Help with 'Music Online'
This is a brief tutorial to answer common questions. Comprehensive help information is available once you are logged into the service by clicking "Help."
2. What audio formats does this service use?
3. What platforms and operating systems will work with this service?
5. How much do downloads cost, and how do I pay for them?
6. Can I use this service with a dial-up connection?
1. When I try to log in to the music collections, I get the error message "You are not authorized to use this online collection. Only Danville Public Library cardholders have access to this collection."
For licensing reasons, only Danville Public Library cardholders may access these collections. If you have a valid DPL card, enter its full barcode number without spaces. If you are still denied access, you may be blocked by a firewall (help with firewalls). You will also be denied access if the maximum number of simultaneous users is logged in (5 users per collection).
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2. What audio formats does this service use?
- For Windows machines running Internet Explorer, music is streamed using Windows Media Audio (if using a firewall with such a setup, Port 1755 must be open to play content). For Windows machines running Netscape, music is streamed using Mp3.
- For Macintosh machines running Internet Explorer or Netscape, music is streamed using Mp3.
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3. What platforms and operating systems will work with this service?
PC Platform:
- Microsoft Windows up to and including XP
- Browsers: Internet Explorer up to and including version 6.x; Netscape up to and including version 8.0; Firefox up to and including version 1.0.6; Mozilla Suite up to and including version 1.7.11
- Music Playback: Macromedia Flash Player up to and including version 7.x; Microsoft Windows Media Player up to and including version 10.x
- Settings: Security settings of MEDIUM and lower; ActiveX controls enabled; Cookies enabled
Apple Macintosh Platform:
- Apple up to and including OSX/OS10
- Browsers: Netscape up to and including version 7.2; Safari up to and including version 1.3; Firefox up to and including version 1.0.6; Mozilla Suite up to and including version 1.7.11; Internet Explorer (not fully compatible with version 5.0 and higher; users can search and play music, but there are minor interface errors)
- Music Playback: Macromedia Flash Player up to and including version 7.x
- Settings: Security settings of MEDIUM and lower; Cookies enabled
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4. Streaming is free but downloading is not. What's the difference between streaming and downloading?
Streaming means the music is being delivered while you listen and is not saved. Downloading means you are saving a copy of the music on your computer.
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5. How much do downloads cost, and how do I pay for them?
Download costs typically range between $1 and $2 per track. You may pay for downloads by card credit once you have established a free, password-protected online account.
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6. Can I use this service with a dial-up connection?
Yes. Music is streamed at two different rates, Standard and Premium:
- STANDARD: music is streamed at 22 kilobits per second and provides similar sound quality to that of FM radio. It is particularly suitable for users on dial-up connections.
- PREMIUM: music is streamed at 64 kilobits per second. This produces much higher quality sound but requires a broadband connection.
To select preferred audio quality, toggle between standard and premium using the switch at the bottom right hand corner of the player window. Once you have chosen your preferred quality, your setting will be remembered for the duration of your session. Premium quality uses more bandwidth than standard quality. If you are on a dial-up connection or are experiencing interrupted playback, try changing to standard quality.
Firewall Issues
There are two types of firewalls in common use: personal and corporate.
Personal Firewalls
Personal firewalls are pieces of software installed on a computer which restrict the content that can be downloaded onto the computer and also what content on the Internet can be viewed by users of that computer. If you have a personal firewall you should go to the website of your firewall software manufacturer and search out their recommendations for Windows Media Player streams and MP3s.
Corporate Firewalls
Corporate firewalls are hardware machines which are installed by engineers on the network of institutions or corporations to restrict the content downloaded or viewed by all users of that network.
Why Firewalls Cause Issues
Firewalls cause problems for services like Music Online for Public Libraries because they can be used to block media streams (music). In order for music to be streamed to users, certain ports must be open on these firewalls. Ports are numbered doorways to Internet services, and firewalls can be configured to accept or reject access to particular ports.
Required Ports
Web site traffic is transferred across port 80. If port 80 is blocked by a firewall, then you will be unable to view any web pages on the service, and thus unable to use it in any way. In most cases, you will find that port 80 is already open on your firewall. In addition to port 80, the table below shows the other ports that must be open to support different Audio streaming formats:
Operating system |
Browser |
Audio format |
Open ports required |
Microsoft Windows 98sp2+ |
Internet 5.5+ |
Windows Media Audio |
1755 |
Microsoft Windows 98sp2+ |
Netscape 6+ |
Mp3 |
- |
Apple Mac OS9+ |
Internet 5.2+ Netscape 6.2+ |
Mp3 |
- |
Blocked Content
Many simple firewalls (especially personal firewalls) may have content controls which allow you to restrict the content by type. By following the firewall vendor's instructions you should ensure that both MP3s and Windows Media streams are not blocked.
Additionally, it is possible for some firewalls to block the Flash player from Macromedia. By following the firewall vendor's instructions you should ensure that the Flash player is not blocked. Download Flash here.