Distorted audio output - breathing helium?

[Guest]

I have a problem with all audio output from my XP Home machine in that it
sounds too fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.

Playing audio CDs in Media Player and Real Player is affected. So are radio
broadcasts over the internet.

I have tried using a different set of speakers; this made no difference.

I've tried disabling the default sound card driver (Realtek AC'97); no
difference. I think I have the up to date version of this (5.10.0.5870).

I've tried lowering and then disabling hardware acceleration via Control
Panel; no difference.

All was working fine until a few weeks ago when I moved my XP box from a
wired to wireless network connection. Could this be a coincidence or the
source of the problem? Any suggestions?

 

[Phil Weldon]

'fred d' wrote, in part:
|I have a problem with all audio output from my XP Home machine in that it
| sounds too fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.
|
| Playing audio CDs in Media Player and Real Player is affected. So are
radio
| broadcasts over the internet.
_____

The problem you report 'all audio output from my XP Home machine ... sounds
to fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.' Has
nothing to do with your network connection. You say that you have disabled
the sound card driver, but it isn't clear what you are using for a sound
card. You haven't provided enough information in your post for a definitive
answer.

As a guess, the most likely explanation is that you have a sound card and
have changed FX settings, applying something like male to female voice,
chipmunk, or karaoke +4. Such FX settings raise the pitch. What you
haven't included in your post is specifically whether or not the problem
occurs with system sounds (windows start-up, etc.) and whether or not the
tempi of the sounds are increased.

Phil Weldon

|I have a problem with all audio output from my XP Home machine in that it
| sounds too fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.
|
| Playing audio CDs in Media Player and Real Player is affected. So are
radio
| broadcasts over the internet.
|
| I have tried using a different set of speakers; this made no difference.
|
| I've tried disabling the default sound card driver (Realtek AC'97); no
| difference. I think I have the up to date version of this (5.10.0.5870).
|
| I've tried lowering and then disabling hardware acceleration via Control
| Panel; no difference.
|
| All was working fine until a few weeks ago when I moved my XP box from a
| wired to wireless network connection. Could this be a coincidence or the
| source of the problem? Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

'fred d' wrote, in part:
|I have a problem with all audio output from my XP Home machine in that it
| sounds too fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.
|
| Playing audio CDs in Media Player and Real Player is affected. So are
radio
| broadcasts over the internet.
_____

The problem you report 'all audio output from my XP Home machine ... sounds
to fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.' Has
nothing to do with your network connection. You say that you have disabled
the sound card driver, but it isn't clear what you are using for a sound
card. You haven't provided enough information in your post for a definitive
answer.

As a guess, the most likely explanation is that you have a sound card and
have changed FX settings, applying something like male to female voice,
chipmunk, or karaoke +4. Such FX settings raise the pitch. What you
haven't included in your post is specifically whether or not the problem
occurs with system sounds (windows start-up, etc.) and whether or not the
tempi of the sounds are increased.

Phil Weldon

|I have a problem with all audio output from my XP Home machine in that it
| sounds too fast, rather like the speaker/singer has been breathing helium.
|
| Playing audio CDs in Media Player and Real Player is affected. So are
radio
| broadcasts over the internet.
|
| I have tried using a different set of speakers; this made no difference.
|
| I've tried disabling the default sound card driver (Realtek AC'97); no
| difference. I think I have the up to date version of this (5.10.0.5870).
|
| I've tried lowering and then disabling hardware acceleration via Control
| Panel; no difference.
|
| All was working fine until a few weeks ago when I moved my XP box from a
| wired to wireless network connection. Could this be a coincidence or the
| source of the problem? Any suggestions?


Thank you. Your mention of FX settings put me on the right track. These had been changed (by persons unknown - I'm not the only user) and resetting them cleared the problem. Glad it was so straightforward.

 

[Phil Weldon]

| Thank you. Your mention of FX settings put me on the right track.
| These had been changed (by persons unknown - I'm not the only user)
| and resetting them cleared the problem. Glad it was so straightforward.
_____

Thanks for posting your results. Glad my guess helped.

Phil Weldon


..
..
..
| Thank you. Your mention of FX settings put me on the right track.
| These had been changed (by persons unknown - I'm not the only user)
| and resetting them cleared the problem. Glad it was so straightforward.