iTunes Distorts/Garbles certain MP3s/Albums

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iTunes Distorts/Garbles certain MP3s/Albums

Hello. I really like using iTunes as a way to organize my VGM library. However, for years now I've dealt with the problem of not knowing which albums I download will be compatible with iTunes. See, sometimes when I import an album, despite the mp3s sounding fine in something like Windows Media Player, in iTunes they have random distortion, ranging from kind of garbled to almost sounding underwater. I cannot find a single solution/explanation for this online.

Here is an example of what I'm experiencing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvwRit6MsbM

Posted on Jan 5, 2021 4:46 PM

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Answer 1

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SBW64 Author

Level 1

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Jan 6, 2021 7:48 AM in response to turingtest2

Update: Sample Rate was definitely the issue. For anyone having this same problem, use a program called "GoldWave" to batch convert your files to a different sample rate (I changed mine to 44.1). They all sound fine in iTunes now.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

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278,055 points

Jan 5, 2021 6:38 PM in response to SBW64

I'm suggesting you scan the file with MP3val and see if says anything interesting about it. iTunes may be less forgiving of any internal inconsistency in the file.

Posted somewhat after composing. Worth checking nonetheless.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

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278,055 points

Jan 6, 2021 12:13 AM in response to SBW64

The Import settings apply to new rips from CD or conversion from an existing format. They're not applied to audio files as they are added to the library. I'm not sure why iTunes doesn't cope properly with them, but I suspect if it can't play them correctly then it probably cannot convert them correctly either. You could try using Audacity and see if it can make files that iTunes can play.

tt2

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Answer 4

SBW64 Author

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Jan 5, 2021 7:24 PM in response to turingtest2

Well shoot, it seems every file that does this has a similar sample rate of 32 kHz. I'll bet that's the issue. Can't believe it was this simple.

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Answer 5

turingtest2

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278,055 points

Jan 5, 2021 5:38 PM in response to SBW64

Try http://mp3val.sourceforge.net/.

tt2

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Answer 6

turingtest2

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278,055 points

Jan 5, 2021 6:52 PM in response to SBW64

Odd then. Do you see any pattern such as encoding software, constant vs. variable bit rate, etc. that might be common to tracks that have this issue?

tt2

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Answer 7

SBW64 Author

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Jan 5, 2021 7:34 PM in response to turingtest2

So now my issue is getting these files with a sample rate of 32 kHz to work with iTunes. My import settings are set to iTunes Plus, which displays 44.1 kHz. Am I misunderstanding this, I thought this was converting it to that sample rate.

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Answer 8

SBW64 Author

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Jan 5, 2021 5:58 PM in response to turingtest2

Are you suggesting the file is corrupted? Did you watch the video? I doubt the file is corrupted due to the fact that only in iTunes does it sound distorted.

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Answer 9

SBW64 Author

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Jan 5, 2021 6:08 PM in response to turingtest2

I tried that program, it did nothing. The files are not corrupted, iTunes just will not play them properly. All my other sound playing devices play it just fine.

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Answer 10

SBW64 Author

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Jan 5, 2021 6:46 PM in response to turingtest2

All it said about the file was that it was "OK" under the "State" column. I tried repairing the file, imported it into iTunes, and got the same result.

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Answer 11

turingtest2

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Jan 6, 2021 10:52 AM in response to SBW64

Thanks for the follow up. 🙂

tt2

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iTunes Distorts/Garbles certain MP3s/Albums

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