iTunes Crashes On “Determining Song Volume” [Fixed]

Introduction

Today I downloaded a couple podcasts into iTunes (QuackCast and Psychology Podcast). After completing the download, I ran into a problem. iTunes crashed when the “Determining Song Volume” process started.

iTunes determines the song volume when “Sound Check” is enabled. This ensures that all your songs play at the same volume.

So, not only did iTunes crash when I completed downloading the podcasts, but it would immediately crash as soon as I tried to start it up again. It would attempt to determine the song volume of the new podcasts and immediately crash.

I tried restarting the computer, and still nothing. Instant crash as soon as I opened up iTunes.

It turns out that iTunes isn’t entirely stable on multi-core processors. A quick search online revealed exactly what the problem was. iTunes needs to run on 1 processor core, at least when running the “Sound Check” process.

The Solution

It turns out that it’s possible to set individual programs to only use a certain number of processor cores. And that’s what I did with iTunes.

Here’s how you do it.

1. When iTunes attempts to start up, try to hit the little ‘x’ next to “Determining Song Volume” to cancel that process. It may take a few tries to click it before iTunes crashes.
2. Next, in iTunes, go into Edit/Preferences/Playback tab. Disable “Sound Check.”
3. Open up the Task Manager (CTRL + Shift + Esc). Open up the “Processes” tab and right-click on iTunes. Select “Set Affinity…” And be sure only 1 core is selected (CPU0, 1, 2, 3, etc – depending on how many cores your computer has.).
4. You can now go back into iTunes and enable “Sound Check.”

That’s it. iTunes should determine the song volume of your newly imported music and you’ll be all set.

You can also find these instructions here.

An Open Letter To Apple [Please Fix Error 4450!]

Shortly following my posting of this entry, through the insight of those who left comments on my original entry, as well as from those sending me email comments, I’ve come to realize that I may have been hasty to place the entire blame of this “Error 4450” solely on Apple.

Here is what I originally wrote…

To Whom It May Concern At Apple, Inc.,

On my blog, I write mainly about philosophy, religion, skepticism, science and the like. But, by far, the most popular post on my entire blog is the post in which I discuss an error that occurs in iTunes – the dreaded “Error 4450.” In fact, my post is the first post to come up on Google when searching for “Error 4450.”

This error pops up when burning CD’s in iTunes. At different (seemingly random) times during the burning process, the disc will eject and a message will pop up saying that the burn process has failed, relating that the cause is “Error 4450.”

The “Comments” section of my post is filled with frustrated users searching for answers. People have tried everything from registry scanners, to different brands of CD-R’s, to disc drive lens cleaners. Nothing works.

On the Apple Support website, there is no official response to this problem. Then we go to the Support Forum portion of the site and we find countless users experiencing this same problem, with not a single bit of help offered from you, Apple!

In fact, Apple, you’ve been completely silent on this “Error 4450” issue. The name implies that it bears some type of significance. Your programmers must know something about this. And yet, as I’ve said, you remain silent on the entire issue. Do you intend on ignoring this issue indefinitely? Until we get frustrated enough to go out and find another media player that works better than iTunes?

Overall, I am happy with iTunes. But, to the degree that people have complained about this issue and, to their dismay, there having been nothing done about it whatsoever, I’m beginning to wonder if you (Apple, Inc.) aren’t taking your customers for granted. Have you become comfortable in your position?

It seems to me that it wouldn’t take much to solve this issue. Just a little attention and some debugging skills.

With that being said, I’m speaking for everyone who’s had this problem. Please, Apple, fix Error 4450, or at least let us know what’s going on with this problem and offer some type of help for those who are experiencing this problem.

Thank You.

P.S.

Please, don’t give us something ignorant like “uninstall and reinstall” because we all know this is a cop-out and does not fix the problem. We’ve all done this countless times before.

For those of you who are experiencing this error, I would recommend filing a bug report, even if you’ve already done so. You can do this in iTunes by going to this link. From this site you can provide Apple with useful information about your situation and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of “Error 4450.” Under “Feedback Type” select “Bug Report.”

As I’ve said before on this blog, my main purpose for writing is to contribute to the wealth of information on the internet, to help make the internet a place where useful information can be found. I also think that, as one who values truth and intellectual honesty, it would only be right for me to acknowledge that I was wrong about my original post.

So, to conclude, thanks to everyone who brought my attention to where my arguments were flawed.

TOOLfist Review [4/25/2009 – Frank’s Country Roadhouse – Syracuse, NY]

Introduction

I suppose I’ll start off by saying that TOOL is not a band for the casual listener. The casual listener might listen to TOOL if they like songs that “rock.” And I’d have to say that, in fact yes, TOOL does rock. But, there’s more to TOOL than just rocking out. A lot more.

TOOL has a certain depth of artistry to their music that is a rarity in any genre. Lyrically, musically and artistically, TOOL is a force to be reckoned with. Every aspect of what they do is well-rounded and artistically crafted – each song is likened to a living, organic being that grows and develops as it progresses.

With that being said, it’s probably apparent that I’m somewhat of a connoisseur of TOOL’s music. You’d be correct in that assumption. And it’s from this perspective that I’m writing this review of TOOLfist’s performance the other night at Frank’s Country Roadhouse, in East Syracuse, NY.

TOOLfist

TOOLFIST approaches the music of TOOL in the true spirit of a "tribute" (click to see Wikipedia definition). We are relentless in our study of the TOOL music and constantly seek to raise our own bar. In our estimation, anything short of that mantra is a disservice to TOOL, the fans of TOOL, and the venues where we play TOOL music. In addition to doing justice to the music, we seek to continue this homage by creating a multimedia, special effect, and light show that is in the vein of the TOOL experience. The music of TOOL after all isn’t something you just listen to, it’s something you experience, share, expands (I could go on!!)…

That’s what’s found on the TOOLfist “About” page. And it’s accurate. TOOLfist played an excellent show. I was impressed. True to the original in almost every aspect.

Drums

First, I want to point out how phenomenal Gregg, the drummer, was. His skills on the drums were simply uncanny. He more than did justice to Danny Carey’s work. From the complicated, polyrhythmic beats of Jambi and The Pot, to the hammering 5/4 time of Vicarious, to the classics of TOOL’s songs like Bottom and Sober, Gregg’s performance on the drums captured the very essence of what TOOL’s music is all about.

Bass

We come, next, to Jim who plays bass. Great stuff. TOOL is all about harmony and the blending of each band member’s instrument in the forming of an organic piece of living music, and Jim provides the perfect compliment to Gregg’s drums and Bill’s guitar. From songs like The Pot, to The Grudge, to Schism, Jim provides the hard-hitting, and other times harmonious, bass-lines that make TOOL’s music what it is.

Guitar

Then there’s Bill on the guitar. Adam Jones would be proud. True to TOOL’s style of, as I said, organic and almost living music, Bill’s guitar playing plumbs the depths of the inner shadow in Stinkfist, mystifies with Jambi, and cuts deep with that certain schadenfreude of Vicarious. An excellent guitarist, to say the least.

Vocals

And, finally, we come to Jose on vocals. The first thing you’ll notice about Jose is that he is, in almost every aspect, Maynard. From the way he carries himself on stage, to his mannerisms, to his clothing, he is true to TOOL’s front-man in every aspect. While the voice is the most difficult instrument to replicate, Jose does an amazing job. From the guttural screams of Opiate and Eulogy, to the harmonious musings of Jambi and Schism, Jose strikes an uncanny resemblance to Maynard.

Conclusion

To conclude, I’ll just say that, again, TOOLfist put on an excellent show. The amount of music they played that night was incredible. Three hours of TOOL? That, in itself, is a feat of immense proportions.

I was able to obtain a set list from Jose at the end of the night. Here’s exactly what they played that night…

• Ænima
• Stinkfist
• Schism
• Opiate
• Timothy Leary
• Sober
• Lateralus
• H
• Bottom
• Flood
• “Maynard’s Dead”
• The Grudge
• (-) Ions / Jambi
• Eulogy
• 4 Degrees / Intolerance
• Forty Six & 2
• Message To Harry Manback
• The Pot
• No Quarter
• Vicarious
• Prison Sex
• Parabol(a)

Just an outstanding set list of phenomenal TOOL songs.

So, to finish off this entry, if TOOLfist is playing at a venue near you, and you’re a fan of TOOL’s music, it’s a necessity that you see them perform. While they aren’t TOOL, they are absolutely worth going to see.

And, finally, read a book. It’s good for you.