Choppy Audio - Scanner Live / RadioFeed Combo

[Tweekerbob]

I recently upgraded to the latest subversion of Scanner Live and noticed that some of the feeds, including my own, had audio so choppy that it was nearly impossible to understand, much less enjoy. This seems to affect only a number of feeds, others sound just fine. Additionally, when listening to the affected feeds through other media players, they sound fine.

I struggled to find the common thread among these feeds. They all were encoded in mp3 (LAME), naturally. They all had standard bit/sampling rate combinations. On a whim, I switched over from RadioFeed to ScannerCast and the problem went away for my feed.

Here is a video showing exactly what I mean: Choppy Audio. You will also notice in the video that even the "silent" times average around 50-70, but the audio drops to 0 instantaneously several times a second. Although I have not confirmed this feed's use of RadioFeed, it appears as such from the feeder's previous posts.

Can anyone running a feed with RadioFeed please chime in so I can listen to your feed through my Scanner Live "set-up"??

Is anyone else experiencing this phenomena?

Rob, Bob, any ideas on why this might be occurring?

Thanks all in advance.

Ryan

[KC0CSE]

It sounds like (simulcast digital system) problems that we all deal with.....some else might see it as something else...

[W8RMH]

My feed uses RadioFeed and I use ScannerLive and have never had any problems. Give a listen.

[Tweekerbob]

Originally Posted by W8RMH

My feed uses RadioFeed and I use ScannerLive and have never had any problems. Give a listen.

Thanks, but yours is choppy through my copy of ScannerLive too. Sounds great through other players though

Things that make you go hmmmm...... Thanks again for chiming in.

[W8RMH]

Must be your ScannerLive. You might try deleting it and re-downloading it. I could never get it to work on my computer at work.

[ProScan]

Originally Posted by Tweekerbob

On a whim, I switched over from RadioFeed to ScannerCast and the problem went away for my feed.
Ryan

I'm interested in finding out your test results. A relatively easy way to determine if a feed uses ScannerCast, RadioFeed, etc.. is to use WinAmp and in the File menu, go to View file info and look at the "Metadata interval:" 1000 bytes is RadioFeed, 1200 bytes is ScannerCast, 16000 bytes is other.

[Tweekerbob]

Originally Posted by ProScan

I'm interested in finding out your test results. A relatively easy way to determine if a feed uses ScannerCast, RadioFeed, etc.. is to use WinAmp and in the File menu, go to View file info and look at the "Metadata interval:" 1000 bytes is RadioFeed, 1200 bytes is ScannerCast, 16000 bytes is other.

Thanks for the tip. I've only tested a few so far, but all of the RadioFeed feeds are batting a 1000 for the chop phenomenon. It dawned on me at 3AM that the metadata actually may have something to do it, so it's funny you mentioned that the interval rates are different between these programs. Another phenomenon is that the feeds I've been testing advertise text tags; however, none of the channel information is displaying in ScannerLive. This warrants some further investigation to confirm these feeds are actually broadcasting channel level metadata in the first place.

Thanks for a great program and for providing this additional info and insight.

[04Z1V6]

I am unable to duplicate this. Did you down load this from the scannerlive web page or from the auto installer?
I had this problem before but I have a new 64bit machine running Windows 7 and I had to install Net framework 4 to run the install file. I will try to duplicate it again. Don't forget there are two files to use a 64 bit and a 32 bit. I use RadioFeed and tags on my feed.

[W8RMH]

Originally Posted by Tweekerbob

This warrants some further investigation to confirm these feeds are actually broadcasting channel level metadata in the first place.

You are obviously having problems with your ScannerLive or your computer. Did you re-install it like I suggested?

You should not falsely accuse others of misrepresenting their feeds without just cause.

My feed works fine, my tags work fine, and my ScannerLive works fine.

[Tweekerbob]

Originally Posted by 04Z1V6

I am unable to duplicate this. Did you down load this from the scannerlive web page or from the auto installer?
I had this problem before but I have a new 64bit machine running Windows 7 and I had to install Net framework 4 to run the install file. I will try to duplicate it again. Don't forget there are two files to use a 64 bit and a 32 bit. I use RadioFeed and tags on my feed.

I am running XP 32 bit. Can't seem to find my 64 bit version install...oh well.

Anyone running 32 bit version have this problem?? Anyone still running a 32 bit OS ?

Thanks...I'll check out your feed.

[kb1ejw]

I think it's a problem with ScannerLive, as the feeds sound fine using winamp ,etc. but they chop up with ScannerLive. I usually run 5 to 6 instances of the program at once, and between 5 to 10 feeds out of the 50/60 sound like a priority is enabled on the feed provider's side, which isn't the case in any other player.