I think they were referring to setting sbmixer=false, but I can tell you that won't get rid of the occasional "fuzzy" distorted sound in LSL7.

As noted, the simplest thing to do is to move to a different room (i.e. a scene change), and then move back if need be, which usually clears up the distortion.

There is a hack that one can make to the main executable (SIER.EXE) that appears to significantly reduce the odds of the distortion occuring, but not sure if you'd want to resort to something like that.

Yes, I've tried setting the sbmixer to false and like you said it has no effect regarding the distortion.

Changing location to get rid of the crackling doesn't help when it starts during dialogue or scripted parts. It totally kills the mood.

Oh, where can I find more information about this hack? Also, just reduce? Is it clear why it happens in the first place? It seems to be a very old issue with DOSBox, wonder why it hasn't been addressed in a revision before.

The game works great in ScummVM, however it doesn't support the unlocking of wallpapers and the 'be a star' features.

It's not clear that it is an issue with DOSBox, although it might be. What seems to happen is that when interrupts are disabled for too long, it can lead to a de-sync in filling the DMA buffer. The hack addresses a specific place in the code that waits for retrace with interrupts disabled, instead keeping interrupts enabled while waiting. Because waiting for retrace can take a longer or shorter amount of time depending on when you start waiting, the noise occurs seemingly at random.

I've attached the hacked SIER.EXE (LSL7 CD-ROM v1.01) if you want to try it, and if so then please report your experience with it.

I ran the hack for ~10 minutes and it seems to work fine! Played some Strip Liars Dice and also walked back and forth extensively between the promenade decks (as it seemed I could make it happen most often there when the scratch-n-sniff card came up at the same time Peggy was humming her tune.) and the audio did not once garble on me. 😀

So having the interrupts enabled while waiting for retrace doesn't break anything?

Thanks for the hack mate!

Yes, I am aware this is an old thread, however I am currently playing Leisure Suit Larry Larry 7 Love For Sail in DOSBox 0.74-3 on Windows 10. I too am experiencing this glitch. I can try using a ThunderBoard (not recognized as supported by the installer, but it works) or a Sound Blaster driver the game works with either but the glitch keeps appearing. I am not sure whether it is related, but I have noticed a few other weird behaviors of the game in DOSBox, sometimes the game won't exit properly, that is, I get a black screen with a flashing cursor. Also, the audio issues appear to be even worse during cutscenes.

EDIT:
The patch I just found in this very thread solved it. 😀