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[m1abrams]

Ok I tested this a couple of times now.  This is my procedure.
1.  In iTunes restore the ipod to make sure it is as clean as the factory
2.  Tell itunes NOT to launch when ipod connected.
3.  Sync iPod with MC
My music is FLAC formated and I convert it to mp3.

On top of the fact that over half of my cover art images are not loaded on the ipod (think this is already being worked on), I get stuttering during playback.  This does not happen if I load the same music with iTunes.  By same I mean the same converted mp3s that MC creates.

I also noticed that the stutter is more frequent if I load a larger library.

When searching for a cause to this I came across this page. http://yuo.be/wiki/dop:dop

I added lots of artwork to my iPod and now my iPod stutters when playing music

This seems to be caused by fragmentation of the artwork .ithmb files. You can defragment your iPod to resolve this, but do not leave the defragmentation process running for an extended period of time as this will put undue stress on your iPod. Note: Apple does not recommend defragmenting your iPod. In the future, using the latest version of foo_dop and sending several files to your iPod in a single pass (i.e. not a single or few files at a time) will help avoid heavy fragmentation of the .ithmb files.

I am wondering if the way MC is loading the coverart is causing excess fragmentation.  The stutter also is not reproducible in the same location of the music file which tells me the issue is during playback and not with the mp3 file.

[JimH]

Maybe the bitrate of the MP3 files is too high for the iPod to keep up. 

Maybe the files are not converted correctly.

Are you playing on the iPod?  Or using MC with the iPod connected.

Which iPod?

[m1abrams]

160GB Classic
Playing on the ipod.  I am syncing the EXACT same files using iTunes and do not get this bug.

[JimH]

What bitrate are the MP3 files?  Cover art?

[m1abrams]

using MC convert tool set to extreme, which is probably 320.  I used caching to be able to try and load the files from itunes.

However I am pretty sure this issue is NOT bitrate related since the exact same files sync'd via iTunes does not have any issues on the iPod.  It is only when the files are sync'd with MC.

not sure what you are asking for with the coverart?

However I am using cover art and again the same cover art is used with iTunes and with MC.

[SwellGuy]

m1abrams,

Here's a couple of things to try...

- Try playing the converted files in the handheld conversion cache directory with MC and see if they stutter.
- Try playing the files on the iPod with MC and see if they stutter.
- We have seen similar problems with iPod's when their drives become extremely fragemented, try defragmenting the drive on the iPod, re-sync.

Rick

[m1abrams]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try them this evening when I get home.  I have not played the cached music directly in MC so will try that, however since I have synced the cached music using iTunes and do not get stutter on the ipod then I think the converted file is fine.

As for fragmentation, that is what I think is happening.  However I am doing an ipod restore before sync which should negate the need to defrag the drive.

[lalittle]

using MC convert tool set to extreme, which is probably 320.

The extreme setting uses an average of 245 kbps and a maximum of 320 (I believe that 320 is actually the maximum bitrate that the LAME encoder can encode at.)  The iPod can play back mp3's at the full 320 kbps, so this is within spec.  I use VBR Extreme with MC and playback is fine on my iPod.  Also, the fact that the same files play when synced with iTunes appears to indicate that this is not a bitrate related issue.

Please let us know what your tests show.

Larry

[m1abrams]

Played the cached mp3s through MC, iTunes and foobar.  No stuttering they played fine.

[Matt]

Since the file is fine, the iPod firmware itself is having a problem.

MC tries to put files on the iPod in the most efficient way with regards to fragmentation possible, and this isn't something we've heard commonly.

However, as a test try a defrag of the iPod.  If it helps, we can dig deeper.

Thanks.

[m1abrams]

Well after some very frustrating work this weekend, I discovered that the machine that handles my ipod music has been having issues all around.  I was playing the files back from a different machine, but sync on this "problem" machine.  So the problem most likely is with it.

Northbridge heatsink fan failed sometime last week, and this weekend the machine became extremely unstable and is when I discovered the faulty fan.  Hopefully this evening I will be able to replace the heatsink/fan and the machine will be back up.

Thank you for looking into the problem however after discovering the issue with this machine it is best to assume the issue lies there.

[JimH]

Thanks for reporting what you found.