Is your computer capable of handling internet audio?

You need the following to listen to the Tropicália music clips:

     Pentium class PC or Macintosh PPC
     At least a 28.8 modem
     A sound card installed in your computer with speakers [many newer computers have sound and speakers built in]
     You need to be 'logged on' to the Internet to listen, just as you log on to surf the web
     You must have RealPlayer, installed on your computer. This software is what receives the Tropicália audio music clips and sends it to your computer speakers. Without it, you will not be able to listen to the music clips.


General Problems:

  1. Did you download the "RealPlayer Basic" player, and did you install it?

    Make sure you've installed the software after it has been downloaded.
    Download the Real Player

  2. Does your computer have "sound"?

    Your machine must have a functioning sound card and speakers. If you are not hearing other sounds (such as the music signature when Windows system starts, or the "Welcome" greeting when connecting to AOL, or the signature music for the Macintosh) then you may have a problem with your sound card or speakers.

  3. Is your modem speed at least 28.8?

    Your modem must be at least 28.8. Additionally, the "preferences settings" for your Player must be set equal to (or less than) your modem speed.

  4. AOL Problems:

    RealAudio may not work with older versions of America Online. You may need to upgrade to a newer version of AOL.

  5. There seems to be a time delay on the internet audio streams:

    This is to be expected. The "lagtime" can vary from a few seconds to several more seconds, and is the result of how internet audio is transmitted and encoded.

  6. Does audio cut in and out?

    This can be symptomatic of either a poor dial up connection, network problems, or that your computer and modem are not fast enough to handle the audio stream. Also, see #3 above regarding modem speed.

    Make sure that the "preference settings" for your RealPlayer is set to the same connection speed or less as your modem or network connection. In other words, if you're dialed in at 33.6K, check the connection preferences in your player to make sure they are set to 33.6K or less.

  7. Is your connection to the Internet behind a "firewall" at the office?

    Many types of streaming audio cannot pass through some corporate firewalls. If you are using a computer at the office, you may need to consult your network administrators for proxy settings.


Problems with Real Audio:

  1. How do I configure my RealPlayer to work with a firewall?

    RealPlayer Plus G2 uses varying configurations depending upon the firewall setup. Real's firewall pages have detailed instructions.

  2. What can I do if the audio sounds like it is being played too fast or too slow?

    If the audio sounds too fast, too slow, scratchy, or distorted, change the Performance settings in the Player.

    1. Select Preferences from the Options menu.

    2. Click the Connection tab.

    3. Verify that the settings match your computer's capabilities.

    4. Alternately, click either "Disable 16-bit sound" or "Disable custom sampling rates" to modify the way your player and sound card interface. You may need to play with the settings to see which sounds best.

  3. I've tried everything, and I still can't get my Real Player to work!

    In most cases, the RealPlayer installation will correctly configure browsers to open the player and begin playback. If clicking a RealMedia link in a Web page does not start the RealPlayer, please visit the browser configuration page on Real's support site for detailed instructions on configuring your browser to hear the Tropicália music clips.

    If you continue to have problems, additional help with the Real Player is available from http://service.real.com.

  4. You said the player is free... why am I being asked to pay $19.99 for the Real Player?

    Real offers two versions of its player... the Real Player Plus (which costs $19.99) and the Real Player Basic (which is free). The only difference between the two players is the number of extra features offered in the "Plus" version. While at Real Audio download page, look for the text link that reads "RealPlayer 8 Basic - is our free player". You will be asked to fill out a short form before downloading the software, but you don't need to pay anything.




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