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More => Old Versions => Media Center 16 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: Dennis Graves on November 10, 2011, 02:10:00 pm

Title: Stuttering playback
Post by: Dennis Graves on November 10, 2011, 02:10:00 pm
When I click on a piece in JRiver to begin playing, I sometimes get a stuttering or stacato playback; when I hit stop and restart, the problem goes away and the piece plays fine.  What is the problem and how do I correct it?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: JimH on November 10, 2011, 02:11:25 pm
You're probably hearing what's been left in the buffer of the sound device.  What are you playing to?  A USB DAC?

There are a couple of flush buffer options in MC's Audio settings.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: Dennis Graves on November 11, 2011, 11:38:37 am
Jim,
I am playing to a Berkeley Audio Design USB Converter (connected to a Dell laptop computer via a Wireworld Platinum USB cord), which feeds via a Stealth Audio XLR digital link to a Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC. 
The stuttering problem occurs most often when I start a new piece, but also will occasionally occur in the middle of a piece that has been playing fine. Stopping and restarting solves the problem, but obviously I don't want to have to go through that -- want to listen through an entire piece.

From your comment, it sounds like this is a buffering issue.
Under Tools, Options, Settings, I have Prebuffering set to 6 seconds (as recommended).  Should that be changed???

Under Audio Output, WASAPI Settings, I will try checking "Flush device buffers on startup" and "Flush device buffers on "pause".  Also, I will change the Buffering from 1 second to 3 seconds.  The instructions say that increases the time for cross-fades and smooth-seeks to kick in.  I don't know what "cross-fades" and "smooth-seeks" are, but I would guess they are irrelevant to the music I play, which is classical pieces with multiple movements. 
Thanks.
Dennis

Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: DarkPenguin on November 11, 2011, 11:43:26 am
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/JRiver-MC-skipping-during-playback

Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: JimH on November 11, 2011, 01:26:28 pm
There are a couple of Audio... topics are on our wiki that might help.  This, for example:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audio_Output_Modes

and one on DAC settings:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DAC_Settings

Check the mfr site to see if they have recommended settings.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: DarkPenguin on November 14, 2011, 08:21:13 pm
There are a couple of Audio... topics are on our wiki that might help.  This, for example:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audio_Output_Modes

and one on DAC settings:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DAC_Settings

Check the mfr site to see if they have recommended settings.

You can add HRT Music Streamer II to your list of "Known to work with" devices.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: bds3151 on November 15, 2011, 07:15:04 pm
I have the video/audio stutter on a wireless network and have tried all the options on the forum to no avail. It is definitely a MC bug as I have Power DVD10 and it works fine on the same computer/network/server without any issues. I have the latest MC17 version.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: pcstockton on November 15, 2011, 08:49:39 pm
cant say for sure but this sounds like a WASAPI issue to me.  Can you try ASIO?  Do you have a soundcard you can use to send music to the DAC with, i.e. bypass the USB/soundcard aspect of the DAC?  It is most likely one of the two.

-Patrick
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: bds3151 on November 18, 2011, 01:22:14 pm
I am using a usb DAC (Music Hall) with win 7. I tried ASIO and every other available selection. My Laptop also stutters with MC16 but Power DVD is clean.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: mark_h on November 19, 2011, 07:05:22 am
I also get it from time to time using Direct Sound to PC speakers.  Have to stop and restart the track.  Only usually happens when the PC is very busy and upon track change.  Playback is staccato and stuttery.

Playback is from memory.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback
Post by: bds3151 on November 23, 2011, 01:01:31 pm
I get it even when the CPU util. is low. Interesting that my laptop doesn't have the stutter, just the desktop.
Title: Re: Stuttering playback - Solved
Post by: bds3151 on December 09, 2011, 10:13:32 am
I fixed this by specifing to 60fps instead of 24 in video/display settings/film. JRiver was ok -my (Panasonic)TV was apparently not handling 24 FPS well and causing the stutter and lockups.