Audio players and plug-ins for Microsoft Windows
Some recommended free players and plug-ins (no spyware or adware), including one for Windows Media Player, are listed below, together with brief descriptions, download links and installation instructions. More can be found at the OGG Vorbis website.
|
| AOL Media Player
|
 |
AOL's Media Player is not set up to play OGG files, and I don't know whether it's possible from within the program. But don't fret, AOL systems should also have Windows Media Player installed, so it's probably easier just to download and install the "Windows Media Player plug-in" (see below), or indeed another player, and then configure the MIME Types (also below) to open M3U files with that player. Alternatively, mail me and we can go through the process together - helpful for adding the relevant advice to this page.
|
| Coolplayer
|
221 Kb
freeware |
http://coolplayer.sourceforge.net/
Small, quick-loading and with OGG support built-in. To associate file types (MIME types), start the player, right-click anywhere on the interface, choose "Options", then "Register file types". Simple, but it does steal other file associations too, like MP3s. Having problems? - skip to the section on Configuring MIME Types.
|
| QuickTime (plug-in)
|
175 Kb
freeware
|
http://qtcomponents.sourceforge.net/
A Windows plug-in for QuickTime version 6.02+, possibly also 5. The address above is the main page - follow the "download" link. If anyone can provide installation instructions on configuring MIME types in QuickTime, it would be appreciated. Having problems? - skip to the section on Configuring MIME Types.
|
| Winamp
|
4109 Kb
freeware
|
http://www.winamp.com/player/
Winamp's latest, version 5, is highly recommended if you can be bothered with the bulky download. Use the "Full" version, as "Lite" lacks OGG support. To associate file types (MIME types), start the player, right-click the title bar, choose "Options", then "Preferences" and "Filetypes". Select "extension/m3u" and "extension/ogg", and close the window by clicking the button in the top right corner. Having problems? - skip to the section on Configuring MIME Types.
|
| Windows Media Player (plug-in)
|
465 Kb
freeware
|
http://tobias.everwicked.com/oggds.htm
Microsoft's Media Player does not directly support OGG files, but thanks to this plug-in (the "Ogg DirectShow Filter"), playing them through it is easy. Download the file and run it. To associate file types (MIME types), open the player, click on "View", then "Options", then "Formats", and tick the box next to "MP3 Format Sound". Press "OK" and close the program. Having problems? - skip to the section on Configuring MIME Types.
|
| XMPlayer
|
242 Kb
freeware |
http://www.un4seen.com/
Small, efficient and easy to set up, once you get a handle on the unintuitive layout. To associate file types (MIME types), open the player and click on the small spanner at the bottom to right of "XMPlay". This opens the "Options and Stuff" dialog. Click on "Playlist & Integration", and in the "Integration" panel, highlight OGG and M3U and then press OK. Having problems? - skip to the section on Configuring MIME Types.
|
Configuring MIME Types
During or after installation of the player or plug-in, follow the tips for each program above for associating M3U files with your player. Normally, this should suffice. In case things go pear-shaped when you click on a link to a sound clip like this tuneful chorus of red-banded rubber frogs from Kenya's Arabuko-Sokoke forest, here's how to get unstuck:
|
| 1 |
Tame RealPlayer |
|
If you have RealPlayer or RealOne installed, then that's almost certainly the cause of your woes, as by default it reclaims file associations without telling you. In particular, it steals the M3U file type. The location of the setting varies according to the version of the player, but shouldn't be too different from the following. First, start RealPlayer/RealOne, choose "Options" (may not be visible in Compact mode), then "Preferences" , then the "Upgrade" tab. In "RealNetworks' media types", uncheck "Reclaim RealNetworks' Media Types", then click on "Settings". Uncheck "M3U" and "MP3", press "OK" and "OK" again, and close the program.
Now open your preferred player and associate it with M3U files (how to do this is mentioned in the players section, further up the page). Now test the frogs. Not a croak? Then try this...
|
| 2 |
Tame Windows Media Player |
| |
If you have Windows Media Player installed but for some reason do not wish to use it for playing M3U/OGG file (you need to install a plug-in if you do wish to use it - see players and plug-ins, above), open Microsoft Media Player, choose "View", then "Options...", then "Formats". Ensure that "MP3 Format Sound" is not checked, press "OK" and close the program.
Now open your preferred player and associate it with M3U files (how to do this is mentioned in the players section, further up the page). Try our pond-dwelling friends again. No joyful chorus? The next stage should put the song back into them...
|
| 3 |
Manually changing file associations |
| |
Failing these tricks, it gets a bit messier but the following instructions should suffice:
First, minimise all open programs so that you see the desktop. Now on the desktop, double-click My Computer, then "View" at the top, then "Folder Options...", and then "File Types". Click on "New Type..." and complete the following fields:
| Description of type: |
m3u playlists |
| Associated extension: |
m3u |
| Content Type (MIME): |
audio/x-mpegurl |
| Default Extension or Content Type: |
.m3u |
If, at any stage of the process, you are asked to choose the program to open M3U files or media types, just browse to the program's location on your hard disk, highlight the program's EXE file, click "Open" and then "OK". Assuming that your audio player is installed correctly, this should solve the problem.
If Windows tells you that the M3U file type is already associated with a program, the error message tells you which is the offending program. To resolve the problem, once again double-click My Computer, then "View" at the top, then "Folder Options...", and then "File Types". Now, before clicking on "New Type...", scroll down the list of file types until you get to the one with M3U listed as an extension. Highlight it and press "Remove". Then click "New Type..." and fill in as above.
Now give the frogs another whirl. If you see a warning message or "unknown file type" dialog, choose "Open" or "Play", not "Download" or "Save File". If you have to choose an application, browse to your preferred audio player's location on your hard disk, highlight the program, click "Open", and then "OK".
Still no luck? Gadzooks! You win the right to email me with your woes. I'll do my best to help you out...
|
|
Problems: the wrong player starts when I try to play a clip
If, having installing a new audio player or plug-in and correctly associated M3U and OGG files, your browser starts the wrong player when you click on a link to a sound clip like these frogs and yet you've correctly set up the M3U file extension in your preferred audio player, you'll have to manually remove the existing M3U MIME Type association (which points to the wrong program) before attempting to reassociate M3U files with your preferred player. Follow the instructions in Configuring MIME Types, above.
|
Problems: my browser displays an internet address when I try to play a clip
This is because the "MIME Type" for M3U files is incorrectly set up on your computer, or is absent. To correct the problem, follow the instructions on Manually changing file associations, above.
|
Problems: my browser downloads the file instead of playing it
Then the "MIME Type" for M3U files needs to be reset. To do this, you'll first have to remove the existing MIME Type for M3U files, and then reassociate it: follow the instructions on manually changing file associations, above. Once you're through, ensure that you choose the option to "Play" or "Open" the file next time you try to play a sound clip.
|
Problems: playback takes a long time to start
This is normal behaviour, so long as your audio player keeps you waiting for less than 20 seconds or so, because the player may need time to "buffer" the first part of the sound clip in its memory before playback. If the wait is really too long and you think your connection is okay, verify your player's buffering options and reduce the buffering time or size required before playback starts.
|
Problems: the sound keeps breaking up
First, check that you're trying to play the low-quality clips instead of the high-quality ones. If you're still having problems with the low-quality clips, it's more than likely a problem with your internet connection (a noisy telephone line is the main culprit), and sadly there's not much that you can do about it. Still, you could try connecting at the site's off-peak times, ideally between midnight-7am EST (4am-12am GMT). Other than that, you could also check your memory usage, and disable all those run-in-the-background programs like email messengers and other gizmos that you really don't need.
|
Problems: playback doesn't start at all
If your media player starts up when you try to play a sound clip but then does nothing, there are two possible causes, both equally likely: one is that firewall software installed on your computer or on the local network you're using doesn't allow files to be streamed. This is most likely to occur if you're connecting from a computer at your place of work (some companies understandably don't want their staff chewing up their bandwidth by downloading music files). No solution other than connecting from another location. The other possible cause is that a program that can't play OGG files is associated with the M3U file type, meaning that it starts when you click the link but then gets all confused and does nothing. The usual culprits are RealPlayer/RealOne and Microsoft's Windows Media Player - see the first two steps in Configuring MIME Types, above. You will need a player that can read OGG files; see the list of players and plug-ins, also up the page.
If nothing at all happens when you try to play a sound clip (try our old friends the red-banded rubber frogs: no sound, no media player starting, and no response or error message from your browser), then you'll have to Configure MIME Types for M3U files (assuming you actually have a player installed).
|
