Tech: Mac and .ram

Subject: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 03:16 AM

The son tells me I should be listening to someone called Andrew Bird, so I went to try to listen to a fragment or two before buying a CD. But the tracks in Amazon download as .ram - RealAudio.

Now, I know I can download RealPlayer and play them on that, but I don't want to load down the new Mac with lots of possibly conflicting software if I don't have to. Keep it lean and keep it keen, I say.

Is there any way of playing these .ram fragments in iTunes? (I'm using a G4 PowerBook running Panther, by the way.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: Amos
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 10:18 AM

No there isn't == the RA format is proprietary. However, there is no conflict in having Real AUdio player and I Tunes on the same macine-- I have never had one or the other seize the audio port and not give it up or some such. This used to happen back in the days of OS 7.x but does not occur under OS X.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 10:37 AM

Thanks, I'll set it up so.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 11:00 AM

so now I find a movie of him playing and download it, and it's in a .wmv format. Ack! Turns out to be "Windows Media ... something". Proprietary.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 11:25 AM

I think RealAudio (or QuickTime) will also play that . . . if all else fails, there is a Mac OSX version of Windows Media Player.

Linn

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 12:16 PM

There is, there is. I just don't want to load the computer unnecessarily down with to much software.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 12:21 PM

Oh, wait, QuickTime? RealAudio? Sorry, too much Christmas rum. Yo-ho-ho and a horrendous hangover coming.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 01:11 PM

jtt -

You might want to take a look at the recent thread Can a Mac....

With the number of different file formats used on the web, there's little choice left. You do probably need to install more than one player if you want to be able to open a reasonable percentage of the "interesting" clips you will find; although your reluctance to "load down" with every player available is commendable.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: Amos
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 11:32 PM

JTT,

I think duck, you are going to need three apps for the various audio and video files out there: Quicktime, Real Audio and Windows MEdia Player. There are VERY few things that will escape that combination. I do not believe the codecs are compatibel, meaning I do not think QT can play WMV video or RA video.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac and .ram
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 03:50 AM

Ah. Ok, I've listened to a radio programme with Andrew Bird (strrrange. but good) on RealPlayer; I don't yet know how to change from one file to another, but will find out. Now to download the Windows Media Player. Thanks for the help.