Occasionally while playing the game, I'll get short loud bursts of "static" noise, like an out-of-tune TV. Has anyone else gotten this, or know how I might fix it?

Fairly common on multi-core processors - I use Runfirst to fix the problem
http://www.activeplus.com/Products/RunFirst
I copied the executable to the DD folder and added it to the command line (yours will be different)
"F:\Divine Divinity\RunFirst.exe" "F:\Divine Divinity\div.exe"

By command line I assume you mean the main one (Start -> Run "cmd")? And naturally use the paths to my RunFirst and DD executables

Add it to the TARGET box in the game shortcut

Oh yeah, I should've know. Thanks dude.

RunFirst is only for dual core CPU's so your P4 can't use it. What CPU (AMD or Intel) are you running and what sound card?
******
Edit: This works for some with Realtek sound -
There is a known issue with the audio "bleed" into the PC Beep channel with Realtek
Right-click on the Realtek icon in the task-bar.
Select “Sound Manager” from the pop-up.
Select the Mixer tab and click the arrow (middle right) until the PC Beep slider is visible. Lower it until the static feedback goes away.
This fixes the problem for some, worth a try ??
Edit: Your sound manager may be different, look for the PC Beep Slider and Lower it or mute it completely.

Yeah I know, didn't even bother with it. My CPU is an Intel and my sound card is a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS.

This has been a problem with DD but mostly for dual core or Realtek. I have yet to find a cure that absolutely works.
Do you have the latest drivers for your card?

Nowhere near, it doesn't look like I've updated the sound card drivers since I brought the machine. Opps..... I will update.

I remember the Soundblaster Audigy was having some driver problems when first released so it might help to update those first.
Let us know if it helps . . .=)

I've just updated the drivers and quickly tested the game no crackling at all but only tried it for a minute or so, fingers crossed it has worked permanently.
EDIT
Oh bugger, the test was done with my headphones which work fine but I'm getting no sound at all from the speakers!
EDIT 2
Right, so I've worked out the problem the new drivers automatically mute my speakers when it detects my headphones are connected. There is a tick box in the 'audio console' but unchecking this does not stop my speakers from muting. This is getting very annoying as I don't want to have to keep unplugging my headphones.
Right so my speakers are all sorted now, I had to uncheck another box to about 3d sounds being sent to the headphones. Makes no sense but I can now get sounds through both my headphones and the speakes at once, and I have no crackling so Yay!

Glad you got it sorted out, should allow for less distraction from the game play. I think that is the default for speakers/headphones settings. I actually prefer that since I only listen to one or the other.
Game on . . . =)

I need to necro this discussion. I just installed DD on my netbook (an Acer Aspire One), and I'm getting this hideous staticky crackle (at maximum volume, too) at random events in the first building. Opening the chest in the basement was enough to cause the sound.

I followed the steps in Post 7, as this machine has a Realtek sound card. This cleared up the initial source of the noise (the chest acted as it should), but I heard this noise again while walking through the ground floor of the building you start in.

This netbook is a single-processor machine, so using RunFirst or setting core affinities won't help this one. The driver's as up-to-date as a generic Realtek can get.

I would try turning the sound hardware acceleration off or moving the slider down a notch or two and see if that helps. This does help with crackling problems on some computers but not all.

The sound hardware acceleration slider is sometimes hard to find if it even exists with your sound setup.

In the Run field type dxdiag.exe and press OK. Give it a minute to gather data and click on the sound tab. You may or may not see a slider but if there is one . . . move it to the left all the way and try the game. (there may be two sound tabs on some systems) If that fixes the crackling you might try moving it up a notch or two until it starts again and than back it down a notch.

Some computers will have the hardware acceleration slider on the Control Panel under the Sounds and Audio icon, some under the sound icon for your particular sound card. Again, some drivers expose the slider and some don't so you may have to look for it.

Don't often hear about this happening on single core systems . . . =)

Edit: Make sure you are running the latest driver for your sound card as updating the driver has also fixed similar problems on some systems. Realtec Drivers If possible get the latest Realtec driver from the computer manufacturer rather than directly from Realtec.