Why no "Streaming Buffer" option??

I'd like to second this question. Even using iTunes 10.4 (8) from my office with a full duplex 100 mbps network connected to our municipal area network's multiple channel backbone of not less than 1,000 mbps links, with (at least) dual links to the Internet through multiple vendors for redundancy (not sure what speed those links operate at, but the have a MAN to serve, so they're fast), iTunes stutters and drops connections when streaming 128 kbps. With the "Streaming Buffer Size" setting AWOL from the preferences of iTunes (even though its help pages claim it's still there), there's no way around whatever network hiccups are causing the stuttering.

If Apple's engineers believe they've come-up with a self-tuning buffering algorithm that eliminates the need for a "Streaming Buffer Size" setting, my experience says their algorithm is inadequate to the full gamut of real-world network conditions.

Agree! That's very-very-very annoying!

I agree as well! Having the same problem with iTunes 10.3 for PC. Same statement in Help document but no function avaiable under Preferences. Quite annoying!!

I have the same setup that you do and experienced the same problem. I called Apple Support and they were surprised to find out that the streaming buffer option was not there. My tech guy made apologies and said he is submitting a request to re-install the option for the next iTunes release. That's the good news. Bad news: no solution for the streaming stutters and dropouts. He suggested I try using another network to see if the problem was my network. Also, I am using a wireless network, so he suggested an ethernet connection to see if it is my wireless. Next step: go to Starbucks, stream on their network and see what happens.

That's great, but I wish to have working radio at home, not only in Starbucks:D Even if my connection isn't brilliant.

I have the same problem: the "Streaming Buffering Size" drop-down menu does not exist anywhere in iTunes Preferences. Could this also explain why I can't watch any of Apple promo videos for company products? The things get stuck after a few seconds.

OK, after talking to Apple support again (the guy actually called me back), here is the solution that worked for me: You have to open a Finder window and go to Home directory (the little house) -> Library -> Preferences -> BuyHost and then under the BuyHost directory there are anywhere from 1 or 2 to 11 or 12 files titled "com.apple.itunes.nnnaaannna.plist where nnnaaa are alphanumeric characters. Drag those to the trash and empty the trash. Restart iTunes and the appropriate file(s) will generate; mine only generated one file. Not sure why, but those files have something to do with the streaming/buffering interrupts. Mine is working fine now. I get hours at a time of streaming; only occasional interrupts or rebuffering (sometimes restarts, sometimes not). Way better than it was. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply. I followed the instructions but have not noticed a change in viewing video clips. Ugh.

Hi all, iTunes streaming victims.

I struggled long with the streaming buffer problem of iTunes and indeed could solve it with increasing the buffer size, which features has been removed in iTunes 10. And this without updating the instructions by Apple!

Here is my solutions:

http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/

perfect for all wireless audio streaming not only for itunes, but any source on the Mac.

solved the problem completely for my 3 MacBooks, 2 airports, iphones etc.

it is not for free but a very good value for money.

cheers, Wil

Apple may remove the option from the iTunes but we still have the mighty terminal 🙂

To increase the buffer for stream type:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes stream-buffer-size xxxxxx

and for the file

defaults write com.apple.iTunes file-buffer-size xxxxxx

REPLACE XXXX with the number.

1024 = one kb

I use this:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes stream-buffer-size 128000

You can adjust how much buffer you want. But if you put too much it will buffer for ever so do not do 512000, it is too much. 😉

I hope this helps someone.

Cheers

Thank you! So far this seems to have fixed the constant drop outs. I'm hoping that it remains fixed! 🙂

Glad to hear that. The number I use is rather large, thus there is a slight delay before the stream begins to play. You can experiment with the smaller number, even a half of that should do.

Unfortunately, it worked for about 3 songs and now I'm having the constant stop and start again.

It's incredibly frustrating that Apple suggests putting ones library on an external HD in the case of larger libraries, but then seemingly codes iTunes such that it does not work well with external HD's.

I've tried several of the iTunes knock offs and I like the functionality and interface of iTunes best, but this seeming buffering issue has been going on for years and is extremely annoying!

That setting is for streaming, not for playing files from a remote disk.

However, here is another player, http://www.clementine-player.org/ which playes content from streams and remote dissks much better then iTunes. And it is free.

Yeah, I knew it was for streaming, but in my searching I saw some things that indicated it might help in playing from an external HD.

I went ahead and cut the buffer in half just to see what it would do. Ever since then it's been playing great, so who knows? I'm sure I just jinxed myself in saying this! 😀

I'll check out the other player, thanks!!