Weird one this - iTunes 10.1 seems to insist on playing everything (cds, mp3s, anything) back in some weird vaguely mono-ized (but not totally) way that just messes everything up - phase, the lot, with a slight boost of 1db or so in the right channel. Naturally I've checked every possible preference,iTunes, system, soundcard (RME FF800) but the same files play back perfectly in Quicktime or Logic, so I don't think it's a system or sound card thing- it seems to be only iTunes- and as far as I can tell is doing it regardless of whether I use the FF800 as the output or my cinema display (which has speakers)

Have they completely [ ****** ] up this time, or am I being an idiot ? I really can't find any reason why this is happening. Found a few posts on their support site which seemed to be about the same problem, but no-one had any answers. Least of all Apple, who if they read the things, certainly don't seem to be arsed to reply ...

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

I know you said you checked settings but did you look if the equalizer is switched in? That can create some questionable results.

No, it's switched out. It's all very odd. I can have exactly the same file loaded in Quicktime and iTunes - played in QT, it's fine. Played in iTunes, it's as if it's been shoved thru a 'stereo tool' plug-in (a crap one) with a stereo>mono slider pushed at least 75% towards the mono side. There's some stereo info but not a lot, and a fair amount of phase cancellation. It really does seem to be do with the way iTunes is decoding the file, regardless of enhancer or any other setting. I'm stumped ...

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

It is fine here. But you are not alone, as I have read several similar stories around the net lately (like on a certain alternative slutty forum). So it is perhaps a machine specific issue.
I would be surprised if Apple were not already aware and working on it.. Expect a 10.1.1 release soon!?

Paul

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Paul

Is your quicktime up to date? This might have an effect, but it's just a guess.

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Yup, ran software update and all's up to date, permissions repaired, the whole thing. It's a spanking new Mac Pro, so I guess there may be some glitches- I don't seem to be having the same problem (with the same iTunes version) on my 6 year macbook pro, also running Snow Leopard. Guess i won't be using the Pro for any import duties until they get a fix. In the meantime, VLC freeware works fine for playing CDs ...

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

I noticed a similar thing recently! I checked the equaliser, and adjusted it a little just to check it was *actually* off. I think turning it off properly (rather than just set to flat) solved the problem. Also, the 'sound enhancer' might be on?

Sounds a bit like sound enhancer to me, reminds me of what my itunes sounds like with it on...

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Did it ever work on this machine ?

If not already done so, maybe try creating a test account, logging in to it and trying iTunes. If it's fine that fingers a prefs file (or something similar) in your main account.

No, I don't think it's ever worked - if I do the test account and find it is fine, what happens next - is the dodgy pref file their end or mine ?

Quite a few over on The Other Board also showing the same problem - summed stereo (or something - it's not mono but it's not full stereo), 1db or so heavy on the right, phase issues- with no problem of any kind with any other audio software running in Core audio. Definitely not an equalizer/enhancer thing. Everybody's stumped. I think it's some kind of bug relating to some newer machines when using iTunes 10.1, possibly something to do with some soundcards - there were more than you'd expect showing this problem using RME (as I do) but some had other brands.

It's not a big problem - most of my 'consumer' musical activities (listening, buying, syncing pods etc) happen on my laptop and on there 10.1 is fine. I only really use it in the studio for referencing CDs, and I can use QT or VLC for that until the next update of iTunes turns up and hopefully fixes it. Still think that Apple have been a bit duff to let this one go through - I know you can't check for everything but given it's brand new Apple software running on a brand new Apple machine through their own Apple driver (yep, it's there even if I don't use the RME) - it's a bit [ ****** ] really.

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

Word from The Other Board

"My Mac Pro came down with this same "right side heavy" problem a few weeks ago. I contacted Apple and a tech worked with me for two hours. Could not come up with a solution. He then used a software capture program to check the computer code. Called me back an hour later to say that there is an error in the code. The issue is now sent to the program engineers so they can see the problem "in action".

If they come up with a solution, I will post the results here. This tech said the problem, in my system, is a code problem, not a hardware problem."

I guess I'll be waiting for an update then.

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

Quote tomafd:

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The Other Board

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tomafd Quote:

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if I do the test account and find it is fine, what happens next

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That depends... It can help narrow stuff down, anyways.

Quote tomafd:

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No, I don't think it's ever worked

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Ah! Forget the test account plan.

Let's hope they fix it soon!

For what it's worth, iTunes is sounding fine (same as VLC) on my 2010 Mac Pro. This is nehalem quad 3.2 GHz, so in some ways last year's machine.

( but it was cheap-ish... )

So it kinda sounds like the problem affects (some of?) the westmere machines, which I recall is what yours is.

Quote chris...:

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the westmere machines, which I recall is what yours is.

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Not the absolute fastest (next one down) 12 cores, 32 gig ram, 8T memory. Stuffing it with upgrades and new software etc right now (yes, I'm now a lot poorer than I was) and compared to my deeply long suffering and staggering-on-though-almost-dead G5 - one mean m^&*%$(*&^ er .... let's just say, iTunes problem notwithstanding, I'll have quite a big smile on my face, once I've got past all this installation tediousness !

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

Ok, for anyone who else who gets this one - this is the workaround.

With iTunes unbooted, open Systems Preferences, then Sound, and select 'direct line out' as the output. Boot iTunes, open SP again, and select output of your choice. iTunes then seems to play fine, though you may have to do this every time you want to use it. PITA but it works on my system and a few others as well, according to The Other Board.

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

Well the good news is, Apple provided an update today.

What's new in iTunes 10.1.1

This release provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• Addresses an issue where some music videos may not play on Macs equipped with NVIDIA GeForce 9400 or 9600 graphics.
• Resolves an issue where iTunes may unexpectedly quit when deleting a playlist that has the iTunes Sidebar showing.
• Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit when connecting an iPod to a Mac equipped with a PowerPC processor.
• Addresses an issue where some music videos may not sync to an iPod, iPhone, or iPad.

iTunes 10.1 came with several new features and improvements, including:

• Use AirPlay to instantly and wirelessly stream videos from iTunes to the all-new Apple TV.

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.2.

• Provides a number of important stability and performance improvements.

The bad news is, as you can see, this audio gremlin doesn't appear to be in the fix list. But then it is only affecting a few people.. That said, im sure yet another update will be along sooner or later that addresses it.

Paul

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Paul

tho' it does say "a number of bug fixes *including* [...]"

Ta for the heads up - duly updated and .... it's still there. At least the workaround still works, though ! Seems to work best if you put iTunes into play, first, and then change the output (sound, system pref) from 'line out' (has to be line out) to your soundcard or display. The output has to be set to 'line out' in system prefs before you boot iTunes.

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http://anotherfineday.bandcamp.com/ http://anotherfineday.co.uk http://apollomusic.co.uk

Quote tomafdAt least the workaround still works, though ! Seems to work best if you put iTunes into play, first, and then change the output (sound, system pref) from 'line out' (has to be line out) to your soundcard or display. The output has to be set to 'line out' in system prefs before you boot iTunes.

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I have an older MBP 2.16 and it played all previous version of i-tunes fine until this latest 10.1 update. The workaround is a very handy quick fix - thanks! - FYI I have no 'direct line out' but 'Internal Speakers' and my Digi 002 but the same principle works.

This problem is all over the place and not restricted to any flavour of Macs.
How something this major slipped through I have no idea.......

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