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Fix for iTunes and Stuttering Audio Upon Opening Other Programs

This was answered for me in another mega thread, so I thought I would create it's own topic in hopes of helping as many people as possible.

This is a fix for those that have the problem of iTunes 7 working fine alone, but when opening another program such as a game, etc., iTunes 7 begins to stutter and crackle. This fix assumes that otherwise, the program works correctly (gapless, and other issues are not a problem, no blue screens of death, etc.)

First off my machine:

Dell XPS 3.4 ghz Pentium Dual Core

2 Gig RAM

Creative SB X-Fi audio card, latest drivers installed

Observed problem:

Running iTunes 7, audio sounded fine, but opening another program such as UT2004 (first person shooter game) caused iTunes 7 to stutter and crackle.

This was not an issue in iTunes 6.05. I had to upgrade as I just purchased the new Nano.

As an aside, I have another sound card on my computer, an older Layla Echo 24 professional soundcard, drivers are about 3 years old. When selecting this card, this problem does not occur.

The Fix:
Close iTunes 7
Upgrade your sound card drivers (just to eliminate that as an issue)
Upgrade to latest Microsoft direct X version:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A -9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

Start

Run

Type: dxdiag

Click "sound 1" or similarly named tab

Slide bar to "basic acceleration" (mine was at full, and basic is two clicks to the left)

Exit

Restart iTunes 7, and startup music

Open game, or other program

Your music in iTunes 7 should now be stutter/crackle free

This may not work for everybody, but it worked for me so I thought I would pass this along.

Good luck!

(resisting urge to type some snarky remark to Apple that somehow their programmers are indeed as human as Microsoft programmers)...oops...sorry about that.

Dell XPS Windows XP Creative SB X-FI Audio Card

Dell XPS Windows XP

Posted on Sep 19, 2006 3:01 PM

46 replies

cfgeek

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 12:55 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

I've only had one problem with iTunes 7, and it's the one I see the least about: my sound would cut out from stereo to mono, or worse it would shift to a single speaker. No crackling, no video issues, no game problems, no iPod issues - just the inability to listen to music in iTunes.

THIS FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have an iBook and have had no problems, but Apple really blew it with the Windoze release. But hey, whatever, Microsloth ***** on the OS X platform.

Thanks for this fix!

eatsmice

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 1:11 PM in response to cfgeek

Sorry, these fixes didn't work for me at all, on both my main PC and laptop. Just scrolling the mouse caused stuttering. Have been through all options today and finally did find a solution..... back to 6.05 !!

Bliss, not stuttering, just musical happiness. Will wait for the bug fixes in iTunes 8.0

Sep 22, 2006 1:21 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

wow it works perfectly for me!!!

Sep 22, 2006 1:25 PM in response to eatsmice

works for me , thanks a lot .
i was very dissapointed that itunes has such a major issue on release though . hopefully they will fix it for everyone quickly .

Sep 22, 2006 2:31 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

Thank you! No more studdering or static. Now I can enjoy itunes again.

Sep 22, 2006 2:42 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

I am using a Creative Audigy 2ZX Pro (the one with the drivebay faceplate) and the Logitech Z-5500 speaker set (the one with the giant sub). I run my audio in 6 Ch Direct when listening to music or playing games or anything else that requires sound.

Unfortunately, the hardware acceleration reduction fix did not help. It did get iTunes7 to recognize that I have surround speakers, but it forgot the center speaker and failed to fix the stuttering and scrambled audio.

Now I'm trying to seek out an installer of the previous iTunes version; it's my own fault for not keeping it around...

Sep 23, 2006 4:54 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

This did not work for me either. APPLE _ PLEASE FIX YOUR SOFTWARE.

Sep 22, 2006 4:30 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

you are the big dog....thanks! it really helped....

Mafi

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 6:16 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

Unfortunately this did not help me either. I am using a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX, and I've tried every fix listed; removing crossfading, disabling sound enhancer, messing with hardware acceleration, I already had the latest DirectX and sound drivers before installing 7.0... I'm at a loss for ideas. There definitely seems to be something though... a lot of users experiencing this have Audigys, and I saw mention of an X-Fi in one thread, also.

We need to get people to submit their soundcard information, as it appears that in all cases, the cards are high-end performance pieces, outdated or otherwise.

Cappo

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 6:17 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

You sir are what I call a GOD 🙂

Sep 22, 2006 6:47 PM in response to Mafi

I think you may be on to something - I also have the same issue - fixed by absolutely nothing I've tried, and I've gone through the whole gamut (see thread http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=644455&tstart=0)

Also using an Audigy 2.

Sep 22, 2006 6:49 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

Thank You for fixing my problem, I have also tried ALL of the fixes and this one actually worked. Thank you very much.

UNTCHBL

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 6:52 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

Thanks heaps for that fix dude. Worked perfectly. Will pass it on.

Flesh

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 7:14 PM in response to Nathan C

For every API, there are two things you can do: use it correctly or abuse it. Since DirectX is nothing new to Windows and version 9.x has been out for a while, there should be plenty of good and free resources out there.

The fact that the audio varies in speed when certain applications that use advanced sound hardware features is running suggests it's just a classic producer/consumer problem. It's likely a flag somewhere to tell the OS that iTunes should not share a sound buffer with another program.

Here's the method I would grep for if I were an Apple employee that had access to the iTunes codebase:

Device dev; // some DirectSound device
dev.SetCooperativeLevel(someObject, CooperativeLevel.WritePrimary);

"CooperativeLevel" should be set to "Priority".

That's a stab in the dark, I claim no knowledge of the DirectX API. It's just the information I got in a 5-minute internet search.

Windows XP Pro

ieaerin

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2006 7:24 PM in response to Westport_Hiker

OMG thanks i was just about to kill the kids for messing with my computer then i remember i just installed the new download for ipod and something may be a little "funky" my kids thank you for a saved bottom and a month in their room LOL

Fix for iTunes and Stuttering Audio Upon Opening Other Programs