Soundfile Information Guide

Different soundfile formats

• .RA accessed through .RAM files--These are RealAudio files which "stream" through your computer to your speaker(s). Typically, no downloading is involved as these files flow into a buffer which, when filled, plays the sound back. New versions of internet browsers (like the current releases of NetScape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer) come with a RealAudio Player built into them; so all you have to do is click on the RealAudio file and it will fill the buffer and play back to you. If your browser does not have a RealAudio Player built into it you can easily download one as free-ware from Progressive Networks:
  • If you are using Windows 95 or Mackintosh as an operating system, and have at least a 28.8 KBaud modem, you can download the RealPlayer 4.0 (which can also be used for quick-time video):
    1. Download this file into a temporary directory.
    2. After download, use the Widows Explorer to find this file then double-click on it.
    3. It will expand, install itself in a new directory under Program Files, and configure itself to work with your browser when you click on a RealAudio file you want to listen to on the internet. Simply follow the directions during the installation process.

    Or, (if you're using a later edition of NetScape) simply click on any RealAudio file and you will be sent to a NetScape page which will prompt you download the appropriate player.

    The RealPlayer provides a cleaner sound than earlier versions of the RealAudio Player, but it requires a newer, more powerful machine.

  • If you are using Windows 3.x you can download the RealAudio Player 3.0. This version works with both 14.4 and 28.8 KBaud modems:
    1. Download the file (it should be ra16_30.exe) into a temporary directory.
    2. Locate it with your File Manager and double-click on it.
    3. It will expand, install itself in its own directory, and configure itself to work with your browser. Just follow the directions. If for some reason it does not automatically configure itself ("plug itself in") to your browser, you will need to do this manually:
       1. Under "Options" on the Menu Bar click on "Preferences".
       2. Then click on "Helper Apps".
       3. Highlight "audio/x-pn-realaduio" under "File type".
       4. Click the bullet for "Launch Application" then use "Browse..." to find the RealAudio Player (file name: raplayer.exe) and click on it.

  For more detailed help using and installing RealAudio software see the information pages at Progressive Networks.

  Because most servers are set up to prevent you from actually downloading RealAudio files, in order to hear a file again you typically must click on the link again, wait for a connection, and then wait for the buffer to fill, even if you've listened to that file five times in the last three days. Most RealAudio files at the EPC have been configured to allow you download them. You may opt to do this if, because you have a slow connection or a slow modem, you are experiencing annoying interruptions in the playback, or because you want to listen to a file repeatedly without having to wait for a connection and then the buffer to fill. To download a RealAudio file simply click on the link that reads "click hear to download before playback." Your computer will then download it automatically into whatever folder is specified under "Preferences" in your browser, or it will prompt you to name the file and choose a directory. When the download is complete your computer will either fire your RealAudio player and begin playback of the file, or you will have to open the player yourself and then open the RealAudio file within it.

  The sound quality, while passable, remains scratchy and processed: like a telephone with the RealAudio Player 3.0 and like a very old AM radio with the RealPlayer 4.0. Still, it remains the easiest way to access sound on the internet.

• .MID: MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and has been the rage among electronic musicians throughout its six year existence. It is a powerful tool for composers and teachers alike. It allows musicians to be more creative on stage and in the studio. It allows composers to write music that no human could ever perform. But it is NOT a tangible object, a thing to be had. MIDI is a communications protocol that allows electronic musical instruments to interact with each other. (Quoted from the Philip Glass homepage.)

• .WAV--This is the most common soundfile format, and is primarily found being used on PCs. .WAV files small enough to fit into your RAM can be played back on the "Sound Recorder" or "Media Player" that comes with Windows. Files too big to fit into your RAM can be played using a hard disk player/editor. Free-ware, share-ware, or demo versions of hard disk players are easily downloadable from the web. For easiest playback of .WAV files from hard disk, try Cool Edit from Syntrillium.

  The EPC contains .WAV files of different audio quality. Those marked "44.1 kHz / 16 bit" are CD-quality soundfiles which surpass the standards for FM radio broadcast. They are however large files and take a long time to download. .WAV files marked "22 kHz / 8 bit" play at less than AM radio quality but download considerably faster. The smallest and poorest sounding are "6 kHz / 8 bit". (The kHz, or "sampling rate" indicates the number of times sound information is recorded to the soundfile per second. The bit or "resolution" indicates how much information is recorded in each sample.)

• .AU--This is the initial Sun soundfile format. Smaller .AU files can be played using your NAPLAYER which comes with NetScape. However, the current version of NetScape can only play soundfiles that are a few seconds long because it must load files into your RAM before playing them. If you want to play .AU files we recommend that you first save them to your disk and play them from a program that will play them from your disk--such as the share-ware Cool Edit from Syntrillium. To save .AU files to disk before playing them:
  1. Click on "Options".
  2. Click on "Helper Apps".
  3. Scroll down the "File type" window until you see "audio/basic".
  4. Click on "audio/basic".
  5. Click the "Save to disk" bullet.
  6. Then click "OK".

  The EPC contains different audio quality .AU files as well. The general rule is obviously: higher sample & bit rate files sound better, but lower sample & bit rate files download faster.

• .AIFF--This is Mac soundfile format. These files may be played using the bundled Mac audio player.

• .MP2 --MPEG is a compressed audio format used on PCs, Macs and SUNs. MPEG audio quality can be respectable, achieving the minimum FM radio standard. It compresses files from various sampling rates and 16 bit resolution down to files as small as one fourteenth their original size. As one would expect, the greater the amount of MPEG compression the lower the quality of sound. The MPEG player is available from Xing in Mac, PC and SUN versions. It can be configured to automatically play MPEG files directly from NetScape under the "Preferences" menu. Again, this will only play files after loading them into RAM. If you want to play files too big for your RAM, MPEG files can also be played from your hard disk on Cool Edit from Syntrillium.

  Tips for using MPEG audio (.MP2) files at the EPC:

  You can either play MPEG audio files directly from NetScape, or save them to your hard disk and play them from there. If you play them directly, the player will start playing the file as soon as NetScape has finished downloading it; then the player will automatically disappear from view and you will have to click on the file on the web page to hear it again. Saving files to disk first and then playing them is a slightly more complicated process for the user, but it is the process we recommend.

  Instructions for using .mp2 MPEG audio files (Windows95 with NetScape 2.02)

  To play .mp2 files directly form a page:
  1. Download, expand (or unzip) and install an MPEG audio player, either the MPEG audio player from XingSound or Sintrillium's CoolEdit.
     • If you use the CoolEdit, be sure you've also downloaded their MPEG filters. These come in a separate file that must be downloaded and installed independently. The only disadvantage to using CoolEdit to play your .mp2 files is that it takes longer to load files before playing them than the XingSound player.
     • If you use the XingSound player you should know that it will only play .mp2 files which have been compressed from 44 kHz / 16 bit .WAV files; .mp2 files that originated in other formats will cause error messages when you try to play them on the XingSound player. Almost all MPEG audio files at the EPC can be played with the XingSound player.
  2. In NetScape, first click on "Options".
  3. Click "General Preferences".
  4. Click "Helpers".
  5. Scroll down the "File type" window until you see "audio/basic".
  6. Click on "audio/basic".
  7. Click the "Launch Application" bullet.
  8. Click on "Browse". This will open the "Select Appropriate Viewer" window which allows you to navigate through your directories to find your executable MPEG audio player (typically it is located in C:\Program Files).
  9. Find your executable MPEG audio file player and click on it (this is typically C:\Program Files\mpgaudio\xing_ply.exe).
  10. Click "Open".
  11. You should now be back in "Preferences". Click on "OK".
  12. Now click on a .mp2 file in the EPC. As soon as the file is loaded it will play then disappear.
  NOTE: If you play several .MP2 files in a single NetScape session you may encounter errors after you play the first file. This happens only if you have configured your system to play the files directly, and often if the first playback was interrupted. To avoid this, simply clear your Memory Cache and your Disk Cache before you play each new file. You will find these by clicking on "Options" in NetScape, then on "Network Preferences". If you are having unexplained errors, clearing the Memory Cache and Disk Cache often cures them.
  To save .mp2 files to your disk before playing them:
  1. Download, expand (or unzip) and install an MPEG audio player, either the MPEG audio player from XingSound or Sintrillium's CoolEdit.
     • If you use the CoolEdit, be sure you've also downloaded their MPEG filters. These come in a separate file that must be downloaded and installed independently. The only disadvantage to using CoolEdit to play your .mp2 files is that it takes longer to load files before playing them than the XingSound player.
     • If you use the XingSound player you should know that it will only play .mp2 files which have been compressed from 44 kHz / 16 bit .WAV files; .mp2 files that originated in other formats will cause error messages when you try to play them on the XingSound player. Almost all MPEG audio files at the EPC can be played with the XingSound player.
  2. In NetScape, first click on "Options".
  3. Click "General Preferences".
  4. Click "Helpers".
  5. Scroll down the "File type" window until you see "audio/basic".
  6. Click on "audio/basic".
  7. Click the "Save to Disk" bullet.
  8. Click "OK".
  9. Now, on an EPC page, click on a .mp2 MPEG audio file.
  10. NetScape should open a "Save As..." window. A default file name will appear highlighted in your netscape directory. If you wish, you can direct the file to another directory such as "c:\temp".
  11. Now go onto your Desktop and click on the icon for your MPEG audio player. (If you do not have an icon on your Desktop for your player you will find it under "Programs" under the "Start" icon.)
  12. Click on "File".
  13. Click on "Open".
  14. Supply the name and the directory of the .mp2 file you have just saved to disk.
  15. Click "OK".
  16. Click "Play".

  Instructions for using .mp2 MPEG audio files (Windows 3.x with NetScape 1.22)

  To play .mp2 files directly form a page.:
  1. Download, expand (or unzip) and install an MPEG audio player as outlined above.
  2. In NetScape, first click "Options".
  3. Click "Preferences".
  4. Click "Helper Apps".
  5. Scroll down the Helper Apps window until you see "audio/basic" in the "File type" column.
  6. Click on "audio/basic".
  7. Click the "Launch Application" bullet.
  8. Supply the name and directory of your MPEG player. in the application window. If you need help remembering the player's executable file name or its directory click on "Browse" to look through your directories. (Typically its name and location are: "c:\mpgaudio\xing_ply.exe" or "c:\c-edit\cool.exe").
  9. Click "OK".
  10. Now, on an EPC page, click on a .mp2 MPEG audio file.
  11. When the file is finished downloading the MPEG player window will open and play the file immediately then disappear.
  NOTE: If you play several .MP2 files in a single NetScape session you may encounter errors after you play the first file. This happens only if you have configured your system to play the files directly, and often if the first playback was interrupted. To avoid this, simply clear your Memory Cache and your Disk Cache before you play each new file. You will find these by clicking on "Options" in NetScape, then on "Preferences", then on the tab marked "Cache and Network". If you are having errors you cannot explain, clearing the Memory Cache and Disk Cache often cures them.

  To save .mp2 files to disk before playing them:

  1. Download, expand (or unzip) and install an MPEG audio player as outlined above.
  2. In NetScape, first click "Options".
  3. Click "Preferences".
  4. Click "Helper Apps".
  5. Scroll down the Helper Apps window until you see "audio/basic" in the "File type" column.
  6. Click on "audio/basic".
  7. Click the "Save to Disk" bullet.
  8. Click "OK".
  9. Now, on an EPC page, click on a .mp2 MPEG audio file.
  10. NetScape should open a "Save As..." window. A default file name will appear highlighted in your netscape directory. If you wish, you can direct the file to another directory such as "c:\temp".
  11. Now go into your Program Manager and click on the icon for your MPEG audio player.
  12. Click on "File".
  13. Click on "Open".
  14. Supply the name and the directory of the .mp2 file you have just saved to disk.
  15. Click "OK".
  16. Click "Play".

Using soundfiles on a PC without a sound card

1. Go into "Main" from your "Program Manager".
2. Go into "File Manager" and click on your newly downloaded speak.exe to expand it. (If you are so inclined, read the expanded audio.txt and license.txt files for more information about the PC speaker driver.)
3. Close "File Manager" and open "Control Panel".
4. Click on "Drivers".
5. Click on "Add".
6. Highlight "Unlisted or Updated Driver" and click OK.
7. In the text-box enter the drive and path where speak.exe is located and click OK.
8. "Sound Driver for PC-Speaker" will appear highlighted. Click OK.
9. Click "Restart Now" to reload windows with your new speaker driver installed.
10. You can now play soundfiles using the audio player software you have (.WAV files on the "Sound Recorder" in "Accessories" for example).

PC Speaker for Windows 95

After downloading and expanding speak.exe as above:

1. Go into the "Control Panel".
2. Click on "Add New Hardware".
3. Do not "search" for anything.
4. Click on "Sound Control".
5. Click on "Have Disk".
6. Then follow the instructions and restart Windows95.

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