1242: Poor sound quality (crackling and popping)

[gpzbc]

Has anyone else noticed a recent digression of sound quality? Since about the time that I installed beta 1242, I have been hearing a lot of crackling and popping. It gets pretty bad at times.
I haven't done any testing yet, but I thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone else has noticed it.

I am on Vista x64 SP1 with UAC turned off.
Dell XPS M1530; Intel Core2 Duo CPU T8300 2.40GHz; 4GB RAM; NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT;
I am running MM 3.1.0.1242 w/ MAD plug-in 0.15.1 beta and waveOut output v 2.0.2a

[pjjoe]

I notice it all the time when cpu usage is high, such as converting in the background or auto-analyzing volume. Thought my rips were bad, but then listened again and they were fine. Seems to be more noticeable with the EQ on as well as Playback volume leveling.

XP MCE SP3; AMD DUAL CORE 3800+; 2GB RAM

[gpzbc]

Well it seems it is most pronounced when my wireless card is on. It isn't interference with my speakers. I know what that sounds like because that is something I have fixed in the past. But is definitely linked to my wireless card. Hmmm.... I just installed a new Wireless N router in the other end of the house. I wonder if that is related?

[Teknojnky]

sounds like a dma conflict between soundcard and wireless card.

perhaps you should use the default input plugin and enable hardware acceleration on the Direct sound out.

[gpzbc]

I'm not sure that I can enable hardware acceleration on my vista machine. Would elevating the priority level within the MAD plugin help?

[Teknojnky]

I'm not sure that I can enable hardware acceleration on my vista machine.

worked fine for me

Would elevating the priority level within the MAD plugin help?

I would assume maybe so, but since you have the problem, only you can tell us.

[gpzbc]

Nah, elevating the priority didn't help and neither did switching to the default input plugin. I'll have to keep tinkering with it.

[rovingcowboy]

getting the program cleanmem from majorgeeks.com and using that to help clear out the ram that is being hogged by non running but still loaded programs might help by giving more ram for monkey to use.

if it is in fact caused by background processes

[Teknojnky]

If you are truly unable to enable direct sound acceleration, I would suspect you have bigger problems than MM itself. And its probably not background processes.

[gpzbc]

If you are truly unable to enable direct sound acceleration, I would suspect you have bigger problems than MM itself. And its probably not background processes.

I'm not knowledgeable on this matter, but I poked around on-line last night and my understanding is that sound acceleration is not possible in Vista. Am I mistaken?

[nohitter151]

If you are truly unable to enable direct sound acceleration, I would suspect you have bigger problems than MM itself. And its probably not background processes.

I'm not knowledgeable on this matter, but I poked around on-line last night and my understanding is that sound acceleration is not possible in Vista. Am I mistaken?

Its always worked for me in Vista.

[gpzbc]

Well, I have searched everywhere and I can't find how to do it in Vista. Would you mind telling me how I might enable sound acceleration?
I don't have the option to do so in my sound options.
thanks

[Teknojnky]

it is not in your windows options, its in the mm options.

tools > options > player > output plugins > mm direct sound output plugin > select primary sound driver > checkbox enable hardware accelleration

if that does not work, then you need to make sure you have most current audio drivers for whatever soundcard you have. use google to find them.

[gpzbc]

Thank you.
I enabled sound hardware acceleration and it didn't make any difference, unfortunately. It seems it is something to do with my wireless card using too much resources because I notice a few other things slow down when I am downloading files. My mouse gets sluggish, MM starts to crackle and pop, etc.

So the problem obviously isn't MM 1242 but rather something else.

[rovingcowboy]

background processes are eatting up ram. it seems the wireless uses more resources then it use to.

go get that cleanmem program. and also get this one. priority static it will allow you to set the priority for processes to what you want them at. just be careful with the window's ones because they mostly don't like messed with. but you can speed up your mouse to real time if you can find your mouse's exe

don't get other priority program cause as far as i can find this one is the only one that remembers the settings you took so long to adjust.

once you get it installed left click on the icon for it in the system try and then in the panel right click on the process you want to adjust the priority for then you can see what needs done from there.

always run your mouse in real time if you can. so you never lose control unless your system is really bogged down.