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sehested · 04-23-2005, 08:14 AM

iPod mini 2G use clock speed optimisation to increase battery time.
VBR songs with a sudden increase in bitrate may cause the iPod mini 2G to stutter as the clock speed is not increased fast enough to deal with the increased bitrate.

This has so far been observed for songs encoded with LAME --preset standard and is only true when not using the equaliser.

Examples of songs that stutters can be found here:
David Bowie - Five Years
Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs
(Google for "hydrogenaudio stuttering example")

For Five Years the clock speed hovers around 24 jumping to 30 when the stuttering begins. Using the equaliser the clock speed hovers around 36 throughout the song and no stuttering occurs.

Further observations:
- iPod mini 2G do not use optimisation when connected to a computer
- iPod mini 2G do use optimisation, both when using its battery and when connected to a powered dock that is not connected to a computer
- The problem go away when using an EQ setting different from flat/off
- The problem do not always occur at the same spot in the song
- iPod mini 1G clock speed for Five Years hoovers aroung 31 rising to 33 where it was 24 / 30 for the 2G
- iPod mini optimisation may be turned off (I don't now how to provoke this) and require a reset of the iPod to turn it back on.
- One user has so far been unable to reproduce stuttering on his 2G mini (maybe his EQ setting was on.

Songs having the problem (obvious):
- David Bowie - Five Years
- Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs

Songs having the problem (subtle):
- Eminem - Drug Ballad
- Eminem - Kill You
- U2 - Miracle Drug
- Musica XM - AWS Hope Xm cut

Album songs not having the problem:
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
- Styx - Pieces of Eight
- Guns N' Roses - Illusions I
- Shirley Bassey - Greatest Hits/This is my Life

Edited: Updated list of songs and albums.
Edited: iPod mini 1G do use speed optimisation. My iPod mini 1G was stuck at a clock speed of 80 and required a reset forcing it to use speed optimisation.
Edited: One user with iPod mini 2G was unable to reproduce problem.
Edited: Work around described
Edited: Added NIN

HelloWhat · 04-23-2005, 07:36 PM

Hi, I've noticed this too and I'm not happy at all. I'm thinking about taking it back.

sehested · 04-23-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelloWhat
Hi, I've noticed this too and I'm not happy at all. I'm thinking about taking it back.

I beleive Apple will eventually solve the problem.

In the meantime I will transcode my LAME aps files to AAC 128kbps and maintain two version of the songs:
- One for listening at the computer / stereo
- The other for listening on the iPod

I'm aware that transcoding reduce the quality, but it avoids stuttering and allows me to keep enjoying my music, despite a slight quality loss.

Anyway Apple should have tested the speed optimisation better, before releasing the iPod mini 2G

HelloWhat · 04-24-2005, 12:35 AM

Do you think I have a legitimate complaint? The majority of my music is encoded in -aps and I don't intend on transcoding it into a lesser format.

sehested · 04-24-2005, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelloWhat
Do you think I have a legitimate complaint? The majority of my music is encoded in -aps and I don't intend on transcoding it into a lesser format.

Yeah sure you have a legitimate complaint.
LAME aps is probably the most common format used and the iPod don't play it flawlessly.
In my book that means that the iPod mini don't support VBR MP3, something that Apple has specified it does.

However there is not much doubt about Apple having to correct such an obvious bug. However I have no idea how long it will take them to react.

HelloWhat · 04-28-2005, 10:42 PM

I think I'm going to ask if I can get my money back.

Also the scene release of NIN's "Right Where it Belongs" stutters about 20-25 times near the end of the song, with glitches throughout the entire album.

Seems like when the clock speed goes above 33 or 35 it stutters. Pretty lame (no pun intended).

smsmasters · 04-30-2005, 10:43 AM

I agree wholeheartedly. It's damn annoying when it stutters!!! My mp3s are usually vbr 224kbps-320kbps and it stutters at random instances during the song.

I hope apple will release a new firmware to solve this.

Lakester · 04-30-2005, 12:05 PM

in the meanwhile, I'll probably encode my stuff in CBR 224kbps.. annoying =/

sehested · 05-04-2005, 08:59 PM

Initial post updated with additional info

HelloWhat · 05-04-2005, 09:41 PM

I've read that Apple doesn't usually give refunds on Ipods. This problem has pretty much made my mini worthless so I would hope this is not the case.

sehested · 05-06-2005, 07:08 AM

Use Equaliser setting other than off/flat

Original post updated to reflect new information

Lakester · 05-07-2005, 05:33 PM

I used bass booster eq, and still experienced that stuttering problem..

sehested · 05-07-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lakester
I used bass booster eq, and still experienced that stuttering problem..

I have two 2G mini's. Both work when using EQ.

What song is stuttering on your 2G mini?

sehested · 05-24-2005, 06:51 PM

Problem is very evident on this song:

Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs

from 3:40 and onwards for about 30 s.

It simply sound terrible, the way the mini stutters / skips repeatedly.

jisk · 05-27-2005, 09:33 PM

I also have this. All my mp3s are encoded to LAME vbr with the "extreme" setting.

It doesn't seem to happen when I use *some* EQ settings. I have it on vocal booster at the moment, and I haven't run into the problem with that. The thing is, I prefer listening to music without the EQ.

04-23-2005, 08:14 AM	#1
sehested Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 14	iPod mini 2G stutters when playing LAME aps iPod mini 2G use clock speed optimisation to increase battery time. VBR songs with a sudden increase in bitrate may cause the iPod mini 2G to stutter as the clock speed is not increased fast enough to deal with the increased bitrate. This has so far been observed for songs encoded with LAME --preset standard and is only true when not using the equaliser. Examples of songs that stutters can be found here: David Bowie - Five Years Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs (Google for "hydrogenaudio stuttering example") For Five Years the clock speed hovers around 24 jumping to 30 when the stuttering begins. Using the equaliser the clock speed hovers around 36 throughout the song and no stuttering occurs. Further observations: - iPod mini 2G do not use optimisation when connected to a computer - iPod mini 2G do use optimisation, both when using its battery and when connected to a powered dock that is not connected to a computer - The problem go away when using an EQ setting different from flat/off - The problem do not always occur at the same spot in the song - iPod mini 1G clock speed for Five Years hoovers aroung 31 rising to 33 where it was 24 / 30 for the 2G - iPod mini optimisation may be turned off (I don't now how to provoke this) and require a reset of the iPod to turn it back on. - One user has so far been unable to reproduce stuttering on his 2G mini (maybe his EQ setting was on. Songs having the problem (obvious): - David Bowie - Five Years - Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs Songs having the problem (subtle): - Eminem - Drug Ballad - Eminem - Kill You - U2 - Miracle Drug - Musica XM - AWS Hope Xm cut Album songs not having the problem: - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - Styx - Pieces of Eight - Guns N' Roses - Illusions I - Shirley Bassey - Greatest Hits/This is my Life Edited: Updated list of songs and albums. Edited: iPod mini 1G do use speed optimisation. My iPod mini 1G was stuck at a clock speed of 80 and required a reset forcing it to use speed optimisation. Edited: One user with iPod mini 2G was unable to reproduce problem. Edited: Work around described Edited: Added NIN Last edited by sehested; 05-24-2005 at 06:58 PM.

04-28-2005, 10:42 PM	#6
HelloWhat Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	I think I'm going to ask if I can get my money back. Also the scene release of NIN's "Right Where it Belongs" stutters about 20-25 times near the end of the song, with glitches throughout the entire album. Seems like when the clock speed goes above 33 or 35 it stutters. Pretty lame (no pun intended). Last edited by HelloWhat; 04-28-2005 at 11:29 PM.

05-06-2005, 07:08 AM	#11
sehested Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 14	Work around Use Equaliser setting other than off/flat Original post updated to reflect new information

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Topic: iPod mini 2G stutters when playing LAME aps

Topic: iPod mini 2G stutters when playing LAME aps

		iLounge Forums » iPod, iPhone & iPad Discussions » Discontinued iPods » iPod mini
iPod mini 2G stutters when playing LAME aps

04-23-2005, 07:36 PM	#2
HelloWhat Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	Hi, I've noticed this too and I'm not happy at all. I'm thinking about taking it back.

04-24-2005, 12:35 AM	#4
HelloWhat Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	Do you think I have a legitimate complaint? The majority of my music is encoded in -aps and I don't intend on transcoding it into a lesser format.

04-30-2005, 10:43 AM	#7
smsmasters Junior Lounger Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 69	I agree wholeheartedly. It's damn annoying when it stutters!!! My mp3s are usually vbr 224kbps-320kbps and it stutters at random instances during the song. I hope apple will release a new firmware to solve this.

04-30-2005, 12:05 PM	#8
Lakester Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 7	in the meanwhile, I'll probably encode my stuff in CBR 224kbps.. annoying =/

05-04-2005, 08:59 PM	#9
sehested Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 14	Initial post updated with additional info

05-04-2005, 09:41 PM	#10
HelloWhat Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	I've read that Apple doesn't usually give refunds on Ipods. This problem has pretty much made my mini worthless so I would hope this is not the case.

05-07-2005, 05:33 PM	#12
Lakester Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 7	I used bass booster eq, and still experienced that stuttering problem..

05-24-2005, 06:51 PM	#14
sehested Freshman Lounger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 14	Problem is very evident on this song: Nine Inch Nails - Right Where it Belongs from 3:40 and onwards for about 30 s. It simply sound terrible, the way the mini stutters / skips repeatedly.

05-27-2005, 09:33 PM	#15
jisk Freshman Lounger Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	I also have this. All my mp3s are encoded to LAME vbr with the "extreme" setting. It doesn't seem to happen when I use some EQ settings. I have it on vocal booster at the moment, and I haven't run into the problem with that. The thing is, I prefer listening to music without the EQ.