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Macintosh Multimedia: Troubleshooting Sound Problems

Article ID: 140664

Article Last Modified on 7/23/2007

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This article was previously published under Q140664
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SUMMARY

This article discusses troubleshooting steps you can try when you have sound problems with any of the products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Common areas to check when you troubleshoot sound problems include the following:

Sound Control Panel Setting

Verify that the Sound Control Panel volume is set to maximum. Also check the following:

  1. Open the Sound Control Panel.
  2. Select Sound In from the drop down menu.
  3. Press the Options button.
  4. Under Input Source, select both Internal CD and Playthrough.

Virtual Memory

Try running your Macintosh with virtual memory reduced or turned off.

To change the virtual memory setting, do the following:

  1. On the Apple menu, point to Control Panels, and then click Memory.
  2. For programs designed for the Power Macintosh, reduce the amount given to Virtual Memory to the lowest setting allowed. For non-Power Macintosh programs turn Virtual Memory off.
  3. Close the Memory control panel and then restart the computer.

Low Memory Situation

  • Free up available memory by quitting all other programs.

  • Reset your display to a different color depth monitor. For example, instead of running millions of colors, select 256 colors. You can change this setting in your Monitor Control Panel.

  • Allocate additional memory to the program.

    To assign more memory to the program you are using:

    1. Restart the Macintosh.
    2. On the Apple menu, click About This Macintosh.
    3. Note the Largest Unused Block entry.
    4. Locate the program on your hard disk.
    5. Click the program icon to select the program.
    6. On the File menu, click Get Info.
    7. Change the number next to Preferred (or Current) size, so this number does not exceed the number you noted in step 3 above.
Audio playback problems due to a low memory may affect all Macintosh models. However, Audio playback problems caused by hardware limitations are most common on Macintosh models utilizing a 20MHz 68030 processor or lower.

Extensions Conflict

Restart the computer with only the extension items the system needs to mount the CD-ROM drive and the extension items the product requires.

For additional information, refer to the product's Readme file for a list of required extension items.

Incorrect Version of Sound or Sound Manager

Check the version of Sound or Sound Manager that the program you are using requires, and validate that you have the correct version installed in your Extensions folder.

For additional information, refer to the product's Readme file.

Slow CD-ROM Drive

Check to ensure that all cables are connected correctly and that the CD-ROM drive is running optimally.

Apple Updates

There have been several reliability and performance enhancements added since System 7.5.3 that improve performance, particularly on launch and when switching between applications. If you already own System 7.5.3, these updates are available for download at no charge from the following Apple sites:

http://www.apple.com/
http://quicktime.apple.com/
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/

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