How to get rid of cracks and pops in music playback? (1 Viewer)

[putkonen]

TV-Server Version: MP1rc3
MediaPortal Version: MP1rc3
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3
Windows Version: XP Pro 2002 SP2
CPU Type: AMD X2 6000+
HDD: Samsung SATA 500 GB + Seagate SATA 1 TB
Memory: 2 GB DDR2
Motherboard: Asus M2N-VM DH
Video Card: ASUS EAH2400
Video Card Driver: 8.8
Sound Card: SoundMAX integrated
Sound Card AC3: coaxial out
Sound Card Driver: 5.10.1.6110
1. TV Card: Cinergy 1200 DVB-C
1. TV Card Type: DVB-C
1. TV Card Driver: 4.8.3.18
2. TV Card: Cinergy 1200 DVB-C
2. TV Card Type: DVB-C
2. TV Card Driver: 4.8.3.18
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPV
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPA
h.264 Video Codec: CoreAVC
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Antec Fusion V2
Cooling: Scythe Mini Ninja
Power Supply: Antec 430W
Remote: MCE Remote
TV: CRT + Panasonic PT-AX200 projector
TV - HTPC Connection: Sub-D + DVI

I have converted my whole CD collection to FLAC, but when I play back the files using MP I hear often - once every few seconds - cracks. FLAC files were extracted using EAC and they should be flawless.

What could be the cause for this?
I've installed ASIO4ALL and tried to enable ASIO, but didn't hear any difference.

FYI, my AV receiver is connected to mobo integrated Soundmax card using coax cable.

 

[putkonen]

I hear the cracking also with MP3 files. Anyone?

 

[Marvman]

Do you hear cracks, with other players?

 

[fabien44]

I have same issue but under Vista premium. My all files are in APE Monkey format.
When i was under XP no problem.
I had one clue, to disable ReadyBoost service in Vista, it improves but some cracks still remain.

 

[jameson_uk]

Sounds like you soundcard is possibly messing with the signal.

Try downloading the sample files mentioned https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...t-playback-dts5-1-dolby-digital-5-1-mp-44180/
and see if you are getting bitperfect sound

 

[putkonen]

It's very hard to say whether playback is "perfect", but at least with VLC player I hear significantly less cracks than with BASS player. I could not download the test files (both sites were down), but with movies AC3 is working fine with my AV receiver, and if there are cracks they are much more subtle and don't distract me.

With BASS there are especially loud cracks during the first few seconds of the playback.

 

[Seidelin]

Some systems have trouble coping with varying CPU load (other players may have more even cpu load, thereby hiding the problem better). For testing, try to set a CPU intensive activity to run in the background at idle priority (Mersenne Prime torture test is good for this). If you get flawless playback doing this, then its probably a nasty interaction between poor sound card and crappy PSU.

 

[putkonen]

That's an interesting point, however I think I found the issue. I wrote in the first message that I had tested with ASIO4ALL, and without it. Well, that at least what I thought.

In addition to the cracks, I strated to wonder, why the sound quality was bad. It sounded like a C-cassette with Dolby NR: the sound was heavily compressed. This was easily observed with older recordings where the level of hissing changed relatively to the volume of other sound.

I disabled ASIO4ALL from MP's settings (Music -> BASS player), result was that the sound was maybe 10 dB quieter, no compression, and based on a quick listening test (will listen more later) the cracks were gone.

Sorry for giving wrong information, I was convinced that I had tested also without ASIO4ALL. I still wonder how it damaged the sound so badly.

 

[tourettes]

Sorry for giving wrong information, I was convinced that I had tested also without ASIO4ALL. I still wonder how it damaged the sound so badly.

It could be the audio drivers that aren't working nicely with ASIO.