Click the below items to access the information.

  1. The current version is a prototype and requires Internet Explorer.

      The core technology of the presented sound preformance solution is based on Animated Sounds which are written in Adobe Shockwave format.

      Animated Sounds and related features can only be operated when using Internet Explorer. Other browsers do not comply to the full functional scope that is offered by the Adobe Shockwave Lingo scripting technology.

    1. Recommended platform (mainly tested)

        Computer: High performance for real-time/multimedia use is an advantage, at least Pentium M.
        OS: Windows XP Professional, SP 2
        Internet connection: Broadband
        Internet Explorer: 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519
        Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768
        IE: View->Text Size->Medium/ Maxthon: View->Fonts->Medium

        Other versions/platforms should work as well (Mac has been found operating Animated Sounds).

        IE requires a lots of additional clicks in order to activate Adobe Shockwave objects. It is highly recommended to use the Maxthon browser on top of the Internet Explorer (see next item). Maxthon is not available for Mac users.

    2. Four (4) good reasons to use Maxthon with Internet Explorer

        1. Upon opening a new browser page that includes Adobe Shockwave objects, the content gets blocked by Microsoft, and you need first to click on a message "To help protect your security...", then select the right option from a security pulldown menu, and then to confirm this with another dialog to enable the page. Maxthon allows to open the page right away.

        2. Once you enabled the page, every new Adobe Shockwave object loaded into the IE gets an additional tooltip message "Click to activate and to use this control" or "Press SPACEBAR or ENTER to activate and to use this control". This happens for every object again after each refresh or reloading of the page. Maxthon allows the use of multiple Adobe Shockwave objects right away.

        3. Maxthon is a tabbed browser that allows immediate arrangement of multiple windows using the Control-T key combination (Maxthon Classic 1.x only). This is especially useful for multiple Sound Pages that can be played simultaneously.

        4. Maxthon is shipped with a lots of additional nice and poweful features. They are less related to this project but nevertheless worth looking into it. Note, that the Maxthon installation has no impact on the Internet Explorer itself.



  2. You will gain a much more convenient performance using the Maxthon browser (freeware).

      The Maxthon Internet Browser software is a powerful tabbed browser with a highly customizable interface. It is based on the Internet Explorer browser engine (your most likely current web browser) which means that what works in the IE browser will work the same in Maxthon tabbed browser with many additional efficient features.

      Recommended version (mainly tested)

      Maxthon Internet Browser (based on Internet Explorer)
      Version: 1.5.2.21 (free available)
      Download: http://go.maxthon.com, find "1.5.2build21_msetup.zip"
      Local Download Here
      File Size: 4.79 MB

      Other versions should work as well.

  3. You need to install Adobe Shockwave player (freeware).

      Recommended version (mainly tested)

      Browser Plug-in: Adobe Shockwave Player
      Version: Shockwave 10.1.3.018 (freely available)
      Download: http://www.adobe.com, find version 10.1.3.018, or try newer version
      Local Download Here
      File Size: 2,726 K

      Setup tip: When you see the animation playing below the labeled box, then your installation was successful.

  4. How your computer will be engaged...

    1. No executable program will be installed on your computer.

        In general, no application needs to be installed on your computer in order to drive Sound Pages. The complete Sound Page functionality is driven by Shockwave objects that are temporarely downloaded from the Internet and restrictively executed within your browser.

    2. Cookies will be stored in a specified folder.

        The Shockwave applications (Animated Sounds, play objects, etc.) that are included in the Sound Pages (Workbench, Sound Trips, etc.) create and maintain text files on your computer (cookies) while you are operating. These text files are automatically stored in two locations like the following:

        1. Sound Page control:

        C:\Documents and Settings\{your name}\Application Data\Macromedia\Shockwave Player\Prefs\Q93Z43LF

        2. FleX Publisher control (optional):

        C:\Documents and Settings\{your name}\Application Data\Macromedia\Director MX 2004\FleXPublisher\Prefs\

        The FleX Publisher can be used to create your own Sound Pages. For more information, refer to the Sound Park documentation.

    3. You cannot use the clipboard during a running session.

        While any Sound Pages are active (open in a browser), the clipboard is used by Shockwave functions and cannot be used for other applications. If you need to use the clipboard, stop first all running Animated Sounds, or close the Sound Pages respectively.

    4. It is recommended to close other performance consuming programs.

        Sound Pages are demanding high and permanent computing power. You should close other performance consuming programs or applications before executing Sound Pages.

        Since the current version is a non-released prototype implementation only, you must be aware of (rarely) possible browser window freezes and other malfunctions that are usually simply recovered by restarting the relevant pages or applications.

    5. Up to 8 stereo sound channels are used simultaneously.

        Sound Pages can perform up to a concurrent play of 8 stereo channels (8 concurrent Animated Sounds). However, a lots more of Animated Sounds can be pre-loaded at once on a Sound Page. This allows a very flexible selection and switchability of sounds. To support this flexibility, the 8 sound channels are assigned dynamically.

        Under special circumstances identical channels might be assigned simultaneously to different Animated Sounds. In this case, restart the play of the Animated Sounds.

    6. Sound objects are downloaded into the browser's cache.

        Animated Sounds include usually a number of various sound files that are downloaded from the Internet into the browsers cache upon the first time. After they are stored in the browsers' cache they are used from there reducing tremendeously the overall download time.

        Please execute Animated Sounds only after they are fully downloaded. For further information refer to the Animated Sounds Tutorial, page 2.