Problem #523: Sounds play too fast
Posted May 29th, 2008 at 23:37 by polobunny
Problem #523: Sounds play too fast.
Let me start by explaining the problem.
Since I re-installed Windows XP, every once in a while my sound would play as if it were sped up two times. To get an idea, imagine every of your mp3 or movies... Chipmunk version.
Sure, the first time and even the second time it's hilarious. But after a while, it gets down right annoying.
At first I believed it was the new Creative X-Fi drivers. I switched to older ones (ones I knew worked mighty fine, since I was using those before formatting) and lo' and behold... the problem was still there although occurred less. Not to diss Creative, but the softies working for them could clearly learn a bit from certain users surfing the web. *cough*
After scratching my head in disbelief, I searched for another potential cause to this. I ventured on the codec side of things, first blaming FFDSHOW decoding (FFDSHOW comes with my favorite codec package, CCCP) kicking in when firing up a movie. However, FFDSHOW wasn't decoding anything when playing games (because the issue sometimes popped when music was playing in games FMVs) or when using Winamp to play music. I disabled it for the sake of testing, and the problem was still there.
Back to Creative X-Fi drivers. I eventually found out that switching to "gaming mode" instead of "entertainment mode" gave even less problems. I felt really close to the goal, although in reality I was far.
Why it gave less problems? I can only wonder.
Something told me it had something to do with DirectShow, because when using a WaveOut method in Winamp, the problem would never occur. Another clue that gave it away was if I lowered the hardware acceleration level to None in sound properties I wouldn't experience the problem. But DirectShow files were fine, or so said the M$ utility dxdiag. Hmm...
To be honest, I was lost. I thought of re-installing drivers, but didn't believe it would fix it. I thought of using a different version of the Creative X-Fi applications, but I wouldn't see why this would be causing a problem. I uninstalled my HVR-1800 drivers (driver conflict maybe?) and manually cleaned the .inf files and driver files that were called, but that didn't help either.
Still with the idea it was a DirectShow issue though.
So we have:
DirectShow issue
No DirectShow file seems broken
Not driver related
No driver conflict
When disabling hardware acceleration everything is fine, except when doing that you also lose many nice features of the X-Fi chip
And then I had a flash...
AC3Filter
I remembered AC3Filter was installed when I wanted to test optical more in-depth than last time. I knew AC3Filter didn't necessarily gave a sign when it was being used (no icon in the taskbar, no process in task manager since it's a DirectShow filter).
Add/Remove Programs > AC3Filter. OK my way out of it.
Test a few times using Winamp. A few times using videos. A game. All of them at the same time. Entertainment mode, Game mode.
Finally.
Problem #523 partially resolved. AC3Filter is the official culprit. Why? I'll check that later. For now, I will enjoy by Chipmunkless audio. :)
Let me start by explaining the problem.
Since I re-installed Windows XP, every once in a while my sound would play as if it were sped up two times. To get an idea, imagine every of your mp3 or movies... Chipmunk version.
Sure, the first time and even the second time it's hilarious. But after a while, it gets down right annoying.
At first I believed it was the new Creative X-Fi drivers. I switched to older ones (ones I knew worked mighty fine, since I was using those before formatting) and lo' and behold... the problem was still there although occurred less. Not to diss Creative, but the softies working for them could clearly learn a bit from certain users surfing the web. *cough*
After scratching my head in disbelief, I searched for another potential cause to this. I ventured on the codec side of things, first blaming FFDSHOW decoding (FFDSHOW comes with my favorite codec package, CCCP) kicking in when firing up a movie. However, FFDSHOW wasn't decoding anything when playing games (because the issue sometimes popped when music was playing in games FMVs) or when using Winamp to play music. I disabled it for the sake of testing, and the problem was still there.
Back to Creative X-Fi drivers. I eventually found out that switching to "gaming mode" instead of "entertainment mode" gave even less problems. I felt really close to the goal, although in reality I was far.
Why it gave less problems? I can only wonder.
Something told me it had something to do with DirectShow, because when using a WaveOut method in Winamp, the problem would never occur. Another clue that gave it away was if I lowered the hardware acceleration level to None in sound properties I wouldn't experience the problem. But DirectShow files were fine, or so said the M$ utility dxdiag. Hmm...
To be honest, I was lost. I thought of re-installing drivers, but didn't believe it would fix it. I thought of using a different version of the Creative X-Fi applications, but I wouldn't see why this would be causing a problem. I uninstalled my HVR-1800 drivers (driver conflict maybe?) and manually cleaned the .inf files and driver files that were called, but that didn't help either.
Still with the idea it was a DirectShow issue though.
So we have:
DirectShow issue
No DirectShow file seems broken
Not driver related
No driver conflict
When disabling hardware acceleration everything is fine, except when doing that you also lose many nice features of the X-Fi chip
And then I had a flash...
AC3Filter
I remembered AC3Filter was installed when I wanted to test optical more in-depth than last time. I knew AC3Filter didn't necessarily gave a sign when it was being used (no icon in the taskbar, no process in task manager since it's a DirectShow filter).
Add/Remove Programs > AC3Filter. OK my way out of it.
Test a few times using Winamp. A few times using videos. A game. All of them at the same time. Entertainment mode, Game mode.
Finally.
Problem #523 partially resolved. AC3Filter is the official culprit. Why? I'll check that later. For now, I will enjoy by Chipmunkless audio. :)
Total Comments 3
Comments
 |  Dude, you're like Encyclopedia Brown, Case Closed! |
  |
| |  Partially resolved? Did the problem go away and you are still just trying to figure out why AC3Filter was messing it up or what? |
| |
| |  I say partially resolved for one reason. I don't experience the problem anymore, but this doesn't tell me why exactly AC3Filter was creating a problem with my Creative X-Fi. Eventually, someone might need to use AC3Filter, may it be me or someone else. In the event that happens, there's chances the problem will show it's ugly face once again. I intend to check if there's a way to fix the problem while still keeping AC3Filter. Edit:  Drew. My ex-boss used to call my his encyclopedia. I might consider changing my name to Leroy. |
| Updated May 30th, 2008 at 16:55 by polobunny |
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