HELP TIPS

How do I play RealAudio sound clips?
How do I play Windows Media sound samples?
Do I have to pay for the Windows Media™ Player software?
How do I install the Windows Media™ Player software?
The sound samples are not playing. Why?
How do I play MP3 sound clips?
Why do MP3 sound clips stop playing or sound choppy?
Which sound samples are better, RealAudio, Windows Media, or MP3?

 

How do I play RealAudio sound clips?

To listen to RealAudio sound clips, you'll need:
  • The most current version of the RealAudio Player. If you don't have it installed, you can download either a free basic version or a full-featured version from the RealNetworks Web site. Follow the download and install instructions on the RealNetworks download page.
     
  • An Internet connection of at least 14.4 Kbps. We recommend a 28.8 modem or faster to get the best sound quality.
     
  • A Web browser capable of handling "helper apps.," also known as "plug-ins." Netscape Navigator/Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are ideal. The RealAudio Player works from within your Web browser to help you listen to streaming audio.
Before you contact us with troubleshooting requests or comments about sound clip playability, please read RealAudio's Help and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Most common questions about installing and using the RealAudio player are answered there.
 
It is a good idea to test the RealAudio player first with a file on your computer's own hard drive, such as the "welcome.ra" file that comes with the player, before trying to listen to music clips from any site.
 

How do I play Windows Media sound samples?

To listen to Windows Media sound samples you need to install the Windows Media™ Player on your computer. It's FREE and easy to install. If you do not have the Windows Media Player, you may go to Microsoft and download the Player.

Do I have to pay for the Windows Media™ Player software?

No. The Windows Media™ Player software is FREE.

How do I install the Windows Media™ Player software?

To download and install the Windows Media™ Player using Internet Explorer:

  1. Click "Get Windows Media Player now" below.
  2. In the box that pops up, select Run this program from its current location and then click OK.
  3. When the security warning appears, click Yes to continue installing.
  4. The program will then present you with an End User License Agreement. Click Yes if you agree to comply.
  5. While installing the Media Player, you'll specify your Internet connection speed. Choose between 14.4K, 19.2K, 28.8K, 56K Modem/ISDN, 112K Modem/Dual-ISDN, T1/Lan, or Unknown/Other. If you do not know your connection speed, ask your network administrator or refer to your modem documentation
  6. Click OK.

After you click OK, the Windows Media Player will open. You are now ready to listen to Windows Media sound samples.

To download and install the Windows Media Player using Netscape Navigator or Communicator:

  1. Click "Get Windows Media Player now" below.
  2. In the box that pops up, choose the location to which you'd like to save the file. Click Save.
  3. When your download is complete, locate the file on your computer's hard drive and double-click it to run setup. The Windows Media Player Setup window will recommend you exit all applications before continuing with the player installation. Close all programs, then click Yes.
  4. The setup program will then present you with an End User License Agreement. Click Yes if you agree to comply.
  5. While installing Windows Media Player, you'll specify your Internet connection speed. Choose between 14.4K, 19.2K, 28.8K, 56K Modem/ISDN, 112K Modem/Dual-ISDN, T1/Lan, or Unknown/Other. If you do not know your connection speed, ask your network administrator or refer to your modem documentation.
  6. Click OK.

After you click OK, the Windows Media Player will open. You are now ready to listen to Windows Media sound samples.

The sound samples are not playing. Why?

The server may be down, the content may have been moved, or the link to the content may be wrong. In these situations there's not much you can do. We will make every effort to correct the issue should this be the case. However, in a lot of situations, network congestion will cause the player to time out. So, keep trying, or try again later when there may be less traffic on the Internet or on your network.

How do I play MP3 sound clips?

Most newer Web browsers will play our MP3 sound clips automatically when you click on them. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator/Communicator are ideal. If your browser does not automatically play MP3 clips, we recommend upgrading to a newer browser.

If that is not possible, a variety of MP3 players are available at sites such as http://www.shareware.com. A few other popular players are Music Match's Jukebox and Nullsoft's Winamp. After you download and install a player, be sure to read the program's instructions to learn how to configure it to work with your browser and play MP3 clips automatically.

Why do MP3 sound clips stop playing or sound choppy?

Because they are higher quality, MP3 clips are much larger files than our RealAudio samples, and therefore will only stream (start playing immediately) on faster connections such as a T1 line or cable modem. If an MP3 clip starts playing and then stops or sounds choppy, use your player's (or browser's) playback controls to pause playback until the clip has finished downloading to your computer, then resume playback.

Which sound samples are better, RealAudio, Windows Media, or MP3?

Our RealAudio clips are designed to stream (start playing immediately) even over slower modems, while MP3 and Windows Media clips are designed to sound better. If you have a 14.4, 28.8, or even 56k modem and you want to listen very quickly to a sample of a song, click on RealAudio song samples. If you have a fast Internet connection (e.g., ISDN, T1 line, ADSL or cable modem), or if you just want to hear higher quality samples, choose MP3 or Windows Media clips.

While MP3 and Windows Media clips are higher quality audio than RealAudio samples, they are NOT full CD quality. Any CD that you pruchase from this site will in fact be full CD quality, 44.1 KHz stereo audio.

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