The following instructions are written from a PC-centric point of view. Some knowledge of Windows 95/98/NT, web browsing and file downloading are assumed, but not much. Also, you will want to have some understanding of web page creation (editing and putting your HTML files on your ISP's server, etc.).
To create RealAudio sound files for your web page, you will need to download RealProducer (previously known as the RealAudio encoder, and still known as such for some operating systems). You may go directly to RealNetworks' Content Creation Applications web page by clicking
Once there, click on RealProducer (it's free -- RealProducer Plus and RealProducer are not free).
Now click "Get started with RealProducer".
Fill out the form to proceed with downloading RealProducer.
Be sure to download the file to your hard drive. Specify a directory and take note of name of the file that will be copied to your hard drive.
Once the file is downloaded, use Start->Run to execute it (it's an executable program file). This program will walk you through installation of RealProducer. I suggest making a shortcut to the program on your desktop.
Now comes the part where you use the encoding capabilities of RealProducer to create RealAudio (.RA) files. This part is a little tricky because it usually involves making some physical connections between your computer and other devices, e.g., a multi-track recorder or a CD player if you do not have one built into your PC. There are also some non-intuitive games you may have to play with your PC's audio volume control.
You'll need a cable that can connect the line-out jacks from your external device to the computer's line-in jacks.
You'll also have to bring up the Volume Control application on your PC. Go to Options->Properties and click the Recording button. Uncheck all but the device you'll be recording from. Click OK, then be sure to check Select at the bottom of the Volume Control window.
If you're using an external device, you'll want to uncheck all but Line. If you're using your PC's built-in CD, you'd uncheck all but CD Audio (I haven't verified this). If you're converting music from a CD into RealAudio format, don't be stealing other people's music and putting it on the web unless you've gotten all the proper permissions.
Set the Volume on your remaining checked item's volume level quite low. While you encode, watch the Audio Level Meter. As it states in the RealProducer documentation, "...green indicates a normal reading. Red warns that you are close to an over-modulated input. The best sound quality will occur when the top red bar is often lit but the clipping indicator (the red light above the meter) is never lit."
Once you're all hooked up and ready to go, start the RealProducer program. A window entitled "New Session - Choose Recording Wizard" will come up. Most of the time you will probably pick the Record From Media Device option. However, if you are, say, converting a .WAV file into a .RA file, you would pick Record From File. If, however, you are recording directly from a multi-track recorder or other external device, you would pick Record From Media Device. The third option I haven't played with.
Note that you can bypass Recording Wizards by unchecking the box at the bottom of the "New Session - Choose Recording Wizards".
Once you've successfully produced an .RA file that meets your standards, it's time to upload it to your ISP server or wherever the file will be kept for Internet access.
Since I use AT&T Worldnet as my ISP, I must provide both the .RA file and a companion .RAM file. The .RAM file must contain text that specifies the URL of the .RA file in a certain format. The exact format of the contents of the .RAM file may vary according to your ISP, if they support RealAudio at all.
In my case, if I've produced a file called ARIOSO.RA, I must also have a file called ARIOSO.RAM with the following contents:
Both files must of course be uploaded to the server under my home page directory.
Then I must provide HTML in somewhere in my home page file that provides a link to the .RAM file, not the .RA file.
Good luck!
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