Using RealPlayer

U-M Information Technology Division Step-by-step S4287 * October 1999

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RealPlayer is a helper application, or "plug-in," that lets you use your Web browser to play audio and video selections that are stored or broadcast on the Internet. To listen to files that are in the RealPlayer format, you must first own a computer that is capable of playing sound. (Check the documentation or contact the manufacturer for your computer if you're unsure.) Then, you will need the RealPlayer software.

NOTE: This QuickNote describes installing and using RealPlayer for both Windows and Macintosh workstations. In most cases, the instructions are the same for both systems. However, there are a few instances where the instructions vary slightly. In these cases, instructions are provided for both the Windows and the Macintosh environment.

Finding RealPlayer Software on the Blue Disc
Finding RealPlayer Software on the Web
RealPlayer Upgrades
Using RealPlayer at the Campus Computing Sites
Minimum System Requirements: Windows
Minimum System Requirements: Macintosh
Obtaining the RealPlayer Software
Installing the RealPlayer Software
Don't Hear Anything? Turn on the Sound
Using RealPlayer
Cool Things to Listen To
Additional Resources

Finding RealPlayer Software on the Blue Disc

If you have the Blue Disc CD-ROM, you will find a copy of RealPlayer in the Extras folder on the CD. If you don't have a copy of the Blue Disc, you may purchase one for $10.00 at the U-M Computer Showcase in the basement of the Michigan Union, or on the Web at http://www.itd.umich.edu/sales/. Because RealPlayer is upgraded on a fairly regular basis, you might want to check the RealPlayer Web site for a newer version. See the section "RealPlayer Upgrades" for more information.

Finding RealPlayer Software on the Web

RealPlayer software is available free and can be downloaded using a Web browser, such as Netscape, from the RealPlayer Web site.

Click HERE to download the RealAudio Player.

U-M Online subscribers can also link to the RealPlayer site from any of these locations within U-M Online:

http://www.umonline.umich.edu/services/downloads.html

http://www.umonline.umich.edu/sports/

TIP: Another version of RealPlayer, RealPlayer Plus, is also available from the RealPlayer site, but it is not free. However, you may purchase it instead of downloading the free version if you want the additional features it offers. For more information on RealPlayer Plus, refer to https://realstore.real.com/playerplus/order/index.html.

RealPlayer Upgrades

Newer versions of RealPlayer become available on a fairly regular basis. So, even if you installed RealPlayer from the Blue Disc, you might want to check the RealPlayer download site regularly for upgrade information.

NOTE: If you upgrade to a new version of Netscape, you will also need to reinstall RealPlayer.

Using RealPlayer at the Campus Computing Sites

RealPlayer is available on the Macintosh and Windows workstations at the Campus Computing Sites. When listening to RealPlayer selections at the Sites, please be sure to check out a pair of headphones first. The headphones must be plugged in to the headphone jack on the back of the workstations. Be careful not to plug the headphones into the microphone jack, located at the base of the monitor and marked by a small microphone symbol.

Minimum System Requirements: Windows

Pentium Processor
16-bit sound card with a Windows driver
Speakers and/or headphones
14.4 Kbps modem or faster minimum; 28.8 Kbps modem or Ethernet connection recommended
16 MB RAM
30 MB hard disk space
Netscape 4.05 or higher; Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher

For more details on Windows system configuration requirements, refer to http://service.real.com/help/faq/pp6inst.html#reqs.

Minimum System Requirements: Macintosh

604 PowerPC or G3 (750 PowerPC)
Mac OS 8.1 or higher
14.4 Kbps modem or faster minimum; 28.8 Kbps modem or Ethernet connection recommended
Speakers and/or headphones
32 MB RAM
65 MB virtual memory
Netscape 4.05 or higher; Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher

NOTE: In order for RealPlayer to work properly, please go to your Macintosh Controls Panels, turn Virtual Memory on, and allocate 65 MB.

For more details on Macintosh system configuration requirements, refer to http://service.real.com/help/faq/macg2pvwa.html#sysreq.

Obtain the RealPlayer Software

Start Netscape, then go to the RealPlayer download Web page.
Fill out the form. Enter your name and e-mail address.
Select your operating system, CPU type, and connection speed from the drop-down menus (display them by clicking on each field and holding down the mouse button to see your choices). Under "Select Connection," select the speed of your modem or, if you are an ethernet user, select T3.
Under "Language", choose the language you prefer for the RealPlayer interface (only English is available for the Macintosh).
When you've completed the form, scroll down and click "Download FREE RealPlayer".
Windows Only: You will see a window asking you to select whether you want a complete (8.4 MB), standard (6.2 MB), or minimal (3.1 MB) version of RealPlayer. Select "Complete" if it is compatible with your computer's available memory.
You will see a list of locations to download from. Click the link to download from the site nearest you. You'll see a status box as RealPlayer starts downloading.

Windows Only: The RealPlayer installer will be placed in your Netscape directory at the following location: Comm/Communicator/Program/r32_g20_3lrg.exe

Macintosh Only: Once the download is finished, if you have StuffIt Expander software on your Macintosh, the file will automatically expand and you will see a RealPlayer Installer icon on your desktop. Skip to the instructions below for "Installing RealPlayer". If, for some reason, StuffIt Expander does not automatically launch for you, look for an icon labelled playerppcg2.hqx (or something similar) and double click it.

HINT: Stuffit Expander is available on the Blue Disc also.

Installing RealPlayer

Perform the following steps to install the RealPlayer software. Please note that, as part of the installation process, you may be asked to reboot your machine. Therefore, you may want to close any open applications on your desktop before starting this process.

Shut down all open applications.
Windows Only: Locate and launch the file Comm/Communicator/Program/r32_g20_3lrg.exe by exploring your hard drive or choosing the Run option in the Start menu.
Macintosh Only: Locate the RealPlayer Installer icon on your desktop and double-click it (not the "playinst.sit" file with the .sit extension). The installer will take a moment to decompress.
A software license window will appear. Read the terms of the agreement and click Accept.
You will be prompted to enter your e-mail address. Enter this information and click Finish.
You may be asked to quit your browser software, if you haven't already. Click Yes to quit Netscape and install RealPlayer.
You will be prompted to complete an electronic registration card. Complete the necessary fields and click Next.
You will be prompted to select your Internet connection speed. Select the appropriate speed for your modem or select T1 if you have an ethernet connection. Click Next.
The installation will proceed. If you are asked to restart your machine, click Restart.

After restarting, Netscape and RealPlayer automatically start so that you can test RealPlayer by listening to a welcome message. If the Netscape window opens in front of the RealPlayer window, move the Netscape window aside and click on the RealPlayer to bring it to the front. You'll hear a short welcome message.

Windows Only: RealPlayer installs a shortcut to itself on the desktop. You can delete this if you don't want it on your desktop. Also, RealPlayer makes a Start menu entry for itself in the Programs folder.

Macintosh Only: RealPlayer is installed in a RealPlayer folder on the Macintosh desktop, unless you specified otherwise during installation. The installation also places several files in your system folder.

Don't Hear Anything? Turn on the Sound

If you played the welcome message and didn't hear anything, you may need to turn on, or turn up, the sound on your computer.

Windows Only: Adjust the volume by clicking the speaker icon on the icon bar (or desktop tray) and then sliding the volume control up or down. Make sure the Mute box is unchecked.
Macintosh Only: Under Control Panels, select the Sound or Monitors and Sound control panel and adjust the volume. You may also need to uncheck the "mute" button (in some cases, you won't be able to do that until you increase the volume).
Click the (triangle) for "play" on the RealPlayer window to replay the RealPlayer welcome message.

Using RealPlayer

Now that you have RealPlayer installed, anytime you click on a link in Netscape to a RealPlayer file, the RealPlayer plug-in will automatically play your selection.

A few tips about using the player:

RealPlayer uses the universal symbols for audio equipment, including the (triangle button) for "play," the (double vertical lines) for "pause," and the (square) for "stop." The small triangles are for fast forward or rewind or, to move forward or backward in the recording, slide the lever at the top of the window.
The channel selections allow you to store your favorite news, sports, entertainment, and other locations on the Internet. Click on "Add new channels" for instructions on how to customize them. Or, pull down the View menu, select Channels, and then select Customize Channels.
Each time you listen to a RealPlayer selection on the Internet, a copy of the RealPlayer file is also saved to your computer's hard drive. The files have the RealPlayer icon, and a .RAM extension. You don't need to keep these files and can delete them.