EAC --> Missing Samples / Synch Problems

2004-05-27 05:21:38

Hi Everybody

Have been using EAC for a while. Had no problems with various internal drives. Recently I decided to set-up my external drive to work with EAC to off-load my DVD burner. That's where I encountered some unexpected problems.

My system:
VIA C3M266 with P III-S chip; Phoenix-Award BIOS v6; 512/448MB DDR SDRAM; VIA/S3G CastleRock integrated AGP 2.0 Video; VIA AC'97 Audio;
M$ Windows 2000 Pro SP4; Adaptec ASPI 4.6; Nero ASPI 2.0.1.59 (Nero 6 Ultra loaded + WNASPI32.DLL in EAC directory)

I use internal Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-107D with hacked firmware 1.10 <-- works like a charm, no problems here, beautiful rips and compressions with LAME.

Also, external Prolific PL3507 based combo enclosure (USB2/1394 to ATAPI; connected via FireWire interface) hosting LiteOn JLMS XJ-HD166S with DS1C unmodified firmware <-- that's where I have my problems.

On a number (tested close to 30 CDs so far) I receive Synchronization / Missing Samples error, usually at the very end of the last track. Some tracks were ripped fast, some at agonizingly slow pace. Now I have a substantial CD collection - most are in pristine condition, so I can rule out the scratches.

EAC ver 0.9 beta 4, and ver 0.95 prebeta 5 tried. Extraction is set to Secure (drive repports Accurate Stream capability). Offset is set to +12 (used internal EAC detection, not AccurateRip method). I have tried different Drive Read Commands (MMC1, MMC2) and Gap/Index Retrieval Methods (Detection method A and Detection method B; both with Secure Detection Accuracy). With those few combinations I still had the very same errors. Spin Up Drive has no effect on the tests.

Clearing / un-selecting 'Overread into Lead-in and Lead-out' makes synch errors even more prevalent. Changing extraction speed from 'Actual' to '4X' seemed to help on some CDs but also slowed reads to approx 1.2X. At '8X' synch / missing samples errors were all over. Did not try to manually select higher speeds.

Just take a look at the (portions of) LOG file (below):

=========================================================

EAC extraction logfile from 24. May 2004, 14:10 for CD
Jim Chappell / Dusk

Used drive : JLMS XJ-HD166S Adapter: 3 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Read offset correction : 12
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : Yes

Used output format : C:\Program Files\Lame\lame.exe (LAME MP3 Encoder)
224 kBit/s
Additional command line options : --alt-preset extreme

Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Installed external ASPI interface

Track 1
Filename E:\__MP3s\_To Be Sorted\Jim Chappell - Dusk\Jim Chappell - 01 - Spirit Prince.wav

Peak level 69.8 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Copy CRC E8E94F21
Copy OK

[...]

Track 8
Filename E:\__MP3s\_To Be Sorted\Jim Chappell - Dusk\Jim Chappell - 08 - Arapaho Firelight.wav

Suspicious position 0:07:28 <-- that track is 0:07:28:66 long (my note)

Missing samples
Peak level 0.0 %
Track quality 99.8 %
Copy finished

There were errors

End of status report

=========================================================

Note: The very same CDs ripped in Synchronized / Fast Mode yielded speedy ripps with no reported errors and no error correction applied.

Any ideas what to try next? Does anybody have LiteOn 166S with correct setup values? While this drive reads even badly scratched DVDs with exceptional reliability, I am open to the possibility that might not be well suited for EAC. Any help or comments will be appreciated.