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popcornruis

Popcornruis is a term used in audio engineering to describe an intermittent crackling noise reminiscent of popcorn popping, which can appear during playback of audio recordings, especially on vinyl records and magnetic tapes.

The name is Dutch in origin, combining "popcorn" with "ruis," meaning noise, and it is used by

Characteristics of popcornruis include irregular, brief bursts of high-frequency pops that do not persist and tend

Common causes include dust or debris lodged in grooves, static electricity, worn or dirty styli, misalignment

Detection involves listening tests with clean equipment, and analysis may use short-time Fourier transform or waveform

Related terms include crackle, pops, and other vinyl or tape artifacts. Popcornruis is generally considered a

hobbyists
and
professionals
to
distinguish
this
specific
type
of
transient
crackle
from
other
artifacts.
to
vary
with
playback
speed,
volume,
and
groove
condition.
The
sound
is
typically
more
noticeable
in
quiet
passages.
of
the
cartridge
or
tonearm,
dirty
playback
heads,
and
moisture
or
adhesive
residues
on
tapes.
inspection.
Mitigation
focuses
on
careful
cleaning
of
records
and
styluses,
proper
cartridge
alignment,
demagnetization
of
heads,
humidity
control,
and
archival
storage.
nuisance
in
high-fidelity
playback
but
can
also
indicate
the
physical
condition
of
a
media
collection.