re: Audio is cracking and popping

Not an issue in old software but this new one is causing my audio playback to crack and pop. I have the most current drivers for my sound card. I really don't expect a solution for this but someone should really know about this issue.

How fast's your computer?  The new client appears to take up more processing power than the old one.

Its possible you might have too many programs running or your processor is being throttled.  You could try increasing the priority of Zune.exe (Task Manager -> Processes -> find zune.exe -> right click -> set priority -> Above Normal).  Try it at your own risk of course. Set it back to Normal priority if the rest of your computer starts acting too sluggish.

I have a dell xps m1210 laptop running a intel dual core (1.83)  with 1 gig ram and vista 32-bit home premium. I'll give it try though. Thanks!

I've got the same problem.  I have an xps m1330 with 2gb ram and T7300 processor.  I'm sorry, but if the new software needs more power than that, that's just foul.

The only other possible expanation I can imagine is that, as I look at my library, the software's still working in the background to update it, which might be eating up some resources (and will hopefully fix my other issue with the new software: whacked out library).

Hey! This worked for me! Thanks!

What priority did you have to set the process to?

I'm using the "Above Normal" setting. I had it higher but I could feel my processor heating up. But that has solved my cracking sound problem.

EDIT:

TURN OFF VIDEO ENHANCEMENTS! Problem Completely SOLVED!!!!

Had this same problem as well...

ZERO success in finding solution online, so I figured I'd come to Zune.net and contact Support, didn't realize there were forums here!

I have a pretty decent system:
Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz... 3GB RAM.

I knew this was most likely a Zune issue, because Windows Media Player was fine. Even updated audio drivers... naturally, no fix.

 

Disabling the Video Enhancements instantly solve my problem!

 

I had the same problem with the latest Zune software and never had an issue in the older Zune software.  At first I thought my tracks were bad rips that were skipping.  However, they would not skip on the Zune device nor in the Zune software when at lower volumes.  Then I thought maybe my computer was having a sound issue, and the sound was cutting out if I cranked the volume up too high.  However, I could play the same tracks in Winamp at high volume without issue.

Upon closer inspection, I could tell the audio was not simply cutting out.   The playback would actually pause for a fraction of a second intermittantly at certain volume settings.  It didn't happen at lower volumes, but the higher the volume got, the more frequently the playback would pause.  It didn't  matter if I raised the volume in the software or in Windows, the results would be the same.  Something else I noticed was that the software would become sluggish at higher volumes and just by turning the volume down I could get the software to start responding again.

Disabling the Video Enhancements nearly solved my problem.  Now my playback might pause once or twice during a song at max volume (whereas before it would be every 5 or 10 seconds) and if I turn the volume down slightly it won't pause at all.  However, the software is still sluggish at high volumes and won't respond to mouse clicks for several seconds unless I turn the volume down.

Here's the details on my computer in case it helps troubleshoot the issue for future releases of the Zune software.

Dell Inspiron E1505 laptop
Intel Core Due T2300 1.67 GHz
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Integrated video (Intel GMA 950; Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset Family)
Integrated audio
5400 RPM SATA HD
Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP1

 Diabolos wrote:

Disabling the Video Enhancements nearly solved my problem.  Now my playback might pause once or twice during a song at max volume (whereas before it would be every 5 or 10 seconds) and if I turn the volume down slightly it won't pause at all. 

I spoke too soon on my prior post... Same exact thing with me. It vastly improved it- but didn't fix it. Even tried changing the priority on Zune.exe to High. This is really something that needs to be fixed. If I use Zune as my MP3 player- why on earth do I want to use Windows Media Player or any other third-party tool to listen to music, when Zune should work?