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[dasmodul]

This is has been driving me insane. Quick synopsis of history.

- 2 Years ago i ripped my collection of 1500 cds with EAC into FLAC format for archive. All files worked without error.
- 1 year ago I used a program, to help semi-automatically tag them. Afterwards ~30-40% of ALL tracks had audio glitches in them (sounded like a skip or actually another part of the song briefly injected into the first 2 minutes of the track). This sadly has led me for the last 8 months to have to listen to at least 2 minutes of all 1500 CDs and re-rip the ones that had glitches.
- As I re-ripped the audio cds above with EAC again, i was also adding cover art with Media Center 16.
- 4 Days ago i purchased a random new FLAC file online. Added cover art to file with MC, played through 6 times and it worked perfectly. Last night i tried to play it and it skipped. I tried playing it in multiple apps..same deal. In frist 2 minutes multiple skips. I opened the file in SoundForge and saw that were the glitches were the file itself has actually been altered!!! There is a micro seconnd silence gap where it skips.
- One thing i noticed this issue ONLY happens with FLAC files. None of my MP3 or OGG files have ever had this happen to them.

I'm so afraid now that all the cds i've tracked might have this happen to them. I don't know what to do. I cannot imagine what is causing this. It seems that somehow MC is altering the files. If anybody has any ideas please share

General System Info:
Quad Core Intel
Windows 7 x64
8GB Ram
M-Audio Delta AP 192 sound card
MC Output - WASPI Event Style
FLAC/MP3 Music Archive device = USB 3 Western Digital external drive.

[mbagge]

There must be some 'program' running on your computer that 'eats' bites of your music. I have never ever heard of MC doing that.
You can use a utility from Microsoft called 'Process Monitor' to see which processes opens specific files. You can find it at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645

[JimH]

Or a Disk or memory problem.

[dasmodul]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll try that monitor but i'm not sure when it's actually altering the files. When I'm playing them or while they're idle. I actually thought of a disk problem with that HD :-/.  I guess it can't hurt to buy another hd and see if it makes it better.

[rjm]

might be wise to slow down and check a few basic things first...

- run dskchk on drive to check for drive errors - if errors then you have pretty good idea that drive is at fault

- what is last modified date on flac you bought 4 days ago and played correctly 6 times? Is this date newer than the last time you edited the file with MC? if yes, then some other app on your system is at fault.

[Vocalpoint]

I'm so afraid now that all the cds i've tracked might have this happen to them. I don't know what to do. I cannot imagine what is causing this. It seems that somehow MC is altering the files. If anybody has any ideas please share

I had the same happen to me last summer. Cause remains unknown - but I lost about 750 flac files to a sudden onset of audio glitches. Couple things I can recommend:

1. Search Audiochecker via Google. This little utility lets you check the structure and container of every FLAC file input for consistency. Invaluable for this type of error. Plus you can have it run 2 or 3000 files at a time...better than having to listen to the first 2 minutes of every track.

2. I have had major issues with MC not reading FLAC files after using third party tools for adjust cover art duties. I used to use Tag N Rename exclusively for tagging for years - but found that in certain instances (cause unknown) when altering the cover art for specific FLAC files in Tag N Rename - these files suddenly could not be read by MC. So I stopped using Tag N Rename and now just use MC for all cover art duties.

After last summers debacle - I had to re-rip/restore my 750 tracks and completely revise my library workflow and archiving processes. I now use Audiochecker after every rip, every import and prior to every backup to ensure I have pure file consistency.

Finally - if you do not have three copies of your entire FLAC library - you are leaving yourself open to major problems. My revised process now has a play copy (server) and two archive copies (Archive copy 1 onsite and archive copy 2 offsite). Obviously ensure you enlist AudioChecker before any backups

Cheers!

VP