If you like to listen to iTunes while you work, like I do, you may have the problem of your music skipping and stuttering.  For me, this happens while I am listening to a song and using another program, like Maya or Flash and scrubbing through the timeline.  This happens especially when there is audio playing in the scene.  This even happens when opening up my web browser!

Here’s my system:

Operating System: Windows XP (SP3)
CPU: AthlonXP (single core running at 1.5 GHz)
RAM Memory: 1.25 GB
Sound Card: Soundblaster Live! Platinum 5.1
Direct Version: 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Now here’s the solution that worked for me:

Step 1: Shut down iTunes if its running.

Step 2: Launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.  You can do this by clicking your Windows Start button, then clicking “Run” (Or use the keyboard short-cut WinKey+r). Now type “dxdiag” (without the quotation marks) in the input box that appears.

Step3: Select the “Sound” tab and look for the “Hardware Sound Acceleration Level” slider.

Step 4: Move the slider to the left until it says “Basic Acceleration” and then click the “Exit” button.

Step 5: Launch iTunes and enjoy skip-free music while you work (or play)!

Thanks to Westport_Hiker his post this at the Apple Discussions Forum. He apparently found it previously elsewhere on the web.  Thanks for passing it on!