Community Newsletter: Q&A forum: 6/23/06 Playing CDs on PC is all snap, crackle, and pop!

I don't seem to be able to edit my message.
My last sentence should read:
I personally use a Plextor Premium and Pextools but you may find something which works well for less money.

I didn't read all the responces so someone has probably already addressed this...
You tend to get exactly the sounds you describe if the audio chain isn't set up right. I might mention the first and winning answer of using different software would likely fis this as differnet software programs do the inital set up different. One will likely work. However with simple tweaks any of shouldn't make this type of noiise.
What it sounds like to me you describe is clipping of the sound. You get this type of thing not only with computors but even your living room souround system if you use discreate compnants and set it wrong. For instance cable box set to control level to an amp. If the cable box output is set to high it "clips" the amp or preamp. The fix is you lower the cable box volume and raise the amp level. Or in some cases lower the preamp level.

With the computor if you have it use the mixer. On a lot of systems you use this by double clicking on the speaker icon in the sys tray. Typically set the CD audio or other device you have this issue with half way or lower. The set the Master volume level such that the sound is where you wish it. Set the device level too high you get clipping of the audio too low you loose parts of the sound. Getting this right is called "balancing the system."

When some bright light answers this with the typical "it is digital idoit you can't clip it" responce may or may not be true. Depending on how the codacs, A/D, or D/A software is set up. Most of the time unless it's state of the art, or everything came in a box togther and was set up perfect, you can clip it.

ROFL and I worked on one of the first EQs that had balanced inputs and outputs. Go figure I'd make that mistake. Oh wait they weren't just balanced but servo balanced.

And I spent many hours explaining the difference between transformer coupled and real balance lines.

I suppose I used the term balanced in this sense because of a sound setup class I went to and the teacher had called matching levels balancing the system. And I suppose it was before we had many real "balanced line" systems at that time we called transformer coupled "balanced" but compared to todays systems those weren't balanced especially not on the high end.

This just spotlights the fact that often what we call something depends on where we are. BTW I'd say balanced lines probably when speaking of wires.