Audio Stutters when streaming .flv files on Windows XP machine.

[jbandy1]

Hi,

I'm experiencing a problem when streaming .flv files at 500kbps from a video server. I have tested streaming the same videos on multiple computers with the same OS which is Windows XP and have only had problems with one computer.

The video plays back fine but the audio stutters. The audio starts and stops playing producing a crackle and pop sound as it plays. I've heard that this may be a audio driver or audio codec problem but I don't know how to check? What codecs and audio drivers are recommended for the best playback of streaming .flv files and where can I download them? The player that is being used withing the website is a flash player. I checked and I already have the most current flash update. What can I do?

Thanks for your help!

[Baldrick]

Just from that server? Not other sites like youtube?

I haven't seen anything else than adobe flash player for site flash playback.

[jbandy1]

I have tested this out and the audio also stutters when playing video from Youtube and yahoo sports for example. Though I believe both are progressive downloads. It's definitely more noticeable when streaming. I'm currently using Chrome as my browser which has flash built in so I'm told.

Any ideas?

[Baldrick]

Have you tried turn off/on hardware acceleration in flash? Right click on flash video and you can adjust it.

Or else try flash in another browser like firefox and see how it works. Chrome uses a built flash so it might be a difference.


edit: hardware acceleration is only for video so it shouldn't cause audio stutters though...

[jbandy1]

I have not yet tried making that adjustment but did come across problems using Google Chrome specifically. Like you said since flash is installed within Chrome it doesn't seem to matter what version of flash you have installed on your computer. I tested using Firefox and Internet explorer and if I had the most current version of flash installed on my computer, the files ran without any audio issues. I have tested this on 3 computers running windows XP so far. All of which have problems playing the same streaming videos in Chrome. When using FF or IE on these computers the flash files ran flawlessly. Upon further investigation on the Chrome forums I found are many users having these same problems using Chrome. Google support is aware and is working to fix the problem but it most likely will not be fixed until the next version of Chrome is released!