Problem with playing FLAC

Zbih · Mar 29, 2006, 11:32 AM

Hi
I've a little strange problem, which I can't consult myself.. When I'm listen music in flac format I hear statics(crackles,clicks).. I don't why, because in any other format this occurrence doesn't occure(mpc,mp3,ogg). It strange, because mpc sounds much better as flac

This effect is in winamp(in_flac1.1.1, in_flac1.1.2beta, in_flac1.1.2...in all kind of outputs) and foobar too. I've XP home(+the newest updates), an Audigy 2 with 2.09.0000driver(I've tried another too-older,mod a4) and Logitech Z-5400.

I've perfomed this:

Quote:

10: sOUND POPS AND CRACKLES:
There apears to be no true fix to this issue. The only thing you can do is try different methods of solving this problem.
Open up your volume controls and mute "Aux Volume" and "CD Audio" - these are your "CD-In" connectors. also physically remove the cables from and cd/dvd drive to sound card you can mute "Mic Volume" and "Line In" too.
Speakers power cable not pluged in the same power board as PC.
Lower your Master volume and Master Wav volume.
Ensure no other external devices ( Eg, Pre amps, Micro wave ovens, refridgeirators are using the same power outlet or are too close to your system.
NOTE: Back up your reg first!
Disable Turbo in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contr ol\Creative Tech\Emu10kx\DriverSettings\Wave\Pin#00000002" Set it to 0,

NOTE, Back up all your important DATA as this fix will do 1 of 2 things.
1: Work.
2: Require a reload of your OS.
Try at your OWN risk. Although Hardware will not be damaged in anyway.
Going through the IRQ lists, and looking through Device Manager, Is your Computer listed as Uniprocessor PC, change it to Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), the crackling and popping may be corrected.

but didn't help(but is little better).

In surround mizer all sources are mute

Has someone an advise??

**dj_stick** · Mar 29, 2006, 12:51 PM

is it all FLAC files, or that one file?

perhaps it's just a poor codec?

Zbih · Mar 29, 2006, 01:59 PM

this problem is with all flac files, downloaded from btmusic and dimeadozen

plugin is from: http://mikewren.com/page.php?2

what do you mind about poor codec?

is it maybe a special player for flac files?

Rogacz · Mar 29, 2006, 03:00 PM

Try it with foobar 2000

http://www.foobar2000.org/

Zbih · Mar 29, 2006, 03:23 PM

I've tried foobar

Quote:

his effect is in winamp(in_flac1.1.1, in_flac1.1.2beta, in_flac1.1.2...in all kind of outputs) and foobar too.

and is same

Rogacz · Mar 29, 2006, 07:32 PM

Sorry, haven't noticed.

Have you tried kX audio drivers? (subforum on this forum)

Zbih · Mar 29, 2006, 09:14 PM

no, because dvd-movies and games are for me importand too.

Rogacz · Mar 29, 2006, 09:25 PM

You can watch dvd movies with kX and play some games (just without EAX, but surround works).

Have you tried default Audigy 2 drivers after a fresh install (driver cleaner)?

Zbih · Mar 30, 2006, 12:27 AM

I'll try install default Audigy 2 drivers and when it doesn't work I'll try kX, but then can be problem with good setings for my speakers.
Is sound in kX spatial in the movies? I've heared that kX drivers are much more worst than creative's drivers to watch movies(dvd)

**dj_stick** · Mar 30, 2006, 12:32 AM

i've never tried CL drivers, but kX works perfectly for movies for me

Zbih · Mar 30, 2006, 11:18 AM

hmm..I've kX 3538j now and...sound isn't too much better for me.. I've tried cople of preset from here: http://my.kxproject.lugosoft.com/uploads.php but it isn't that, what I've expected..its things of minor importance..

flacs sound little better, now aren't so much crackles, but stil sound worse than mpc and I hear noise..and this is quite strange

edit:
sound is little muffled in flacs(Santana, Depesche Mode, Diana Krall etc.)..isn't so clean like cd-audio and mpc

**dj_stick** · Mar 30, 2006, 11:46 AM

as i suggested earlier, it could simply be a bad codec, or possibly incorrect encoding settings

Zbih · Mar 30, 2006, 12:11 PM

Now I'm testing different preset and setings in winamp and foobar..and trying to suppress these small noises, which are bit annoying.

Tipstaff · Mar 30, 2006, 12:34 PM

It could also be that the sound card's screwed. Does your motherboard have an onboard soundcard? If so, it might be worth while to try it out, and see if the same thing occurs.

Also, where is your sound card placed inside your machine? One thing to try is to move the sound card to another PCI slot. Preferably one further away from your CPU. As well, how many PCI cards do you have installed in your system? Is it possible to remove some for the time being in order to test whether they are causing interferance?

Last thing, and this is more of a test, go into Control Panel, Sounds and Audio, Volume tab, under Speaker Settings hit the Advanced button. Then, goto the Performance tab, and move the slider for Hardware Acceleration to the right 1 mark. This will force Windows to use Standard Acceleration rather than Full Acceleration.

Zbih · Mar 30, 2006, 02:17 PM

thanks Tipstaff for tips

card looks fine, because on the onboard soundcard is much worse(more noises and crackles).

Changing hardware acceleration does do nothing.

But when I've placed my sound card to another PCI slot(one further away from CPU), noises and crackles almost reced(not completely).

I've only one PCI card - ethernet(pentagram)

Rogacz · Mar 30, 2006, 03:46 PM

kX have better sound quality than CL drivers. I would like to see kX for X-Fi, because now I must stick to oryginal CL drivers.

Tipstaff · Mar 31, 2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zbih

thanks Tipstaff for tips

card looks fine, because on the onboard soundcard is much worse(more noises and crackles).

Changing hardware acceleration does do nothing.

But when I've placed my sound card to another PCI slot(one further away from CPU), noises and crackles almost reced(not completely).

I've only one PCI card - ethernet(pentagram)

Interesting. Do you have access to another power supply to try? Right now I'm following the idea that it might be hardware related, either due to a power supply that is essentially putting out "dirty" power (one that is unstable), and your motherboard is picking up that interferance, or that your motherboards power regulator or one of the capacitors might be damaged. If you've got time, take a look at the capacitors on your motherboard to see if any of them are bulging a bit on the top. The reason I'm thinking this is that if by moving your sound card further away from the power regulators (near your CPU) has helped, then what I've suggested makes sense to try.

First thing I would try, though, is a different power supply. Even if it's a friends one, or one from another computer it'd help you determine if that's the problem. If you don't have access to one you can bring your PC to a computer shop, and ask them to test a new powersupply on your system. Some will let you try the PSU without having to buy it, and if so, and it's still screwed up, then it won't cost you a thing.

Zbih · Apr 2, 2006, 08:18 PM

I've changed power suplay and...everything looks fine

thank you for advices Tipstaff

You have big beer from me

but I've unistalled kx, because I couldn't find good preset for me..I've creative's drivers now and it is pertect

thank you ones more

edit:
one more think...which plugin to winamp is the best for listening flac?

Zelig · Apr 2, 2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zbih

one more think...which plugin to winamp is the best for listening flac?

I just use the default winamp plugin with replaygain and dithering disabled.

Although I mostly just listen to FLACs of music in transition that I haven't organized yet. I'll burn off CDs of FLACs and make 192 kpbs oggs for normal listening.

Rogacz · Apr 5, 2006, 11:26 PM

Use foobar :P

Mar 29, 2006, 03:00 PM	#4
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	Try it with foobar 2000 http://www.foobar2000.org/ __________________

Mar 29, 2006, 07:32 PM	#6
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	Sorry, haven't noticed. Have you tried kX audio drivers? (subforum on this forum) __________________

Mar 29, 2006, 09:25 PM	#8
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	You can watch dvd movies with kX and play some games (just without EAX, but surround works). Have you tried default Audigy 2 drivers after a fresh install (driver cleaner)? __________________

Mar 30, 2006, 11:18 AM	#11
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	hmm..I've kX 3538j now and...sound isn't too much better for me.. I've tried cople of preset from here: http://my.kxproject.lugosoft.com/uploads.php but it isn't that, what I've expected..its things of minor importance.. flacs sound little better, now aren't so much crackles, but stil sound worse than mpc and I hear noise..and this is quite strange edit: sound is little muffled in flacs(Santana, Depesche Mode, Diana Krall etc.)..isn't so clean like cd-audio and mpc Last edited by Zbih; Mar 30, 2006 at 11:28 AM.

Mar 30, 2006, 12:34 PM	#14
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Toronto Posts: 5,693 Rep Power: 117 System Specs	It could also be that the sound card's screwed. Does your motherboard have an onboard soundcard? If so, it might be worth while to try it out, and see if the same thing occurs. Also, where is your sound card placed inside your machine? One thing to try is to move the sound card to another PCI slot. Preferably one further away from your CPU. As well, how many PCI cards do you have installed in your system? Is it possible to remove some for the time being in order to test whether they are causing interferance? Last thing, and this is more of a test, go into Control Panel, Sounds and Audio, Volume tab, under Speaker Settings hit the Advanced button. Then, goto the Performance tab, and move the slider for Hardware Acceleration to the right 1 mark. This will force Windows to use Standard Acceleration rather than Full Acceleration. __________________ >><<

Mar 29, 2006, 01:59 PM	#3
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	this problem is with all flac files, downloaded from btmusic and dimeadozen plugin is from: http://mikewren.com/page.php?2 what do you mind about poor codec? is it maybe a special player for flac files?

Mar 29, 2006, 09:14 PM	#7
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	no, because dvd-movies and games are for me importand too.

Mar 30, 2006, 12:27 AM	#9
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	I'll try install default Audigy 2 drivers and when it doesn't work I'll try kX, but then can be problem with good setings for my speakers. Is sound in kX spatial in the movies? I've heared that kX drivers are much more worst than creative's drivers to watch movies(dvd)

Mar 30, 2006, 12:11 PM	#13
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Now I'm testing different preset and setings in winamp and foobar..and trying to suppress these small noises, which are bit annoying.

Mar 30, 2006, 02:17 PM	#15
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	thanks Tipstaff for tips card looks fine, because on the onboard soundcard is much worse(more noises and crackles). Changing hardware acceleration does do nothing. But when I've placed my sound card to another PCI slot(one further away from CPU), noises and crackles almost reced(not completely). I've only one PCI card - ethernet(pentagram)

Mar 30, 2006, 03:46 PM	#16
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	kX have better sound quality than CL drivers. I would like to see kX for X-Fi, because now I must stick to oryginal CL drivers. __________________

Apr 2, 2006, 08:18 PM	#18
Zbih DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Poland Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	I've changed power suplay and...everything looks fine thank you for advices Tipstaff You have big beer from me but I've unistalled kx, because I couldn't find good preset for me..I've creative's drivers now and it is pertect thank you ones more edit: one more think...which plugin to winamp is the best for listening flac?

Apr 5, 2006, 11:26 PM	#20
Rogacz Porcupine Floyd Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 422 Rep Power: 0	Use foobar :P __________________