iTunes 7 on Windows...lots of static?

[dparm]

Has anyone else with a Windows machine noticed that iTunes 7 just randomly starts playing back audio with a lot of static? This happens to me regardless of which sound card drivers I use. Sometimes a song will just randomly get garbled mid-playback.

If I pause, then hit play again it sounds fine.

[bgwinkel]

I've heard this from a lot of people, and poking around the net, it seems it's just a bug.

[dcv]

I too have seen the reports about this bug - if it's too annoying, I'd try reinstalling iTunes 6.0 (I have a copy if you need it) until Apple releases the fix (which I've read they've been working on pretty hard because of all of the reports - http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/bug-fixin-itunes-7-upgrade-on-the-way/).

EDIT: Here's a few potential fixes (via Digg):

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=643644&tstart=0
http://atheistrevolution.blogspot.com/2006/09/itunes-7-audio-distortion-partial-fix.html

[dparm]

I'd already tried those, Dane. Even with my Audigy 2 ZS Notebook set to the 44.1/16 settings, it still gets distorted. The onboard Sigmatel AC97 is the same. But thanks for the links, I'm sure there are others who may need it.

Me waits for update.....

[dparm]

Actually after setting it to "waveout" it seems to be a little better, but I think I'm losing all the nice sound-processing qualities that my Audigy provides.

[dcv]

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

iTunes 7.0.1 is released. Let us know if it fixes the static.

[dparm]

That stupid new "Apple Software Updater" doesn't even tell me that the new version is out. Pretty lame.

BTW I discovered that if you disable the iTunes toolbar the static doesn't occur.

[dparm]

7.0.1 fixes it. Thanks for the link, Dane.

[Unregistered]

Problem: When listening to music in iTunes you hear pops, skips, cracks or static.

Solution: You need to change your audio settings in QuickTime.

Some systems seem to have a problem with the QuickTime Music Synthesizer.

1. Run QuickTime

2. On the QuickTime menu bar - Click Edit -> Preferences -> QuickTime Preferences

3. In the QuickTime Preferences window - Click on the Audio tab

4. In the Music Synthesizer frame - change the Default Music Synthesizer to General MIDI

5. In the QuickTime Preferences window - Click on the Apply button

Done

[Audiofreq]

I have the latest version of iTunes, have tried all the suggestions yet still i have a constant static noise. Anyone got any fresh ideas?

[dparm]

Static is probably not from iTunes, but rather, from a faulty audio card driver or an actual bad piece of hardware.

[wrh]

All my MP3 works fine on all other media players, movies and youtube's audio are all fine. Only playback from iTunes has static. I have 7.2.0.34, with XP with all patches.

I'm pretty sure is neither the hardware nor the songs themselves.

[lorddarthpaul]

Here's how I know it's definitely iTunes...

Play in iTunes until you start hearing noise mixed with the (relatively) pristine sound of your music. Once that happens, if you have a Creative Audigy card, you can bring up their Speaker Settings control panel. Click on the "Channel" button. It will play/speak through the speakers: "Front Left", "Front Right", "Rear Right", "Rear Left" -- as I happen to have 4 channel surround. Notice that the speaking is full of crackling static. Now, leave the control panel up and quit iTunes. Click the "Channel" button again. Note that the sound is once again pristine after iTunes has quit. Run iTunes again and start it playing. It will be fine for a while, until "the problem" occurs again, which it ALWAYS does on some machines (mine happens to be a fairly plain Dell 8400). Stopping and starting playback does not fix this for me. I have to quit and restart the iTunes app.

[dparm]

Lately the iTunes/QuickTime package for Windows has just been disappointing. For a while, I was having problems with the QT plugin for Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape causing the browser to crash.

[Unregistered]

I'm running ITunes 8.1.1.10 on WIN XP SP3 and have the same problem with my audio output. My Quicktime settings are ok per the previous suggestions. Itunes loads and runs fine, but does not play any audio - just alot of static. Audio works just fine on every other app.

Has anyone ever solved this problem?

[jeffschu]

Have you tried turning off the equalizer?

[Unregistered]

I have noticed when my laptop is very hot, i get the static, i dont know if its a heat issue or something but if my laptop just turned on, then it is fine. But after a while of using it, then it just gets too hot and the static comes.

[Unregistered]

I was having a problem with static too which was extremely annoying!!!
My solution -
In itunes, open Edit > Preferences > General tab.
Click on import settings
Import using > AAC Encoder
Setting > High Quality (128 kbps)
and Check Mark : Use error correction when reading audio CDs

Then I re imported a previously faulty (static filled album) and it now plays clean.
Bon Chance Mes Ami