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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.
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 get
the Player now.
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:
- Click "Get Windows Media Player now" below.
- In the box that pops up, select Run this program from its
current location and then click OK.
- When the security warning appears, click Yes to continue
installing.
- The program will then present you with an End User License
Agreement. Click Yes if you agree to comply.
- 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
- Click OK.
After you click OK, the Windows Media Player will open. You
are now ready to listen to Windows Media sound samples.
Get
the player now.
To download and install the Windows Media Player using Netscape
Navigator or Communicator:
- Click "Get Windows Media Player now" below.
- In the box that pops up, choose the location to which you'd like
to save the file. Click Save.
- 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.
- The setup program will then present you with an End User License
Agreement. Click Yes if you agree to comply.
- 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.
- Click OK.
After you click OK, the Windows Media Player will open. You are now
ready to listen to Windows Media sound samples.
Get the player now.
The
sound samples are not playing. Why?
The server
may be down. In some cases, network congestion could cause the player to time out.
In these situations there's not much you can do. So, keep trying, or try again later when there may be less traffic on
the Internet or on your network.
How
do I play MPEG sound clips?
Most newer Web browsers will play our MPEG sound clips automatically
when you click on them. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator/Communicator are ideal. If your browser does not automatically
play MPEG clips, we recommend upgrading to a newer browser.
If that is not possible, a variety of MPEG players are available at
sites such as http://www.shareware.com.
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 MPEG clips automatically.
Why
do MPEG sound clips stop playing or sound choppy?
Because they are higher quality, MPEG 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 MPEG 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 MPEG?
RealAudio clips are designed to stream (start playing
immediately) even over slower modems, while MPEG 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 or
Windows Media 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 MPEG clips.
While MPEG clips are higher quality audio than our RealAudio and
Windows Media samples, they are NOT full CD quality.
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