Fixing Choppy Sound Issues in MAME32 with CHDs on Windows

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If you're experiencing choppy sound while playing games using MAME 32 (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) under Windows and are utilizing .CHD files as your ROM format, don't worry – this issue is more common than you might think. In many cases, the problem lies in either the emulator's settings or compatibility issues between specific hardware configurations.

In this article, we'll dive into some troubleshooting steps to help you overcome this annoying audio stuttering phenomenon and enjoy smooth gameplay with your favorite classic arcade titles on Windows 10/8/7 (and possibly earlier versions) using MAME32.

Step 1: Ensure Proper Emulator Installation

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Before diving headfirst into configuration changes, double-check that MAME32 has been installed correctly. Sometimes, incomplete or corrupted downloads can cause a host of problems, including choppy audio issues.

To rectify this situation:

* Download the latest version of MAME from its official website:

* Unzip and extract all files to an empty directory (e.g., C:\Mame32)

* Run `setup.exe` as Administrator to complete the installation process

Step 2: Configure Audio Settings in MAME

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Once you've ensured that your emulator is properly installed, let's move onto adjusting some audio-related settings within MAME itself.

1. Launch MAME and navigate to 'Options' > 'Sound'

2 Underneath 'Sample Rate', select the highest value available (preferably 44100Hz or higher)

3 Checkmark both boxes next to 'Stereo' and 'Force Stereo'

Step 3: Update Your Sound Card Drivers

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Outdated sound card drivers can often lead to audio-related issues, including choppy gameplay. To address this:

1 Right-click on the Start button in Windows and select Device Manager from the context menu

2 In Device Management, expand Sound, video & game controllers section

Find your primary sound device (it should be labeled as 'Realtek Audio' or something similar depending upon your motherboard model) double click it. Look for a tab named Driver located at top right corner of new window that opens up and then click Update driver.

Step 4: Use the Latest CHD Extractor

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If none of the above steps resolve the issue, try using an alternative .CHD extractor instead:

* Download and extract MGBA (Mega-CD/Sega Saturn BIOS Arranger) from its official website:

Follow these instructions to extract your CHDs with MGBA:

1. Launch MGBA

2 Select 'File' > 'Open ROM...'

3 Navigate to the location of your .CHD file and double-click it

Step 5 (Optional): Disable Hardware Acceleration in Emulator Settings

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If you're still experiencing audio issues after attempting all previous steps, consider disabling hardware acceleration within MAME's configuration:

1 Launch MAME32 and navigate to 'Options' > 'Config'

2 Find the entry labeled ''soundhw'' underneath 'emu' section (or create it if not present)

3 Comment out or remove any references to specific sound cards by prefixing them with a semicolon (;)

Example:

;'soundhw'

;// soundcard1

// soundcard2

Step 6: Re-Test the Game

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After applying all of these changes, re-launch MAME and attempt playing your desired game again. If you notice any improvements in audio quality or if choppy sounds have completely disappeared during gameplay, congratulations! You've successfully resolved this long-standing issue.

If problems persist despite following each step outlined above, consider seeking further assistance from the MAME forums or dedicated emulation communities for more targeted help.

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In conclusion, fixing choppy sound issues within MAME32 on Windows can often be attributed to minor adjustments in either your system's configuration or specific settings within the emulator itself. By carefully following these troubleshooting steps and staying up-to-date with the latest software releases (both from Sega themselves as well where applicable), you should now be able to enjoy smooth, distortion-free audio while reliving classic gaming memories on Windows 10/8/7 using MAME32.

References

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* '1' Official Mame Website - https://www.mamedev.org/

* '2' DEmul Emulator for SEGA Dreamcast and Naomi (NAOMI) Handheld Consoles: http://code.google.com/p/demuroms/

Mame 32 sound choppy on chds