Beginner's questions about audio problem

[BasilC]

With a view to using it for listening to Internet radio and playing MP3 and WAV files through my hi fi system, I deliberately bought a laptop computer which prided itself on its background quietness - an ASUS L3818C (Pentium 4 1.8GHz, 256KB RAM). It's certainly quiet and sounds good through the stereo system, but I've been running up against a persistent problem almost since day 1 - gaps in audio (for streaming audio, audio files on the computer and CDs). Sometimes the problem starts after an hour or so, sometimes immediately, often it can be cured by a reboot, but sometimes it occurs immediately after a reboot. My supplier and the manufacturer have no idea, but say it's probably a software problem and suggest reinstalling Windows XP. I'm not keen, especially since no-one can explain how to do a reinstall using a "recovery disk" rather than a proper installation disk.

Is this problem what I've seen referred to as "stutter"? Something similar happens with DVD video, the film hesitates for a second or so, then plays on.

From digging around on the Internet, I've got the impression that program priorities might need resetting. Anyone able to confirm this? Is WinTasks a suitable tool? But why should it be a problem on a brand new and powerful computer when few other programs are running? The problem happens even with the ADSL modem detached and the virus checker switched off.

All advice appreciated.

[DS_Sultan]

Do you have things like HD indexing turned on? Or auto insert notification? THese types of things (exspecialy the indexing service) will cause interuptions in hard drive performance, specialy geared towards audio streaming. Check that out and see what you come up with.

Good luck.

[BasilC]

I said I was a beginner! I'm afraid I don't know what hd indexing and auto insert notification are, let alone whether they're turned on or off. I'd be grateful if you could provide me with a brief guide for dummies.

[Pretty Pretty Cyanide]

I'm not to familiar with XP but try hitting Cntrl+Alt+del and see the list of things running in the background. Also check out the start up folder to see if there is anything you find unnecessary coming up.

And if you are not faint of heart you may even go into the windows service.msc. RUN SERVICES.MSC and really tweak what starts up with your OS and how.

You can take a quick read over of current start up services here http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm (this is also for 2000)

Or apply the patches found in the link 3 paragraphs below.

But before that I would suggest you take a look at all third party software installations or options for disable on boot up. And only you would know that 3rd party programs you have.

[Pretty Pretty Cyanide]

Originally posted by BasilC:
I said I was a beginner! I'm afraid I don't know what hd indexing and auto insert notification are, let alone whether they're turned on or off. I'd be grateful if you could provide me with a brief guide for dummies.

Well if that's the case might I suggest this
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764508938/103-5104587-3986264?vi=glance

[Pretty Pretty Cyanide]

http://www.winxpfix.com/basics-for-beginners-page4.htm

Or this.

If you are unfamiliar with auto insert a place like the link about would be great.

[Mr. Scott]

Try http://www.musicxp.net. At the tuning tips page do #8, 11,12 & 26.
If that doesn't work start with #1 and play with the others one by one.
Also the auto insert disable Sultan was speaking of is not an option in XP, only in 2000 & 98SE
The page has good advice for setting up a computer for optimal audio. If you're just playing and not recording you probably don't want to disable everything. (XP looks kinda dull with the visual effects off).

Hope that helps.

[trock]

All of the above suggestions are very good but another thing to check is what kind of soundcard did your laptop come with? Cheapo generic cards and bad drivers can cause all sorts of problems.

trock

[BasilC]

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

I shall start by using some of the tips on musicxp.net, though some of them don't seem to be available on my computer (eg No 8), while others are not really acceptable (or at least not until I become desperate - for instance, system restore is a big plus point for XP that I wouldn't want to lose).

So far I've changed the virtual memory, increasing the initial value to the maximum (it isn't clear from the tips whether you're supposed to increase the initial value or reduce the maximum, but I've gone for the first - is that right?)

I've also disabled the internet time update.

Since making these two changes I've been listening to MP3s and working on the Internet simultaneously for about 20 minutes, and the problem hasn't occurred. So I'm crossing my fingers, but it might just be a coincidence, since the problem has been intermittent (though becoming more frequent).

Incidentally, I'm rather mystified by Tip No 1. Why would I want more CPU time for background services? Are these involved in audio?

If the musicxp.net suggestions don't work, my plan is to download a program called WinTasks, which allows you to redistribute resource priorities between different processes.

Re the sound card, it's a Cirrus Crystal WDM Audio Codec (incidentally, what does "codec" mean?), but I'm actually playing audio through Total Recorder, which I use to record Internet radio.

Since I started writing this message, the problem has started occurring again. Oh well...any more advice?

[Mr. Scott]

Virtual memory settings are based on the amount of Ram in your computer for 256 I believe both settings should be 512 or even 256. Do a search on this forum, there's a lot of posts about virtual memory settings.

If you cannot get tip #8 up, you probbly have the intel application acceleration (IAA)software on your computer. Supposedly it sets the DMA or PIO assignment to your CD rom drive. Check your BIOS to make sure the CD rom is runnning in DMA mode and not PIO. I had this very problem, the CD was only in PIO mode and I couldn't changhe it, and when I uninstalled the IAA I could change it back and the skips disapeared.

Once again, hope that helps

[Mr. Scott]

P.S. ASIO drivers for recording software run in the background, that why you would use tip #1. Like I said, these tips are optimizations for a pro recording setup. If you just play CD's you probably don't need this.

[Bops2000]

like maybe the stream is sucky ?
Try another site just for giggles, like npr.
My 2 bytes
Bops