Contents

SCI Homepage
1998 National Conference
Student Commission
Call for Scores
National Update
Composerver
Composerver Questions
How to Download RealPlayer
Members' Activities
Meet the NC/EC
New Members

How to Download and Use the RealPlayer Plug-in

As discussed elsewhere, in order for you to hear sound in real time over the Internet-called Streaming Mode-you must have one of the standard audio plug-ins such as RealPlayer working with your web browser. If your current web browser does not have it, you will need to download it from a commercial web site. If you are not sure whether your Internet provider already has the plug-in, one way to tell is to go to a web-site with Streaming Mode links and see if they work. Click on one, and a control panel with start and stop buttons and volume control should appear. Probably there will be a small window showing that data is being downloaded to the buffer. At the end of this article find a list of web sites where you can test your browser.

Assuming you need to acquire the RealPlayer plug-in, here's how. Go to the page on the RealAudio web site for downloading Progressive Networks software. (RealPlayer, RealAudio, and RealVideo are registered trademarks of the Progressive Networks, Inc.) The address is http://www.real.com/products/player/download.html. RealPlayer, which is all you need for sound, is a free download. (Note that on other pages of this site you will find RealAudio and RealVideo. Don't confuse them with RealPlayer. If you have a 28.8 modem and want the ability to view videos in real time you may want to download one of these other products. Currently the cost is $28.)

RealPlayer is available in version 3.0 or two Beta versions 4.0 (Beta 1b and Beta 2). We suggest you download one of the Beta versions if your system will support it (see below). In that it is Beta (meaning still in development), it will expire in 60 days and you will need to download another Beta at that time. The final version will be available for free download at a date to be announced. (It sounds like trouble, but the 4.0 version is much improved over the 3.0.) Select RealPlayer 3.0 for Windows 95/NT, Windows 3.1, Macintosh Power PC, or Macintosh 68040. Select RealPlayer 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows 95/NT. Select RealPlayer 4.0 Beta lb for Macintosh PowerPC. Exception: if you have Windows 95 and are using a 16-bit winsock you must download the RealPlayer 3.0, instead of the Beta version. You may also want to download the RealAudio FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) sheet. It will walk you through the steps to configure RealPlayer to your web-browser.

Once downloaded, the file is self-extracting (meaning you don't have to Unzip it), but you do need to get the process going. Run the .exe file (however you initiate programs in your system). It will install four programs in the files of your default web-browser.

When you test your audio plug-in, don't go to a web-page with a lot of graphics unless you have a 28.8 modem. I tried to hear the sound clips on a pbs web-page, but gave up after 20 minutes when the page had not yet downloaded. (I have only a 14.4 modem.) Here are some web-pages with a minimum of graphics where you can hear audio in streaming mode. Other than Composerver there is no particular recommendation with respect to these pages. There are not a lot of sites. These are ones I happen to have heard of:

The SCI Composerver site: http://composerver.sss.arts.ohio-state.edu

A site for a piano recital by Brent Hugh (note that the encore piece is an electronic score): http://cctr.umkc.edu/userx/bhugh/recital.html

As in most windows applications, if you rest the arrow on each of the controls a sign will come up as to its function. When the RealPlayer control panel first comes up the play button will not be illuminated. That's because it is on. You can't tell it because the buffering is taking place. Best just to punch Pause and wait for the buffer to fill. Then hit Play.

Gerald Warfield