Questions and Answers

Questions & Answers

Updated: 26/12/98

If this section does not answer your question, feel free to send an E-mail. Be specific when reporting errors (i.e., include the file you were trying to download, the program you used to open it, the EXACT error reported back by the program, etc.)

Wave (.wav) Questions

Software

RealAudio (.rm) Questions on Downloading Files

If your browser is set to view files with an outside program rather than downloading them to your hard drive, you can either right-click on the link and choose "Save as..." or hold the Shift key when clicking the desired file to download. This works on Netscape and, I believe, Internet Explorer. No promises for other browsers.

Wave Questions

Software
I have converted all of these theme songs into a special format called MPEG layer-3 WAV files. In other words, you have great quality at a lower file size. For example, you can have a 3 minute song for only 400 kbs. And if you have some special software, you can listen to the files as they download.

Microsoft's Media Player contains a new audio codec (that stands for COmpressor/DECompressor) that uses the MPEG Layer-3 compression. If you're familiar with MP3-format files, you know that they are much smaller than normal WAV-format files, but capable of digital sound reproduction with no appreciable quality loss.

Thanks to this new audio codec, WAV-format files can be created that use MPEG Layer-3 compression and still retain their original quality - but taking up only a fraction of the storage space. And they are truly WAV-format files - you can still use them as system event sounds, if you like. The audio codec, however, will only work with a WAV player that is native to your operating system; if you use Windows 95, it must be a 32-bit WAV player; if you use Windows 3.1, it must be a 16-bit WAV player. And they must be capable of playing ACM Waveform format WAV files. Media Player and Sound Recorder come with all versions of Windows and have this capability.

To see if you need the new media player, click here

If you are able to play the sound, the appropriate audio codec is installed on your system. If not, you will need to download and install the appropriate software needed to play the sounds. There is now a standalone codec for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 users - click on the link below to download the codec.

Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 and Windows NT 4.0 Users Click Here

Windows 3.1, Windows NT 3.51, Apple Mac and Unix users will not be able to use the standalone codec. Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 3.51 users should get the new Media, which contains the appropriate codec necessary to play the compressed WAV files. Click on the link below to go to the Microsoft Media Player FREE download page.

Windows 3.1 Users Click Here

RealAudio Questions

Software
The RealPlayer, which will playback both RealAudio and RealVideo, is available from http://www.real.com. Be sure you're using the latest version of the RealPlayer G2 Beta.
How to Create RealAudio
Also available from www.real.com is the RealEncoder G2, which is used to compress waves, AVIs, and other media to RealAudio/Video files.
Errors
If the RealAudio files are reported by your player as invalid, visit http://www.real.com and download the RealPlayer G2 Beta (the non-plus version is free).

Other Questions

MIDI
Along with wave software, Tucows should have programs capable of playing MIDIs.
Images
Again, check Tucows for viewing software. Paint Shop Pro is recommended for basic editing and orginizing.
Downloading Files
If your browser is set to view files with an outside program rather than downloading them to your hard drive, you can either right-click on the link and choose "Save as..." or hold the Shift key when clicking the desired file to download. This works on Netscape and, I believe, Internet Explorer. No promises for other browsers.
Reducing Filesizes
Most new wavs appearing on the themes page will be in 22khz (or occassionally 16khz) / 8-bit / mono, for a clearer recording than a standard 11khz theme. As a result, the filesizes are a bit larger when decompressed. If they're taking up too much of your hard drive space, you have two options - my best advice is to go with the RealAudio themes, which maintain good quality at a fraction of the original filesize.
But if you wish to keep files in wav format, you can reduce the quality with most any regular player (including Windows Sound Recorder; check the file Properties). Simply change the sampling rate to a quality which you feel is good enough (usually 11khz) and save it..you may also choose to use a compression such as Microsoft's ADPCM technology, which basically cuts the bit rate to 4 (rather than the standard 8). These methods can cut down the size of a file quite a bit, but some themes will sound a bit more hissy or generally muffled. That's why they're offered on this site at a higher quality, leaving you the option as to what quality you leave it at.

Back to Main