-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	iPod skipping problem
Date: 	Thu, 5 May 2005 21:35:32 -0600
From: 	Tim Spears

Hi,
 
I'm trying to find a solution to my iPod jumping to the next track 
problem similar to the one discussed on your web page. I have some 
additional data that at will rule out any possibility of 'random' 
corruption.
 
I have two iPods - both identical latest generation. I synced them both 
from the same iTunes, and I have a number of tracks that skip 30-odd 
seconds into the 6 minute track. As you describe, the same place 
consistently in a given file, but different places in different files. 
These files are ripped using LAME encoder CBR - I was using VBR and 
suspected it may be contributing to the problem. However this problem 
now is 128kbps CBR MP3. The two iPods exhibit identical behavior.
 
I don't know if there's something out there that can 'clean-up' an mp3. 
I would think that, if Apple acknowledge the possibility that the iPod 
decoder is less resilient than iTunes or any other decoder out there, 
perhaps they could release a tool to tell you which will fail and why. 
MP3 is hardly a difficult format to read - particularly CBR - all nicely 
bundled into fixed-size packages, and with sync sequences to boot. I 
notice that if I activate the 'jog' dial and try to move to eg. 4 
minutes into the track that skips at 30s, it allows me to go there, and 
the moment it tries to skip to that point it gives up and jumps to the 
next track.
 
Well, I might try copying my library to one of my other PCs and see if 
it makes a difference.
 
Good luck,
Tim