Playback Questions

1. How do I configure RealPlayer 7 Plus to work with a network firewall?

   RealPlayer 7 uses varying configurations depending upon the firewall setup. Our firewall pages have instructions on how to configure RealPlayer 7 to work with a firewall.

2. Why do I get a "missing plug-in" error when I type an address into the Location bar in RealPlayer 7 Plus?

   The RealPlayer 7 Location bar works similarly to the Address or Location bar in a web browser. However, you can only enter addresses for RealMedia files in the RealPlayer Location bar. If you enter an address that does not contain a RealMedia file (such as a web page address), you will receive a "missing plug-in" error.

3. Why is RealPlayer 7 Plus still rebuffering or giving poor playback from many sites?

   Packet loss occurs when information is unable to successfully travel from one server to another. Previous RealPlayers have interpreted lost information as rebuffering, hissing, crackles, and skips. RealSystem G2 is designed to minimize the effects of packet loss.

   In RealSystem G2, RealProducer is used to encode RealMedia into streams of varying bandwidths. When RealPlayer 7 connects to a RealServer serving the variable bandwidth content, the server detects your Internet connection speed and sends the best stream possible for that connection. As the quality of your Internet connection changes due to packet loss, RealServer switches to a lower bandwidth stream. This causes a difference in the audio quality, but eliminates the rebuffering, hissing, crackles, and skips. When the quality of your Internet connection improves, RealServer switches back to the higher bandwidth stream. The switching is instantaneous so that there are no breaks in playback.

   However, at sites where the content is not encoded using the RealSystem G2, RealPlayer 7 will still rebuffer, hiss, or skip when the connection becomes too thin to consistently support the stream. This is expected behavior.

   To minimize poor playback from those sites not using RealSystem G2, try playing the content during times when Internet traffic is not at its peak. U.S. business hours and weekend evenings are peak times. Connections and playback will be better at other hours.

4. What can I do to improve the video image during playback?

   To receive the best possible video image in RealPlayer 7, follow these guidelines:

   • Set your monitor to 16-bit (thousands) or 24-bit (millions) color.

   • Update the video drivers on your computer. Contact your computer or video card manufacturer for driver updates.

   • If you are running other programs while using RealPlayer 7, exit those those that you are not using.

   • Do not use the Zoom button on lower bandwidth clips.

5. What can I do if the audio sounds like it is being played too fast or too slow?

   If audio sounds too fast, too slow, scratchy, or distorted, change the RealPlayer 7 performance settings:

   1. Start RealPlayer 7.
   2. From the View menu, choose Preferences.
   3. Click the Performance tab.
   4. Click the Settings button in the Sound card compatibility section.
   5. Select the Disable 16-bit sound or Disable custom sampling rates check boxes to modify the way that RealPlayer and the sound card interact. You may need to experiment to find a combination of settings that work best for your computer.
   6. Click OK in the Sound Card Compatibility dialog box.
   7. Click OK in the Preferences dialog box to save your changes.