General Questions
Technical Questions
Digital Rights Management (DRM) & Licensing Questions
Questions Concerning Languages Other than English
General Questions Q. What happened to my webcast account from the last training?
Churches must create a new account each training.
Q. When will my account be activated?
Your account will be activated approximately 1 week before the training.
Q. Are there any test files I can play and/or download to make sure my computer is set up correctly?
Both mono and stereo test files are provided for testing purposes. To play and/or download them, simply click on the Test Video link provided on the login page.
Q. On how many computers may I watch a message?
You are allowed 2 licenses per language per message. Therefore, if you have requested English, you will be allowed to watch a message on up to 2 computers. If you requested English and Chinese, you can watch a message on up to 4 computers.
Q. How many times can I watch a message?
It is possible to watch a message an unlimited number of times for a period of 7 days. However, video training webcast files must be watched in offical video training meetings. They should not be watched by individuals. The 7 day period for a message on a particular computer begins the moment you play the message on that computer. Other computers are not affected until you play the message on that computer.
Q. Are the outlines of the training available online?
The training outlines are not available online and must be ordered through the registration section.
Q. Where and when will the study-questions be available?
The study-questions are available after each meeting in the Archives Section. Study-questions will be provided for messages 1-10 only.
Q. When will the messages be available for download?
The messages will be available for download approximately one hour after the meeting. However, if there is a problem, it may take 3 hours before the message are available.
Q. What is the meeting schedule for the live meetings?
The live meetings start at 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM Pacific Time. The archived messages will be available approximately 1 hour after each meeting (7:00 PM and 10:30 PM).
Technical Questions Q. Is it necessary for my browser to accept cookies?
Yes, cookies must be enabled. To enable cookies, follow these steps:
1) click on "Tools" on the top menu bar in Internet Explorer. 2) click on "Internet Options...". This will open the Internet Options screen. 3) click on the "Privacy" tab. 4) click on the "Advanced..." button. This will open the Advanced Privacy Settings screen. 5) Tick the "Override automatic cookie handling" box. 6) Under "First-party Cookies", select "Accept". 7) Under "Third-party Cookies", select "Accept". 8) Click "OK" on the Advanced Privacy Settings screen. 9) Click "OK" on the Internet Options screen. Q. Why am I hearing both English and another language at the same time?
The higher quality download file has stereo English/Translation audio tracks. The English is on the left channel and the translation is on the right channel. If you would like to listen to English only, you may do so by playing the message in Windows Media Player and then:
For Windows 2000 and XP users: Click on View then Enhancements then Graphic Equalizer and then shift the balance bar all the way to the left. For Vista users: Click on the arrow below the Sync tab and select More Options. Select Speakers and Properties. Under Sound Playback select Advanced. Select Speakers and Properties. Choose the Levels tab. Under Volume Control select Balance. Under Balance move the right bar from 100 to 0 to remove the translated language. You can also purchase a Stereo Phone Plug Adapter from Radio Shack (part number: 274-368) which will put English on both the left and right speakers. If you are having difficulty separating the left and right channels you may have a cable problem or the sound card in your computer may be unable to adequately separate the left and right channel. There is a difference between a "Y" cable and a cable that separates the left and right audio channels. The cable should have a white connector and a red connector. If both connectors are the same color, then you are using a "Y" connector which is combining the left and right channels together and sharing them between 2 connectors. If you continue to hear another language mixed in with English, there are 3 possible reasons: Q. Why does the player keep pausing to re-buffer?
There are 2 reasons media player will have to re-buffer while watching a message:
You can reduce the number of times the message pauses to re-buffer by increasing the buffer size. The message will take longer to begin but the number of interruption due to re-buffering will be greatly reduced. To increase the buffer size in Windows Media Player, click on "Tools", then "Options...", then click on the "Performance" tab. Under "Network buffering", select "Buffer" and enter a buffer size of 45 seconds. If this does not solve the problem, you can force the media player to play at a lower bit-rate. The video quality will be slightly degraded but the player will not pause to re-buffer. To do this, in media player click on "Tools" then "Options" then click on the "Performance" tab. Under "Connection speed", click on "Choose connection speed" and select either "Dual ISDN (128 Kbps)" if you are watching the mono file or "DSL/Cable (256 Kbps)" is you are watching the stereo file. Q. What is the difference between streaming video and downloading video?
Streaming, either live or archive files, allows you to watch the video signal over the internet without waiting. Downloading the file actually moves or creates a copy of the file on your computer hard drive.
Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of downloading versus streaming?
The primary advantage of streaming is immediacy. A streaming file, either live or from the archive, begins to play within a few seconds after you select it (it is normal for a short period of ‘buffering’ to take place—usually 20 to 30 seconds). Of course, streaming is the only way you can play a live message.
There are a couple of advantages to downloading. The most significant is quality. Even with less than a high-speed connection, you can download a high quality video file to your computer. When you play it back, the quality will be consistently good, without the interruptions and periods of deterioration that are common with streaming. Another advantage of downloaded files is that your computer does not need a high speed connection during the playback. The first time you attempt to play a downloaded file, you must have some kind of internet connection. This enables the Media Player to go out and check for a valid license for that file. Once the license has been verified, it is not necessary for that computer to be connected to the internet for playback of that file. Alternatively, prior to downloading the file, play it for a minute or so. This will download the license to your computer. Then proceed to download the file.
After you select the file you want to view, you will see a ‘pop-up’ window that gives you the choice to play the file or download the file. Right click (depress the button on the right hand of the mouse) the download symbol and select “Save Target As…”
Q. How long will it take to download a message file?
The download time depends on the connection speed. Faster connections, like DSL and cable modem, should be able to download the high quality files in about an hour, or a little more. We do not recommended downloading files with a 56K modem.
Q. What is the approximate file size of a message file?
A typical message file of high quality will be approximately 170 to 250 MB.
Q. Once I download a file, how long do I have to view it? How many times can I view it?
A message is available for use in the video training for a period of 7 days from the time you begin playing the file.
Q. Why do I have to have Windows Media Player Series 9?
WMP9 incorporates new technology, not available in earlier versions that enable us to deliver media with certain restrictions. This technology is called DRM – Digital Rights Management.
Q. How do I know what version of the Windows Media Player I have?
If you are not sure which version of Media Player you have, click on the help button on the tool bar in WMP. Then, click on the “About Windows Media Player”. The window that comes up will display the version number.
No. At this time Macs do not support Microsoft's Digital Rights Management version 7.
Q. What hardware and software do I need to take advantage of this service?
Any PC that is compatible with WMP 9 will work. The minimum required operating system for your PC is Windows 98SE.
Q. Are there any special settings that I need to change in Media Player?
There are two settings that must be checked in order for Media Player to work properly. One concerns acquiring the license, and the other concerns the player ID #.
You can check these settings by clicking on “Tools”, then “Options”, then “Privacy”. Make sure that the box is checked next to “Acquire licenses automatically for protected content” and the box next to “Send unique Player ID to content providers”. Q. When I try to display the message on a big screen I can see Windows Media Player but I cannot see the video playing (though it still appears on the laptop screen)?
This could possibly be a video acceleration problem. Try clicking on “Tools” in Media Player, then, “Options”. Select the “Performance” tab at the top, and then click on the “Advanced” button (lower left). In the “Video Acceleration” section (upper left corner), make sure that none of the option boxes are checked.
Q. How can I hookup my computer to a TV?
Hooking up your laptop to a TV monitor requires either a composite video (yellow connector) or a s-video connector (4 pin din plug). Your laptop may have a 7 pin din plug along with an attachment on which is the composite and s-video connectors. If your TV has only a composite video input and your laptop has only a s-video output, you will need to purchase a s-video to composite video adaptor. For the audio you will need an adaptor cable that has a 1/8" inch stereo plug on one side (computer side) and 2 connectors on the other side (TV side): one red connector and 1 white connector. English will always be on the left audio track (white connector) and the translation on the right (red connector).
Digital Rights Management (DRM) & Licensing Questions
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is an encryption service that works in conjunction with Media Player to provide authorization for the Media Player to play an encrypted file. In order to play a file that has DRM, the Media Player must acquire a ‘license’.
A license is an electronic key that the Media Player must obtain before it can play the file. A license is required for each file (message) you play on a machine.
Q. If I have setup an account do I still need a license?
When you watch a message, Media Player will automatically download the license for you. You may watch a message on up to two different computers.
Q. Why would I need two licenses?
You would need the second license if you wanted to play a message on a second machine. For example, if you start a message on your desktop machine, and want to finish watching on your laptop, you would need the second license for your laptop. This also becomes important for watching multiple languages (see section on Languages).
Q. Can I ever view a message without a license?
No. When you click the play button, Media Player checks to see if a valid license exists before it plays the file. If a license is found, the player automatically downloads that license and stores it until it expires (7 days). If no license is found, you will see a message telling you that no current license can be found.
Q. Do I have to download the license?
Media Player looks for a license when you attempt to play the file for the first time. If it does find a license for that file (message) on your computer, it will automatically download it. Therefore the first time you want to play the file you must be connected to the internet. Since the license is stored in the Media Player, any time you want to play the file after the license has been acquired; you do not need to have an internet connection.
Q. Do I need a license if I am going to view the message without downloading it?
Yes, a license is required for both streaming and playing a file.
Q. Can I start watching a file on one computer and then copy it over to my laptop and watch it again?
Yes. We provide two licenses for each file. This enables users to view the file on a maximum of two machines. For example, you could watch a message in an English speaking training meeting, then burn a copy onto a CD and then play that CD on one other machine, such as your laptop, and watch it in a video training meeting for Spanish speakers. The second, or copied file, will be subject to the same expiration (7 days) as the original file stored on your first computer.
Q. Does the machine I download the file on automatically count as one of the two machines allowed?
No. The licenses are assigned to the playback machines, which could be different than the machine you downloaded the file on in the first place. Of course, if you begin playing the file on your download machine, that machine will utilize one of the licenses.
Q. Do I have to download a license for every message that I want to view?
Every time you start watching a file, Media Player automatically looks for a valid license and downloads it.
Questions Concerning Languages Other than English Q. What languages will be available?
The file for each message will contain five languages: English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Portuguese.
In addition to this, we will also provide a download only file that contains English/Chinese, English/Spanish, English/Korean, and English/Japanese stereo for churches who want to play 2 languages at the same time. The appropriate language can be selected by playing the message in Windows Media Player, then clicking "Play" on the upper menu bar. This will display a drop down menu; click on "Audio and Language Tracks", and select your desired language (note: if the "Audio and Language Tracks" option is not available in the drop down menu, you do not have Windows Media Player Series 9).
If you use the archive file with the stereo audio tracks, English will always be on the left channel and the translation on the right channel. The English/Language mix may be adjusted by clicking on View / Enhancements / Graphic Equalizer then shifting the balance bar. Q. If we watch the messages in more than one location can each location watch at the same time?
Each account is allowed two licenses per requested language per message. So, if English in one location and Chinese in another language, you could do so with one account.
Q. Do I need to download a different file for each language that I want to watch?
No. Each downloaded file includes all five languages. If the file has multiple languages (indicated on the website), you can change the language track by clicking on ‘Play / Audio Language Tracks’ and selecting the desired language.
This means that you can download a message and burn a copy onto a CD that could be played on another computer for the second language. Q. Which file should I use, mono or stereo?
In most cases, the mono file is sufficient. However, if two language groups are watching the messages in the same room at the same time, you should download the stereo file. The stereo file will allow you to send the English track (left audio) to a TV and the translation (right audio) to a wireless transmitter or headphones. The stereo file may also be used by those who listen to translation and want to control the level of the English mix.
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