Strange Sound problems

Urad · 25th June 2002, 22:08

Hi people,

two of my PCs currently have the same sound problem, although they have different OSes (WinXP and Win98) and totally different hardware.

That's why I suppose that some software which I installed in the past has messed my sound output up. (I don't have any "suspects" because I installed quite a few programs in the last couple of weeks)

What happens is this:
The sound output of ANY program (not only winamp) normally works fine, and then after an inconstant period of time, the audio output starts to crackle (as if my PC was not fast enough...). But only 5% of the CPU are used...
Then it works normal for a period of time again, and then...

BTW: I ran a virus scan: No virus
and I reinstalled the sound card drivers and winamp: Useless, problem persists.

What couls this be? Any suggestions on how to fix it?
Anything besides sound card drivers and the audio software I could try to reinstall?

Thanks in advance,

Peter

P.S. Those PCs really have nothing in common (OK they're both AMD - but that's it). One has an onboard soundcard, the other one a PCI (montego II)

deadrabbit · 25th June 2002, 23:07

get an exorcist

dylman · 25th June 2002, 23:17

Installl the official update plugin here.

Try switching output plugins (ctrl-P -> Output and then either Directsound or waveout, try both)

Apart from that, I would suggest updating DirectX but XP has the latest version anyway... I have to concur with deadrabbit. if none of the above work, call a priest

edit: Does it happen when the hard disc is being accessed? there could be hardware conflicts happening. Look for IRQ conflicts in Device Manager. I'd be more lucid but it's past my bedtime. Good luck...

binary hero · 26th June 2002, 10:41

It could be a RAM problem, how much do you have in each?

cmisker · 26th June 2002, 11:20

Well, mmm, think about it, if there are 2 different computers causing this... are they in the same house? Maybe you have static interference (sp) or something?? I mean, if you have it on 2 different computers and you have changed your drivers and all, shouldn't you look for a cause outside your computer? Just wondering...

Urad · 26th June 2002, 13:27

Thanks for your suggestions,

I installed the update dylman suggested and tried all output
plugins - I still have the problem...

I doubt an IRQ-conflict - it's sharing IRQ 11 with the RAID controller, but there have been no problems in the past. But if all else fails I'll try to plug the soundcard into another PCI slot...

My guess is that the problem is introduced AFTER it leaves the winamp output plugins because
* it also happens in other apps / games
* There is no crackle when I send a live stream to a
shoutcast server

It could be a RAM issue since I added 512MB DDR-Ram two weeks ago... XP now has 768Megs;
but I've not changed any RAM (512MB SDRAM) in the Win98 PC - nevertheless I'll try adjusting the BIOS RAM parameters to a slower setting or even remove the 512MB I added to the WinXP computer...

I think cmister has also made a good point...
And yes, two and a half weeks ago a small university radio station started sending from a rooftop 100m away. But their studio is in our student home and they have no problems with their PCs... (at least not with their sound output *hehe* :-)
My PCs are standing about 15m away - BUT they are connected over a LAN... Maybe the LAN works as an antenna and introduces distortions...
I'll try to pull out the ftp cable and see if this solves the problem...

Thanks again,

Peter

cmisker · 26th June 2002, 15:04

I hope it'll work for ya!

Urad · 26th June 2002, 15:22

I tried everything,

took the ftp cable out, changed all BIOS settings to slowest,
took out the soundcard and used the onboard sound, played with the plugins again (e.g. made it prebuffer the whole song in RAM) deactivated all other programs and non-system-critical services, took out the 512MB RAM I added two weeks ago and even asked this radio station to stop sending for half a minute...

Nothing worked! aaaaaaaarrrrrgggggggghh

Is the exorcist the only option? Does anybody have other suggestions?

Otherwise I'll reinstall WinXP...
This will take a lot of time because I have to save all the data and reinstall lots of programs...

There must be some solution...
I think the delay (crackle) is introduced by some software which comes after the winamp output-plugin...

The problem really sounds like on a very slow CPU; but the problem also occurs if the idle process has 95% CPU time...

cmisker · 26th June 2002, 15:24

Well, you said you have the problem with other programs too, so it's not Winamp causing it...

What you could do, is remove your soundcard from your system, restart Windows, shut down your computer again and put your soundcard back in.. Windows will then reinstall it..

Urad · 26th June 2002, 15:31

>Well, you said you have the problem with other programs too,
>so it's not Winamp causing it...

I agree...

>What you could do, is remove your soundcard from your
>system, restart Windows, shut down your computer again and
>put your soundcard back in.. Windows will then reinstall it.

I did that already ...

But thanks again for all your suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Vie · 26th June 2002, 16:32

Speeker problem perhapse?

Urad · 26th June 2002, 20:40

> Speeker problem perhapse?

No, definitely not.

But I'm surprised and thankful how you guys are thinking about every possibility...

But before I take too much of your time, I'll just reinstall Windoze...

The problem is just too

saintchopin · 6th July 2002, 04:13

I have weird sounds too. I think it has to do with the sound card and transfer message errors or distortion in the computer

Nofx Guy · 6th July 2002, 04:54

Quote:

Originally posted by deadrabbit
get an exorcist

you mean exor.sys ??

25th June 2002, 22:08	#1
Urad Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 19	Strange Sound problems Hi people, two of my PCs currently have the same sound problem, although they have different OSes (WinXP and Win98) and totally different hardware. That's why I suppose that some software which I installed in the past has messed my sound output up. (I don't have any "suspects" because I installed quite a few programs in the last couple of weeks) What happens is this: The sound output of ANY program (not only winamp) normally works fine, and then after an inconstant period of time, the audio output starts to crackle (as if my PC was not fast enough...). But only 5% of the CPU are used... Then it works normal for a period of time again, and then... BTW: I ran a virus scan: No virus and I reinstalled the sound card drivers and winamp: Useless, problem persists. What couls this be? Any suggestions on how to fix it? Anything besides sound card drivers and the audio software I could try to reinstall? Thanks in advance, Peter P.S. Those PCs really have nothing in common (OK they're both AMD - but that's it). One has an onboard soundcard, the other one a PCI (montego II)

25th June 2002, 23:17	#3
dylman Forum King Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Hawarden Posts: 2,115	Installl the official update plugin here. Try switching output plugins (ctrl-P -> Output and then either Directsound or waveout, try both) Apart from that, I would suggest updating DirectX but XP has the latest version anyway... I have to concur with deadrabbit. if none of the above work, call a priest edit: Does it happen when the hard disc is being accessed? there could be hardware conflicts happening. Look for IRQ conflicts in Device Manager. I'd be more lucid but it's past my bedtime. Good luck... There's no need to tell me when I'm right; I operate on that principle exclusively and with absolute certainty

26th June 2002, 11:20	#5
cmisker Major Dude Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Emmen, The Netherlands Posts: 681	Well, mmm, think about it, if there are 2 different computers causing this... are they in the same house? Maybe you have static interference (sp) or something?? I mean, if you have it on 2 different computers and you have changed your drivers and all, shouldn't you look for a cause outside your computer? Just wondering... Wanna see my Winamp 3?

26th June 2002, 15:04	#7
cmisker Major Dude Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Emmen, The Netherlands Posts: 681	I hope it'll work for ya! Wanna see my Winamp 3?

26th June 2002, 15:22	#8
Urad Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 19	Holy shit! I tried everything, took the ftp cable out, changed all BIOS settings to slowest, took out the soundcard and used the onboard sound, played with the plugins again (e.g. made it prebuffer the whole song in RAM) deactivated all other programs and non-system-critical services, took out the 512MB RAM I added two weeks ago and even asked this radio station to stop sending for half a minute... Nothing worked! aaaaaaaarrrrrgggggggghh Is the exorcist the only option? Does anybody have other suggestions? Otherwise I'll reinstall WinXP... This will take a lot of time because I have to save all the data and reinstall lots of programs... There must be some solution... I think the delay (crackle) is introduced by some software which comes after the winamp output-plugin... The problem really sounds like on a very slow CPU; but the problem also occurs if the idle process has 95% CPU time...

25th June 2002, 23:07	#2
deadrabbit Major Dude Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: VT, US Posts: 612	get an exorcist

26th June 2002, 10:41	#4
binary hero Banned Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,004	It could be a RAM problem, how much do you have in each?

26th June 2002, 13:27	#6
Urad Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 19	Thanks for your suggestions, I installed the update dylman suggested and tried all output plugins - I still have the problem... I doubt an IRQ-conflict - it's sharing IRQ 11 with the RAID controller, but there have been no problems in the past. But if all else fails I'll try to plug the soundcard into another PCI slot... My guess is that the problem is introduced AFTER it leaves the winamp output plugins because * it also happens in other apps / games * There is no crackle when I send a live stream to a shoutcast server It could be a RAM issue since I added 512MB DDR-Ram two weeks ago... XP now has 768Megs; but I've not changed any RAM (512MB SDRAM) in the Win98 PC - nevertheless I'll try adjusting the BIOS RAM parameters to a slower setting or even remove the 512MB I added to the WinXP computer... I think cmister has also made a good point... And yes, two and a half weeks ago a small university radio station started sending from a rooftop 100m away. But their studio is in our student home and they have no problems with their PCs... (at least not with their sound output hehe :-) My PCs are standing about 15m away - BUT they are connected over a LAN... Maybe the LAN works as an antenna and introduces distortions... I'll try to pull out the ftp cable and see if this solves the problem... Thanks again, Peter

26th June 2002, 15:24	#9
cmisker Major Dude Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Emmen, The Netherlands Posts: 681	Well, you said you have the problem with other programs too, so it's not Winamp causing it... What you could do, is remove your soundcard from your system, restart Windows, shut down your computer again and put your soundcard back in.. Windows will then reinstall it.. Wanna see my Winamp 3?

26th June 2002, 15:31	#10
Urad Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 19	>Well, you said you have the problem with other programs too, >so it's not Winamp causing it... I agree... >What you could do, is remove your soundcard from your >system, restart Windows, shut down your computer again and >put your soundcard back in.. Windows will then reinstall it. I did that already ... But thanks again for all your suggestions, I really appreciate it.

26th June 2002, 16:32	#11
Vie Forum King Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Thoron fields and Duranium shadows. Posts: Crap mostly Posts: 8,003	Speeker problem perhapse? Member most in need of SpellCheck Lifetime Achievement Award I'm a Twitch Streamer these days, it's weird.

26th June 2002, 20:40	#12
Urad Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 19	> Speeker problem perhapse? No, definitely not. But I'm surprised and thankful how you guys are thinking about every possibility... But before I take too much of your time, I'll just reinstall Windoze... The problem is just too

6th July 2002, 04:13	#13
saintchopin Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1	me too, weird sounds I have weird sounds too. I think it has to do with the sound card and transfer message errors or distortion in the computer

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