tell us WHICH preference file is corrupted. Re-installing the OS as a solution belongs in the Windows world, and the time taken to do such things is a key reason why I have always stayed with Mac. Furthermore, the effect of losing ALL your preferences from ALL applications is not something I wish to go through - one of the things that impressed me about the migration assistant was this.

Do let us know what happens after you've done the re-install!

Regards
Ian

Nov 25, 2005 12:52 AM in response to Ian Hobson

Hey guys (first post 🙂

I own the PowerBook G4 high res model and I've noticed this 'echo' effect when listening to my iTunes. I remember creating another account for my sister and from what I've heard so far, her sound did not stutter.
Although unrelated, my system sounds did not work after some time (emptying bin, copy paste sounds etc.) even though in System preferences the option for such sounds was checked.

I've come from the Windows world and with the normallity of formatting that computer, I decided to format my Mac for other reasons aside (with the included discs) and to my suprise the stutter/echoing problem has seemed to dissapear on my primary account. It's been 3 days since the install and I've been listening to garageband files, midi, iTunes, internet streaming, DVD viewing all of which the sound did not stall/loop.

In terms of a corrupted file, it seems plausable that this may be the case.

Cheers
Anthony

Nov 25, 2005 1:31 AM in response to AnthoMac

Anthomac

Thanks for the information - a very useful first post!
I'm still not sure I want to go through the re-install - more because of the effect on my hundreds of preferences which do work! And, I've only had it happen to me twice on a skype call. But it certainly would seem that this is where the problem resides.

Now if Apple/someone could just tell us which preference file is corrupted!

Thanks
Ian

Dec 2, 2005 6:06 AM in response to aspenboy

Same problem here with a 5-day-old PowerBook.

And as reported here and elsewhere, it's happening with any type of audio playback.

As a test, I stressed the system by HiJacking several apps all at once with AudioHijack Pro (iTunes, Skype, Soundtrack Pro, SoundByte, QuickTime and Audacity), and the problem was no more frequent than just playing iTunes with no other apps running (although the hard drive had quite a workout).

Dec 2, 2005 8:49 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

I tend to only get it with iChat conferences, but then again I route the iTunes to Airport Express, and it sounds like it is some kind of buffer repeat at the hardware audio chip level (which would explain why Audio Hijack doesn't see it, the stream outgoing is ok). I would guess some interrupt to update the audio buffers for the device are missed or delay and the same buffer is repeated until something "kicks" the update back into gear.

New Powerbook Audio Stutter / Looping / Echo problem

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