e1705--sound *pops* while listening to MP3s

While listening to MP3s off of an external drive (Maxtor OneTouch II) via USB 2.0 I hear distinct *pop* noises, sort of like hickups. My audio card option was the Creative Audigy (intergrated chip?) and I had the drivers installed when I got my e1705. As well I have the driver CD.

What is the cause of my problem?

 

Have you tried troubleshooting through creative's support site? I would try that while you are waiting for someone to maybe be able to help you here.

 

Try and move one of the MP3 to the hardrive and see if it still pop's.

 

Moved. *Clicking* persists still. Checked if my audio driver is up to date and it is: Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB, DR release 0.0.2011030318.

edit- This is as close to a solution as I found on Creative's site:

"Static, noise, humming, or other poor sound quality

* Remove all unnecessary hardware to free up resources
* Disable all unused on-board devices (e.g. onboard sound, serial ports)
* System Performance: Try a more moderate setting if your system is set up for maximum performance. (possible settings: "Turbo", "Optimal", "Normal", etc.)
* VGA Shared Memory Size: Try increasing this if you have an onboard graphics card
* AGP Aperture Size (MB): Set this to half the system's RAM or lower
* Peer Concurrency: Toggle this setting
* PCI 2.1 Support: PCI 2.1 must be enabled
* Spread Spectrum Control: Toggle this setting
* PCI Latency Timer: Try different values, starting with 32
* Memory Hole: Toggle this setting
* AGP Fast Writes: Enable this setting if your graphics card supports it
* PNP(Plug and Play) Aware OS: Try setting this to No
* Update the BIOS of your system, if none of the above steps solve the problem
* Try lowering the Hardware Acceleration of the Graphics Card:

Windows 9x:
Right-click on My Computer, choose Properties - Performance - Graphics (set down 1 notch, then restart the system; if necessary, repeat procedure)

Windows XP/2000:
Right-click on your desktop, choose Properties - Settings - Advanced - Troubleshoot (set down 1 notch, then restart the system; if necessary, repeat procedure

If you are using Windows 98 SE or later, you can disconnect the analog CD Audio cable connected from your CD-ROM drive or other drives to the sound card. You can also disconnect or mute the microphone"

I deduce that my machine may not have enough resources, RAM (1gb) or HD (5gb free), to perform playback smoothly especially since my sound is built-in. Could this be the cause?

 

try updating your sound card drivers... the SB audigy stuff is just software. If you are hearing a clicking noise, then it will most likely be your actual sound card problem

 

Where do I find the specific driver to update my onboard card?

I hear that the card is actually not of Creative's origin but that of the little-known SigMatel--in that case, where may I obtain the driver?

 

support.dell.com . Enter your service tag number or choose your system, and then press okay. Select your OS, and that will take you to the drivers & downloads website. You'll find the sound card driver under Audio Driver.

Yes, you are correct. SB Audigy is just software and SigMatel is your actual hardware.
SG

 

This is what I found:

SIGMATEL STAC 92XX C-Major HD Audio drive, located here: http://support.dell.com/support/dow...=1&vercnt=2&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=159808 And now I will restart my machine...

 

that is what you needed. Hopefully that will fix the problem. If it doesn't, then try listening to MP3's with out the SB on. Also, try using a different software.

 

Updated and restarted. There seem to be less clicks now, though I do hear them once in a while. It could have been the new software-drive, or the restart or the extra HD space I cleared. I think that since on-board components rely so much on RAM/HD and not on the dedicated RAM (which they lack), it is most sound to increase both to resolve the issue. This is the answer, I believe, not so much an updated driver ("R119989.exe") -- because when I first got my e1705 it played audio flawlessly!

 

Hey gd-student, I don't know if you have tried this but I was looking up stuff regarding this and it got me wondering: what are you using to play the mp3s and have you tried another program?

 

I normaly use IrfanView and have tried for the first time today, Creative MediaSource Player, that came as a bonus with my SoundBlaster audio driver software. I have VLC Media Player as well but have barey used it to listen to music. I'll try it now.

edit-Yes, VLC also produces those clicks. Perhaps my speakers are bad one way or another; or the machine may be low on resources?
edit--tried Windows Media Player 10; same old problem!
edit---perhaps my audio codecs are not up to date?

 

I honestly don't know. We've had complaints before about one processor being overloaded and the processess aren't spread out over the both processors, so you get a breaking up type of effect.

I don't think that is probably what you are talking about though.

 

Are you hearing this through both your speakers and headphone?

 

Both. There seems to be no difference in the volume and amount of clicks cominf from speakers vs headphones. Playing with Affinity seems to not work, SG.

Since I have MCE, I can try to play mp3s without loading the OS just to make sure the OS is not at fault here. This is what I wil do next...

 

It sounds like something is wrong with your soundcard chip.
Probably a defective unit.

 

I would say the problem lies with the buffer with whatever player you're using. If you can't adjust the playback buffer with your player you use to play your .mp3s, then find another that does. Try foobar2000 in my signature and see if mp3s still skip. If they do still skip during playback, increase the playback buffer in the output settings under playback. Also check your mp3s to make certain you didn't rip them incorrectly.

 

Let us not come to rash decidions just yet, dudesdudets. My unit worked perfectly when it came directly from the factory. Unless the chip partially melted from excess heat, then I am counting on some software issue.

I tried Foobar, even maxed out the buffer all the way up to 8000, to no avail. Clicks still permeate my mp3s.

However this is worth noting:

(1) When playing any mp3s off of my external HD in the MediaDirect (separate from MCE OS), I use the MediaDirect quick-button there are no clicks whatsoever--all audio is flawless!

(2) Some mp3s that came with my MCE2k5 OS (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\Sample Music) as well as those on external HD play without clicks from within the OS inside any all players.

(3) Is there a conclusive way to determine that the mp3s have not been properly ripped in case they are themselves the culprits?

 

You can use some audio editing softwares to find out if the mp3s have pops and clicks(which will be found on corrupted/broken files).

 

Could you direct me to a one that is freeware, if such exist? --and if in fact it the files are to blame, I would have resolved the matter. But, keep an MediaDirect not producing any clicks...hmm?

 

The only freeware I know is Audacity which can fix problems, but I'm not sure if it can show you.
It is pretty weird that it doesn't happen on Mediadirect mode though....

Not the same problem but I did have a problem with sigmatel audio so the driver might be the problem...

 

If you downloaded some of the songs, they can have crappy quality to them. Maybe even some faulty songs with pauses etc. IDK. Maybe more ram?

 

If Media Direct doesn't have the pops and clicks then its gotta be something wrong with the Windows XP audio drivers or your mp3 decoder.

 

That is what I am counting on. This is not a big problem for me right now but it is highly annoying when I am trying to enjoy flawless sounds of Mozart or Bach -- only a minor inconvinience, easily fixed (I hope) with a reformat I will soon perform. But if this is a hardware problem, if someone has some reason to so believe, please give your input as my warranty is only for 1 year. Thanks a bunch.

 

I noticed it to in my e1705....its only a minor thing but I understand how if your listening to classical music is can be annoying,,,,wait its annoying to me to if you find a cure to this problem please tell me I will greatly appreciate it.

 

One more thing to note, the clicks surface while playing Unread Tournament GOTY! Hmm, this seems to be some sort of a system-wide issue: perhaps DirectX is buggy? Since I do not really trust Dell tech support (for no real reason) I will not in possibility call them up about this, unless that is the only thing left to do.

 

Hi, I also have an E1705, in fact i am on my 2nd one due to an LCD issue with the first. Both had a sound popping/crackling issue at all volumes on both onboard speakers and headphones. The problem manifests itself while playing Battlefield 2 and Ghost Recon Advanced Warriors. World of Warcraft and a few other games work fine.

If anyonw knows how to fix this...please post it here. I have updated all drivers.

Jack

 

Hmm, maybe I shouldnt get the Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Adv HD Audio anymore.

 

i think its ur mp3 makin the noise. it could be inserted into the file itslef

 

Nonsense. This was not an issue with my other machines playing the same files and was not an issue at all when I just began using my new e1705. Somehow the problem started...question is how/why?

 

I don't think it is related to the Audigy software wrapper either, I don't have that option, I just have the straight sigmatel on board audio. I also tried turning off sound acceleration under dxdiag which has worked in the past for sound issues in some games. But that did not change anything either. I think I'll try the latest bios and see what happens.

Jack

 

Keep us posted on your progress in updating BIOS...in the case you will have solved this mystery.

update- I have just come out of a chat session w/ a Dell rep. This is what happened:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1:28:16 AM Devansh_01120931How may I help you today?
1:28:34 AM You I am having trouble with my laptop
1:28:58 AM Devansh_01120931As I understand you are having issues with your system.
1:29:08 AM Devansh_01120931I apologize for the inconvenience you have gone through. I will make sure that we resolve the issue as soon as possible to your satisfaction.
1:29:20 AM Devansh_01120931Could you briefly explain me the issue in order to assist you better?
1:29:32 AM You thank you.
1:29:39 AM You yes.
1:30:04 AM You shortly after I bought my laptop I began to experience a problem with my audio...
1:30:36 AM You the audio would POP and CLICK when listening to mp3's, watching movies, playing games.
1:30:59 AM You I have tried many different audio players yet the problem persists.
1:31:29 AM You however, when I play mp3's in MediaDirect, there is NO problem at all.
1:32:48 AM You I have tried to resolve the issue through a 3rd-party forum. you may view my thread here: forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?1:33:00 AM You <-- that's the link.
1:33:06 AM Devansh_01120931Since how long have you been facing this issue?
1:33:35 AM You a 1-2 weeks after I got my laptop.
1:34:42 AM Devansh_01120931Was any hardware or software changes made to your system when this started?
1:35:10 AM You I cannot remember...but I did install a lot of software, yes.
1:35:52 AM Devansh_01120931Have you performed any troubleshooting steps in order to resolve this issue?
1:36:16 AM You no hardware, just used my external hard disk and flash-drive with the system.
1:36:24 AM You yes I have.
1:36:55 AM Devansh_01120931Could you tell me what steps have you performed?
1:37:38 AM You i used 5-6 differeny audio/video players
1:38:20 AM You I tried MediaDirect--it had no problem playing cleanly
1:38:50 AM You I restored defaults in the 'Creative settings (audio card)
1:39:30 AM You even downloaded latest 'SigMatel' audio drivers from Dell.
1:39:38 AM You nothing worked.
1:39:40 AM Devansh_01120931Let us try a few trouble shooting steps in order to isolate the problem related to hardware part of your portable system.
1:39:56 AM You please.
1:40:06 AM Devansh_01120931We will have to check the Sound and Audio device properties.
1:40:07 AM You go on.
1:40:12 AM You ok.
1:40:23 AM Devansh_01120931Please go to Start - Settings - Control Panel.
1:40:30 AM Devansh_01120931Let me know once you open Control Panel.
1:41:05 AM You ok
1:41:11 AM Devansh_01120931In the Control Panel double click on Sound and Audio Devices and open it.
1:41:24 AM Devansh_01120931Let me know once you open Sound and Audio Device properties.
1:41:33 AM You ok
1:42:22 AM Devansh_01120931Please click on "Sounds" tab and tell me what do you see under Sound schemes.
1:43:14 AM You nothing is selected.
1:43:47 AM Devansh_01120931Click on it and select "No Sound" and click Apply - OK.
1:44:38 AM You ok
1:45:27 AM Devansh_01120931Close the Sound and Audio device properties Window and Control Panel and play some MP3 in any of the audio software and check if 1:46:55 AM You ok--it has not been fixed.
1:47:07 AM Devansh_01120931No problem.
1:47:31 AM Devansh_01120931Please allow me 2-3 minutes in order to work on this issue.
1:47:46 AM You of course.
1:52:34 AM Devansh_01120931Thank you for your patience.
1:52:59 AM You yes.
1:53:25 AM Devansh_01120931Are you chatting with me from the same system?
1:54:06 AM You yes
1:55:07 AM Devansh_01120931As you are on the same system, I will give you steps in order to check if you are having the same issue in the Safe Mode and also I will 1:56:13 AM You ok
1:56:20 AM Devansh_01120931Steps to restart the computer in safe mode :
1:56:23 AM Devansh_011209311. Shut the computer completely off.
1:56:29 AM Devansh_011209312. Restart the computer and start tapping "F8" at the dell logo.
1:56:32 AM Devansh_011209313. The computer will list a couple of options to boot into.
1:56:35 AM Devansh_011209314. Highlight "Safe Mode" and press Enter key.
https://chat2.us.dell.com/netagent/scripts/srvgate.dll?Action=9000&mod...
2 of 2 7/7/2006 2:12 AM
1:56:38 AM Devansh_011209315. Select Operating System on the next screen, if asked.
1:56:51 AM Devansh_011209316. Login as "Administrator" when prompted to you.
1:57:08 AM Devansh_01120931Once you get in to the Safe Mode of the Operating system, please check the sound.
1:58:04 AM You all right. and if the problem is resolved, what do I do then?
1:58:14 AM Devansh_01120931Here is the link to update the latest audio drivers:
1:58:28 AM System
Devansh_01120931 pushes page,
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...seid=R119989&SystemID=INS_PNT_P4_9400&1:58:54 AM Devansh_01120931You will have to download and install the driver from this link.
1:59:12 AM Devansh_01120931Once you install the driver you will have to restart the system in order the settings to take effect on your system.
2:00:17 AM You ok
2:00:21 AM Devansh_01120931Is there any other DELL hardware related issue that I may assist you with?
2:00:41 AM You no, but I have a question..
2:00:48 AM Devansh_01120931Sure, please ask me.
2:01:19 AM You what if the above advice fails to resolve my problem, what will I do then?
2:02:04 AM Devansh_01120931You will have to get back to us and we will surely resolve this issue. I would also suggest you to come online from a different system.
2:02:47 AM You I only have this system to go online.
2:02:54 AM You why another system/.
2:02:56 AM Devansh_01120931No problem.
2:02:58 AM You ?
2:03:16 AM Devansh_01120931In order to perform steps on your system.
2:03:31 AM You I see.
2:03:36 AM Devansh_01120931Is there any other DELL hardware related issue that I may assist you with?
2:03:56 AM You How will I find you if I would like to continue to solve the problem?
2:05:25 AM Devansh_01120931I will provide you a reference number you will have to provide it. Chats are globally routed, however, every one are well equipped to help 2:06:17 AM You how will I use the number to find you, or another rep. will assist just as well?
2:06:54 AM Devansh_01120931Yes, once you get connected to the Technician give him the reference number.
2:07:22 AM You all right. what is your number, please?
2:07:47 AM Devansh_01120931Are you satisfied with the level of support provided to you on this interaction?
2:08:06 AM You yes
2:09:26 AM Devansh_01120931Please stay online for 2-3 minutes while I generate the case number for our today's interaction. It would be of help to you for future assistance 2:09:54 AM You ok
2:11:07 AM Devansh_01120931Thank you for staying online. I have included your Case Number # 137806126 to reference our interaction today. Please keep this on file; 2:11:22 AM You ok
2:11:50 AM Devansh_01120931
Thank you for contacting DELL Technical Support and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. If you still feel that there are additional or Click on "Chat with Hardware Support" at the following web page and enter the Service Tag. We will be happy to assist you again. Have 2:12:28 AM You thank you.
2:13:22 AM Devansh_01120931Welcome, do take care.
2:13:33 AM You you too.
2:13:38 AM Devansh_01120931Sure, thank you.

 

Spoke to another rep. today again. Ran an OS diagnostic; OS shows all components functional. So far from what I have seen, this is a software issue; at this point I am attributing it to poor Creative SB ADVANCED software that came w/ e1705 ($20 extra). Nothing helps like I said, and the reps act like they are in control, fully aware of what's going on and how to fix it; nothing can be further from the truth let me tell you. Next I will attempt to fully uninstall this ADVANCED package...

 

Thats too bad. Will a reformat clean out the software? When I recieve my E1705 I plan on performing a reformat and that would be great if that will remove the software.

Justin.

 

what program are you using to play mp3s? For some reason I feel confident that it is the software playing the mp3s... if you use WMP, try winamp, or viceversa.

 

Yes it will, but if you had paid for it like me, this will put you between a rock and a hard place.

 

Read my previous posts. WMP makes clicks to a lesser extent, but does as well. So far I have tested only mp3's for clicks...perhaps it is poor encoding of the file. I really dont know; the whole issue is too confusing!

 

Uninstalled Creative's SourceMedia, or whatever it's called. This has had no effect on the situation. A solution is still in progress.

 

And you did try a commercial music CD for what ifs?

Interesting and yes, frustrating on your end. After reading you mentioned that sound was working fine when you first got your notebook. So, did you do the factory restore yet?

Since you did say you installed several pieces of software the odds are something got bent?

Good luck!

 

Good ideas! Before uninstalling SM one commercial audio disk popped via WMP. I'll try out your methods when I am ready to do a restore. Thanks!

 

update- there are no pops or any kind of destortions that I can detect with mp3's playing @ 320 kbps, even at FULL volume! I listened to 320 mp3's from different albums and all played equally well. What's can you tell me about this??

 

This is my last and final update. I believe I have fixed the *poping* issue by fully uninstalling Creative SB ADVANCED HD software and drivers. Well, there goes $20 down the drain for faulty audio codecs. Thanks Dell. ;(