[Marbles]

When I play FLAC files with Foobar 2K, output to ASIO, I get pops and clicks.

Since I only have a few of my CD's ripped to FLAC, this is no big deal to me, I'll just rip to .WAV, but I thought others might like to know this.

Maybe there is a setting I missed, or maybe that's just the way it is.

[lcrim]

I don't believe that flac files have anymore tendency for pops than wav files but in any event you never stated whether the pc you use for playback is dedicated to music playback or not.  Often other activity has an effect on playback.  Essentially, if you tell the processor to do other things, playback suffers.  Foobar tends to have a greater resource usage than Slimserver for instance.  It nearly made me decide to go back to an SB on my USB connected sysytem.  Some very helpful stuff is available at http://www.musicxp.net/tuning_tips.php
I used many of these and killed the virus scan and Slimserver when using Foobar ang pops almost entirely eliminated.

[Hantra]

I found stuttering with FLAC doing what you're doing, but that was before I upgraded my PC.  I went from a 1.4 to a 2.8 and it stopped any issues I was having with FLAC playback.  

Also, I couldn't use any DSP's or it got worse.  Check and see what DSP's you have.  Run Soft Clipping only .

HTH,

B

[Marbles]

Thanks, I have a 1.8G non dedicated server.

Maybe an upgrade is in order.

I run Secret Rabbit upsampling to 24/96.

No problems on Wav's, just FLAC.

Thanks again for the help.

[Hantra]

Try it without upsampling.  

That choked my 1.4 bad.

[Marbles]

Heck, for the very limited amount of Flac files, I think I'll be OK.  I can rerip them into .WAV  Hard drive space is pretty darn cheap.

My main decision is do I want to upgrade this PC so I don't have to download/reconfigure/rerip a new one, or do I buy new and go through the headache and give this PC to one of my kids?

[Folsom]

On the output options I recommend switching to the output that is not the Microsoft Sound Mapper as well. That will bypass a little more stuff if you have not already.

I would be willing to bet you have a resource problem too, I know my Foobar2000 never works right when I am doing to much stuff.

[Marbles]

On the output options I recommend switching to the output that is not the Microsoft Sound Mapper as well.

Using ASIO...

[Folsom]

On the output options I recommend switching to the output that is not the Microsoft Sound Mapper as well.

Using ASIO...

Duh.  

[lonewolfny42]

Marbles....If you need your old 7700 back, let me know....not getting any "pop's" here....

[Marbles]

Marbles....If you need your old 7700 back, let me know....not getting any "pop's" here....

   

Chris, that's a darn good machine that I GAVE  you.  

I am very happy with my PC as a source now though.

[lcrim]

About a week ago the pops were driving me crazy too.  Like I said earlier, I was going to put a Squeeze Box in because it doesn't need the resources that Foobar 2K seems to require.  But by having a dedicated system, and using almost all the tweaks recommended to optimize for PC audio, it worked out.  I have a three year old laptop w/ a PIII @ 1 GHZ and 512MB ram.  Hantra was correct about the resampling, it eats cycles like crazy. I know that Steve Nugent swears by it but my system sounded about the same but ran so much better w/o it that I haven't missed it.  
I am not sure about the attenuation length for a USB 2.0 cable but 15' should be no problem and then you can move the PC to a more advantageous spot.  
I absolutely agree that the sound stage expanded and deepened.  Instruments and voices have a natural texture that I never got w/ digital before.  I was pleased that I finally got it working better.
I don't know what to say about a new PC.  My opinion is that one needs to dedicate a PC to audio playback and then you can optimize it.