download instructions

Download: Right-click on the "Download" option, select the "Save Target As" option(Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Netscape), and specify the filename/directory where you want the file stored. After the download is complete, you can play the talk by double-clicking on the mp3 file just stored which will automatically start your mp3 player software and play the talk. The disadvantage of this method is that the files are large and a 45-minute talk can take up to an hour to download on a 56k modem. (On a cable modem or DSL line, download time isn't an issue and this method may be preferred.) The advantage of this method is that you now have the talk stored on your computer and can play it again without downloading, start it in the middle or even make a recording to CD, tape or mp3 player if you like.
Play: Either (1) left-click on the "Play" option next to the talk you want to hear or (2) left-click on the "Download" option if (1) doesn't work. The advantage of this method is that you can listen to the talk immediately, however, if you should lose your connection in the middle or don't have time to finish, you will have to restart from the beginning the next time you want to listen to it.

In either case, you will need mp3 player software to "play" the files. Windows Media Player is on many Windows systems by default and can be used if available. If you don't have mp3 software, you can download Winamp for free. Windows Media Player, MusicMatch Jukebox , Winamp and Real Player should all work.

Download Instructions for Macintosh

The player that seems to work best for both downloading and playing on the Mac is Real Audio Player. You can download a free version of this player at www.real.com. These instructions assume you have this player:

Download: Control-click on the "Download" option, select "Save this link as", and specify where you want the file stored. After the download is complete, you can then play the file using the Real player also. The advantage of now having the file stored on your computer is that when you play it, you can stop and start the talk at any time and then restart it later, if desired, from where you left off.
Play: Assuming you have Real Player installed, simply clicking on the "play" option should start the talk playing immediately. The advantage of this method is that you don't have to wait for the download to complete to start listening to the talk. The disadvantage is that you can't stop and restart the talk as you could if you had downloaded it to your computer.

Download Tips

Connection Problems

If you should have a problem connecting to the files to download or play, it sometimes works to close and reopen your browser and go back to the desired file link. If the download is going very slowly, it's possible the server is loaded or connections between you and the server are bad. It might help to try again at a different time. If you would like to have many (or all) of the talks, it's probably not practical to download them all. It would be better to borrow the CD from the IMC library (if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area), or you can order the talk on CD or audio tape.

Getting Disconnected for Inactivity

Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will disconnect you if they don't see any outgoing activity from you for a certain time...usually 10 minutes or so. This could cause you to lose your connection if you are using the streaming audio (Play) option to listen to a talk, or even if you are downloading a talk over a slow connection and it takes longer than the limit imposed by your ISP. A solution for this problem is to download and install one of the many "stay connected" programs that will periodically send something to your ISP to let it know you are still active. One such program that may be used for the PC is AC-Plug. (Click on "Open" when it prompts you and this will automatically install it.) Since there doesn't seem to be any Macintosh software that provides this function, it may not be a problem on that platform. If anyone knows otherwise or knows a solution, please contact us via the feedback form.