gyepi

Q: iTunes stops playing a song in the middle and skips to the next track

Occasionally, with some regular mp3 files iTunes (up to version 12.1) plays the song until a while, and then in the middle of the song iTunes stops and jumps to the next track.

 

This is strictly an iTunes player issue: the files are not damaged and can be played by other media players without any problem. This is also not an issue with iTunes settings: neither the start, nor the stop times are set and/or checked for these files.

 

Erasing the file from the iTunes library (completely removing it from the database, not just from the playlist) and reimporting it does NOT solve the issue.

 

I have made a screencast video to demonstrate the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sx3_FpZr-Q

 

This is an issue with the core functionality of iTunes, namely playing music! Apple, it is time to get your act together and DO something about it.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 15, 2015 7:21 AM

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Q: iTunes stops playing a song in the middle and skips to the next track

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  • by gyepi,

    gyepi gyepi Sep 25, 2015 9:28 AM in response to gyepi
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 25, 2015 9:28 AM in response to gyepi

    The same problem still persists in iTunes 12.3.044.

     

    Meanwhile in the last couple of releases the search functionality also starts to break down. While previously it was possible to narrow search results with terms that span through multiple fields (i.e. one for the Album field and another for the Comments field), now this sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but mostly doesn't.

     

    What is the point of a music player that can't reliably find and play music? Are there any more important core functionalities than these? Please, Apple, fix these fundamental problems.

  • by richard grant,

    richard grant richard grant Sep 25, 2015 11:08 AM in response to gyepi
    Level 3 (695 points)
    Sep 25, 2015 11:08 AM in response to gyepi

    Gyepi, speaking as someone who has experienced both of the problems you describe, I'd urge you to use the Provide iTunes Feedback feature under iTunes in the main menu. I'm hopeful that if enough of us do this, Apple will recognize that these problems exist and are affecting more than just a few isolated users.

     

    Cheers

  • by gillywonk,

    gillywonk gillywonk Jan 14, 2016 9:48 AM in response to gyepi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2016 9:48 AM in response to gyepi

    Yes, I also have had this problem for months, if not years. Driving me crazy. No issues playing the same tracks from iPhone or other player apps on desktop.

  • by abuckiew,

    abuckiew abuckiew Mar 2, 2016 3:45 PM in response to gyepi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2016 3:45 PM in response to gyepi

    Hi guys,

     

    I've tested something out that seems to be working:

    1) Download a good id3 tag editor e.g. Kid3

    2) Find an song where you have the issue

    3) Copy this file to a new mp3 (e.g. new.mp3)

    4) Load new.mp3 in the id3 tag editor, you should see that there are both id3 v1 and id3 v2 tags

    5) Remove id3 v1 tag and save

    6) Remove the old mp3 from your iTunes library

    7) Add new.mp3 to your iTunes library

     

    I tested this with a few problem songs and it resolved the issues.

     

    Given how many different times I've thought that I fixed this, I am still cautiously optimistic.

    Interested to hear if anyone has any better luck.

     

    Thanks,

    Alex

  • by abuckiew,

    abuckiew abuckiew Mar 2, 2016 6:08 PM in response to abuckiew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2016 6:08 PM in response to abuckiew

    Note: you might also have to convert the id3 v2 tag to id3 v2.4 (e.g. if it is id3 v2.3).

  • by abuckiew,

    abuckiew abuckiew Mar 3, 2016 6:42 AM in response to abuckiew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2016 6:42 AM in response to abuckiew

    Just as a further note: I do the following in Kid3:

    Delete the id3 v1 tag

    Convert id3 v2.4 tags to id3 v2.3

    Convert id3 v2.3 tags to id3 v2.4 (note: this forces the id3 tag to be rewritten by Kid3)

     

    I think the problem is some id3 tags cause iTunes to incorrectly determine gapless playback information (maybe if the mp3s are encoded on windows/linux... hard to say). The fix I am suggesting first forces the id3 tag for the mp3 to be rewritten, and then the only way to force an update to the gapless playback information is to delete the song from the library and add it again.

     

    Like I say, I'm still cautiously optimistic (considering sometimes deleting and readding worked before) but so far this is seeming like a consistent fix.

     

    Ideally Apple would fix how the gapless playback is calculated and would then let us force iTunes to recalculate it.

  • by abuckiew,

    abuckiew abuckiew Mar 10, 2016 1:43 PM in response to abuckiew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 1:43 PM in response to abuckiew

    Never mind -- I've had problems with some files even after removing all the id3 tags.

  • by Scott Paine,

    Scott Paine Scott Paine Sep 12, 2016 12:37 PM in response to gyepi
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 12, 2016 12:37 PM in response to gyepi

    Thanks, gyepi. Your YouTube screencast saved my sanity! I was about to use a hammer on my Mac.

     

    Problem persists in iTunes 12.4.3.1

     

    Funny, try selecting a problematic song in iTunes, then Show in Finder (from the File menu or right-click on song), then in the Finder play the song using Quick Look. Mine all play fine there. Apple should fix iTunes.

     

    Also, you can quickly find the point where iTunes skips in these files without playing them and watching for the moment. Just select the song, and from the File menu: Convert/Create AAC Version. It will write a new file and add it to iTunes. You'll see the end of the new AAC version is the spot where iTunes skips to the next song in the MP3 version.

     

    btw, those Convert ID3 Tags options in that same File/Convert menu will not fix this (see comments here by Abuckiew).

     

    I wish Apple would stop focusing on album art and get the basics right!

     

    They don't watch these forums much. So, in addition to logging in here and clicking the "I have this question too" button, add your Apple Feedback request (it's in the iTunes app menu). In my experience, I'm not convinced Apple pays attention to that either, but it's easy and might make you feel better;)

  • by Scott Paine,

    Scott Paine Scott Paine Sep 12, 2016 12:43 PM in response to richard grant
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 12, 2016 12:43 PM in response to richard grant

    I think it takes a LOT of feedback requests to get any attention from Apple, so it's important that everyone do it. So far that would make 5 for this forum topic (but that's better than none)

  • by Scott Paine,

    Scott Paine Scott Paine Sep 15, 2016 9:57 PM in response to Scott Paine
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 9:57 PM in response to Scott Paine

    Noticed that iTunes is skipping always at 1:45 ± 1 second. There are a lot of old threads about this, but no answers. Some guesses, mostly involving iTunes Match—but I don't use it, so… It's a clue, but Apple would have to read their forum…