Imported CDs - poor quality

Question

Level 1

9 points

Imported CDs - poor quality

I have had problems importing cds recently whereby during playback on my ipod classic(80g) the sound quality is really poor, crackly and unlistenable. I recently changed the import setting from AAC to AIFF because after downloading 10.1 I was unable to import cds. I dont know if this is related. Please can someone offer any advice.
Cheers,
Tommo

Windows 7

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 4:36 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 21, 2011 3:24 AM in response to Tommo Don

I just came across this thread and I have been experiencing the same since iTunes 10.1 The new iTunes 10.2 has not rectified anything. Audio CD 1 - perfectly clear on any Hi-Fi, sound system. In iTunes, on my MacBook - listening directly to the CD - I have noise and distortion.

On another Audio CD - let's call it Audio CD 2, the sound is crystal clear, both on direct listening in iTunes, as well as on imported files.

Same goes for movie DVD's, with musical sound tracks - perfectly clear, both listening directly in iTunes, as well as after import.

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Answer 2

Musart

Level 1

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Jan 18, 2011 10:02 AM in response to Tommo Don

What is your kbs setings?

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Answer 3

Tommo Don Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 18, 2011 12:54 PM in response to Musart

How do I found out my kbs settings ?

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Answer 4

Tommo Don Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 27, 2011 1:34 PM in response to Musart

I import using AAC encoder, itunes plus, 128 kbps (mono), 256kbps (stereo). Most cds go on to my ipod classic but 2 recent ones are crackly during playback.

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Answer 5

the fiend

Level 7

22,506 points

Jan 28, 2011 2:20 AM in response to Tommo Don

Do the crackly albums sound that way in iTunes as well? If they do, check the CD you used to see if that's the problem. You may need to listen carefully, because I've had a similar problem in the past where the poor sound was on the CD, but the import process emphasised the poor sound, making it more obvious on my mp3 player (before my iPod).

If the poor sound is only on the iPod, check the kbps for that album, perhaps it was importred at a different bit rate to the one you're using now. The AAC 256kbps setting should be fine, ther's no reason why that would cause crackly sound.

To check the kbps for a song, highlight it and choose *File/Get Info/Summary* and look for the Kind (AAC) and *Bit Rate* (256kbps).

Phil

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Answer 6

Tommo Don Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 3, 2011 1:54 PM in response to the fiend

Hi Phil,

The cds sound crackly in itunes and the same after transferring to my ipod, which I've tried a number of times now. The cds sound fine on my stereo and in the car and a friend has successfully transferred the same cd to his ipod.

Cheers,

Tommo

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Answer 7

the fiend

Level 7

22,506 points

Feb 4, 2011 1:32 PM in response to Tommo Don

Ah! Well if they sound bad in iTunes, that's why they sound bad on your iPod. So in other words, the importing of the CD to iTunes is where the problem is being introduced, so....

Look in your iTunes (where you found the import kbps settings), *Edit/Preferences/General/Import Settings* and just below the Details box - do you see the *Use error correction when reading Audio CDs?* Presumably, there is no tick-in-the-box at the moment, so select it now (so there is a tick-in-the-box!)

As you'll notice from the text beneath that box, it should sort out the import problem, but only for new imports. It means you'll have to import those faulty albums again and it may take longer too, I'm afraid.

If that gets rid of the noise problem and yet the problem has only just occurred, the explanation is probably be that something else on your computer is interfering with the import process or with the CD drive or that the CD drive has become faulty. If you think that may be the case, how and whether you get it repaired will be up to you to decide.

Phil
P.S. Actually, one more test you can try, does the CD sound bad if you play it on your computer, using iTunes? That's "playing the CD itself", not what you imported into iTunes?

Message was edited by: the fiend

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Answer 8

Jan 25, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Tommo Don

Same issue for me - perfectly operational CD's - which also play perfectly with Windows Media Player and even with Quicktime, thus the problem is not the CD, it's ITunes.

Thinking about it, I had not ever had this problem in the past - I have multiple (old and new CD's) imported into ITunes, so why does it change now. I even just tried a CD I had already imported a few years ago perfectly, and even that does not work now. Seems like Apple does not want us to download CD's in ITunes...??

If anyone finds a fix that does not involve wearing ruby shoes and clicking your heels - please let me know!

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Answer 9

the fiend

Level 7

22,506 points

Jan 25, 2013 11:31 AM in response to Whiteysteve

Whiteysteve wrote:

Seems like Apple does not want us to download CD's in ITunes...??

Am I (or is anyone) expected to take that seriously?

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Answer 10

Jan 25, 2013 12:03 PM in response to the fiend

You (or anyone else) can take it as you want to.

It used to work just fine, it does not now - so something has changed with the Software. Why is the question. I was just suggesting a possible answer.

Either way, a fix would be great.

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Answer 11

Jan 25, 2013 2:45 PM in response to Whiteysteve

Odd thought -- if they play find in Windows Media Player, than why don't use use WMP to rip the songs as MP3 files, and then import those MP3 files into iTunes. That would at least let you know if it was a problem with iTunes interacting with the CD drive.

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Answer 12

Mar 22, 2014 7:47 AM in response to Growthart

I have the same issue, iTunes 11.1.5, on Mavericks.

A fix would be very welcome.

The problem is really reproducible. FWIW, I have problems with the first songs (about the five first ones) for each of the three CDs of "Weird Tales of the Ramones". Perfect on HiFi, no way to play it on the Mac (ripped or not) without additional noise.

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Answer 13

Mar 22, 2014 11:49 AM in response to Akim Demaille

Akim: If they play find on your HiFi, but not on your computer, the likely problem is not iTunes, but differing sensitivities of the CD players on the two devices. I've had that happen before: A CD is fine on the audio CD player, but just will not work on the computer. First, make sure your CD is clean -- no scratches, and you've cleaned the data side well. If it still doesn't work, the easiest solution is recording. Just like you would an LP -- connect the audio out of your hifi to the line in on your computer. Get a program like Roxio (or whatever the MAC equivalent is), and record the CD. Split it into tracks, and then import those tracks into iTunes. After iTunes has converted them into MP3/AAC, delete the original WAV files.

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Answer 14

Jul 1, 2014 1:52 AM in response to Tommo Don

I've had the same issue with some rock albums. The distortion comes out like a fuzzy mess. Doobie Bros' "The Captain and Me" and ZZ Top's "Eliminator".

I'll give a try to the error reduction thingy, but it doesn't sound like an error, but as if the frequencies were messed up altogether.

What further bothers me is that I pay for itunes match, and those albums ARE on the iTunes store and sound okay: I don't see why if I delete my version and download it again I cannot get the one with the correct sound... (because of course they sound awful on my iphone too)

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Answer 15

BD1949

Level 1

0 points

Dec 31, 2015 7:19 AM in response to mahatma tom

A load of my CD's had this effect (a few tracks sounded fuzzy or had bad background noise).

I was running iTunes on Windows XP.

I came across Exact Audio Copy [EAC] (http://exactaudiocopy.de/). That makes an exact copy of an audio CD as a file.

Then I had to make that file appear as a drive so iTunes would see it using Daemon Tools (https://www.daemon-tools.cc/products/dtLite).

It would have been a lot easier if Apple did a professional job but I guess they were in a hurry to make money.

Sadly, I had disposed of the CDs before I found this out so will never ever buy or use an Apple product unless it is a matter of live and death, and then only reluctantly.

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