Itunes Music Skipping - Comments Page 2

I have a high end machine (dual core) and a high end audio card (Sound Blaster X-Fi), and iTunes 7 has started skipping, where 6 would not. Note that this kind of skipping is skipping FORWARD -- and if I rewind the song, it will not skip in the same place. This sounds like a bug in the playback engine for iTunes, to me. Perhaps using the Process Manager to lock iTunes to one CPU will help?

Again: note that this problem is NOT the stuttering where it re-plays the same piece of sound many times; that kind of stuttering is typical of overworked computers, too little RAM, etc.

Some systems seem to have a problem with the QuickTime Music Synthesizer. Solution: You need to change your audio settings in QuickTime.

On the QuickTime menu bar - Click Edit -> Preferences -> QuickTime Preferences, then the Audio tab. In the Music Synthesizer frame - change the Default Music Synthesizer to General MIDI, then click Apply.

I have skipping similar to Jon in that in DirectShow-based applications I'll get skip-forwards just as he described. I'd already discovered, among other things, that setting the processor affinity for the application to CPU 0 solves the problem. I have an Intel Core 2 Duo - I've tried a Pentium D 805 and several different motherboards of different chipsets, all with the same problem with my X-Fi XtremeGamer and my Audigy 2 ZS.

But back to iTunes. I don't believe I have the skipping forward problems in iTunes itself, but I do have skipping. It seems to randomly at the beginning of songs, but so far I can't seem to make it occur when setting iTunes' processor affinity to CPU 0.

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is to blame in all of this, but it's looking like Creative's drivers in my case, as the problem doesn't happen with onboard sound or with the kX Project drivers.

Fixed! I had skipping with with 7.7.0.34 and perfect playback with Windows Media Player. I tried all the solutions found on the web (Quicktime Prefs, waiting for gapless processing to complete etc, etc) but fixed the problem by running the Soundmax control panel for my onboard audio drivers. It put up an alert that told me that it wasn't being used to control audio. Some other software had taken control - it could have been the drivers that I got when updating my CD-ROM to a DVD drive - I really don't know. The control panel returned control to the Soundmax drivers and the problem is fixed...

I recently installed a new harddrive, and experienced the skipping problem. I think its because I have the .itl file on one harddrive and the library on the other, sound similar to anyone?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You could try moving the ITL file.

None of the suggestions worked for me. Tried QT control panel in all configurations. Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, etc.

This editor doesn't know what he's talking about. All this happens on both Macs and PCs and regardless of system configuration, what else is running, version of iTunes, etc. etc. iTunes files go south and just stop playing to the end at some point. No one can explain how or why. Back your music and restore files that get corrupted like this. Better yet, don't buy from iTunes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: So you're saying that iTunes randomly corrupts files on ALL systems, and it's only a matter of time before it gobbles up your music? Sorry, I don't buy it. Many people have used the tips here and eliminated the skipping without making any changes to the music source files.

The problem is caused by "C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe" and Apple Mobile Device. Both have high mem usage, and always open with itunes (atleast for me). Solution: "Control Panel", "Administrative tools", "Services" and disable them. Failing that, you can kill them manually using CTRL + ALT + DEL.

Getting rid of the 'QuickTime Music Synthesizer' pref worked for me, thank you.

I am playing music on my laptop computer. I use the winamp program to play this music. I am using and external hard drive for the music. It seems everytime I play the music it starts to skip. I checked for virus,there were none. I defraged my external hard drive. Is there a solution???? I appreciate any help you might be able to give..

EDITOR'S NOTE: You might be using an older (slower) USB 1.0 connection. If so, check to see if you can upgrade to USB 2.0.