Section 1: About WMA Downloadable
WMA Downloadable audiobooks from Learning Ally
As a pioneer in audiobooks, Learning Ally continually seeks out ways to make the audio reading experience easier, more enjoyable and productive for our members. WMA Downloadable offers the extensive, high-quality audio textbooks from the Learning Ally library in an exciting and easy-to-navigate downloadable format, without the need for specialized playback equipment.
WMA Downloadable is not intended to replace Learning Ally DAISY CDs but to provide an Internet-downloadable, alternative format. The choice is yours!
WMA Downloadable from Learning Ally offers downloadable audiobooks that play on a Microsoft Windows®-compatible computer. Downloaded books can be synchronized (synced) with Windows-compatible portable media players. WMA Downloadable is designed as an alternative format to DAISY CDs, in which each page of a book is navigated by track.
FAQs Last Updated on 4/11/2011
1. Why did Learning Ally launch WMA Downloadable?
To provide Internet-downloadable books which do not require specialized playback equipment.
2. What's different about WMA Downloadable?
WMA Downloadable books are available in a downloadable format and contain the exact same audio as DAISY CDs and Downloadable DAISY books. WMA Downloadable is available for download for use with Microsoft Windows-based computers and portable media players.
3. Which members will benefit most from WMA Downloadable books?
All Learning Ally members can derive benefit from WMA Downloadable books; however Learning Ally members who are blind or visually impaired should be comfortable using Windows Media Player, which is required to use WMA Downloadablebooks on a computer. Members who are not comfortable using Windows Media Player still have a choice of listening to DAISY CDs or Downloadable DAISY on a DAISY player available through Learning Ally.
4. Do I need an online-ordering account with Learning Ally to use WMA Downloadable books?
Yes, since the books are available by download only via the Learning Ally Online Ordering Center at www.LearningAlly.org, you will need an online account to get your books. Setting up an online account is simple and free.
5. Which books will be available in the WMA Downloadable format?
All newly recorded, digitally mastered DAISY CD books will be available in the WMA Downloadable format. In addition, a limited number of books converted from our older analog tapes will be made available as WMA Downloadable audiobooks.
Section 2: WMA Downloadable and Your Learning Ally Membership
1. How does WMA Downloadable affect my membership?
There is no change to the terms of your Learning Ally membership. WMA Downloadable is an additional format option for audiobooks. Learning Ally members can order DAISY Downloadable, DAISY CDs or WMA Downloadable books in any combination as part of their membership.
2. How long can I keep my WMA Downloadable books?
You can retain and play your WMA Downloadable books throughout your membership period, after which the files will no longer be playable. If you no longer need the book during your membership period, you can just delete the files. If you still need the book after you renew your membership, you can also renew the book for another year. You may renew books every year for as long as you are a Learning Ally member in good standing.
3. When I want to renew an WMA Downloadable audiobook, do I have to re-download the book?
No, although you will have to place a renewal order to get a new license. Otherwise, the book will no longer be playable on your player. See Section 6, Question 5 for more information about book licenses.
4. When is an WMA Downloadable book applied to my membership book limit?
WMA Downloadable books will be applied to your membership at the time the audiobook is ordered.
Section 3: Searching & Ordering
1. How can I find which titles are available as WMA Downloadable downloadable textbooks?
Use the Learning Ally online book catalog at https://custhub.rfbd.org/ and click the "Book Catalog" button on the left side of the screen. In the Book Format field, select "WMA Downloadable" to search for WMA Downloadable books only.
2. How many books are available in WMA Downloadable format?
More than 40,000 titles are available for order in the WMA Downloadable format.
3. The book I want is available in DAISY CD format but not WMA Downloadable. Can I request that it be converted?
Unfortunately, some of our older DAISY titles have been converted from older analog tape masters, they are not suitable for the WMA Downloadable format. The most popular of these titles are being targeted for new, higher-quality digital recordings.
4. I have five PCs at my school. Can I play the same WMA Downloadable book on all five?
Yes, but you will need to acquire a separate license for each PC. You will need to order five copies of the book in order to get the proper number of licenses.
Section 4: Getting Started with WMA Downloadable
1. What kind of computer and what type of Internet connection are required?
- Microsoft Windows® XP or Vista™
- Microsoft Windows Media Player version 10 or higher
- A high-speed connection to the Internet (for both download and licensing)
- RFB&D Download Manager software (free download)
You also will need:
- A valid Learning Ally online account login and password
2. Do I need an Internet connection to play WMA Downloadable books?
Yes. You need a Windows-compatible computer with an Internet connection to download the books from Learning Ally and to receive the license for the books when you first play them.
3. Can I play an WMA Downloadable book on my Apple Macintosh® computer?
No, WMA Downloadable books use Microsoft's Windows Media protection software. They will not play on Mac OS X or an Apple iPod®. However, Apple computers running Windows, either as dual-boot systems or via special virtualization software, should be able to play WMA Downloadable books while running Windows.
Section 5: Downloading WMA Downloadable Books
1. Where do I go to download my WMA Downloadable books?
Log into the Learning Ally online catalog and ordering center at https://custhub.rfbd.org and click on the button "Log In to Order Now" at the top of the page. Once you log in, click on "My Downloads."
2. What does the status "Converting" mean?
We are still in the process of converting the Learning Ally library into the WMA Downloadable format. When you order a book that has not yet been converted, it will have the status "Converting" until conversion is complete.
3. How long will it take to convert my book?
It usually takes 72 hours or less to convert a book once your order is placed.
4. What does the status "Uploading" mean?
Not all books are stored all at once on the Learning Ally delivery network. When you order a book that is in our reserve storage, it will have the status "Uploading" until it has been added to our delivery network.
5. How long will it take my book to upload to the Learning Ally delivery network?
It usually takes less than 24 hours to upload a book once your order is placed. Actual upload times depend on the size of the book and overall order volume.
6. How large is an WMA Downloadable book?
The average WMA Downloadable book is 400 megabytes (MB). Sizes vary greatly. You can see the total size of your specific WMA book on the "My Downloads" page.
7. How long does it take to download an WMA Downloadable book?
Download time depends on the size of the book and the speed of your Internet connection. An average 400 MB book downloaded over a 1.5 Mbps connection will take about 30-40 minutes.
8. What do the "Copies ordered, Used, and Unused" numbers mean?
The copies ordered shows the total number of copies of each title that you have ordered. You can acquire a single license to play the WMA Downloadable book on a single PC for each copy of your order. The copies used column shows the number of licenses actually issued to you for each title that you have ordered. The copies unused column shows how many more licenses you may acquire for each title, based on the number ordered. You can always get more licenses by placing an order for more copies of a particular book.
9. Why do I need the RFB&D Download Manager application?
Each WMA Downloadable book consists of many small audio files (one per page) packaged into chapter-sized pieces. RFB&D Download Manager is needed to keep track of all the parts of a book, to be sure that you download them all, and to "unpack" and store the audio files in the correct locations on your PC.
10. Where can I get RFB&D Download Manager?
You can download the RFB&D Download Manager installer at https://custhub.rfbd.org/Download/RFBDDownloadManager.exe.
11. How do I install RFB&D Download Manager?
Just download and run the installer and follow the prompts. For detailed instructions, see the RFB&D Download Manager installation guide.
12. Does the RFB&D Download Manager work with web proxy servers?
Yes. Proxy settings can be adjusted in the Proxy Server section of the Options screen, found in the "View" menu.
13. Do I need special firewall settings to use RFB&D Download Manager?
RFB&D Download Manager uses the same protocol as web browsers, so no new ports need to be opened on your firewall. You will need to allow access to http://rfbd.vo.llnwd.net/o41/ to download books.
14. Where does RFB&D Download Manager save my files?
By default, the chapter-sized ZIP files are saved in
My Documents\RFBD Downloads. Each book is saved in its own subfolder. After download, the individual audio files are unpacked and stored in My Documents\RFBD Media Files. Again, each book is saved in its own subfolder. You can change these default locations in the "Saving Files" section of the Options screen.
15. What’s the difference between the “Saving” and “Opening” locations in the Download Manager options?
The “Saving” location is where the chapter-sized ZIP files are downloaded. The “Opening” location is where the audio files are placed after unpacking.
16. Do I have to download the entire book before I can use it?
No. Each chapter-sized section download file is self-contained and fully functional.
17. What if my download gets interrupted?
RFB&D Download Manager will remember where you left off and will resume the download at that point.
18. How do I control which book or chapter downloads first?
RFB&D Download Manager shows the files in the order that they will be downloaded. You can select one or more files and drag them up or down to change the order. Double-clicking a single file will cause it to go to the top of the queue.
19. Some books allow download by chapter, but others do not. Why is that?
Not all books are structured by chapters – some are in “units,” “sections,” or other divisions. AudioAccess books are packaged by the top level division in each particular book.
Section 6: Accessing and Reading Your WMA Downloadable books
1. Can I burn my WMA Downloadable book to a CD?
No, you cannot create a regular audio CD from your WMA Downloadable files.
2. Can I save my downloads to an external drive?
They can be saved to any location by changing the Download Manager option. The external drive will need to be attached to the PC whenever the member wants to read the books, and the drive cannot be shared among multiple PCs.
3. After downloading, where do I go to find my books?
RFB&D Download Manager automatically adds your WMA Downloadable books to your Windows Media Player library.
4. How do I find my Windows Media Player library?
Start Windows Media Player from your Start Menu. Click on Library at the top of the screen. If you do not see the Library option, you may need to change to “Full Mode” from “Skin Mode.” There should be a button marked “Switch to Full Mode,” or you may have a “Full Mode” item under the “View” menu, depending on the skin you are using.
5. What versions of Windows Media Player can play WMA Downloadable books?
WMA Downloadable books require version 10 or higher of Windows Media Player.
6. When I try to play an WMA Downloadable book, Windows Media Player requests a “security upgrade.” Do I need to do this?
Yes. All this does is to generate a unique identifier for your computer so that licenses can be properly issued to it.
7. What is a license and why do I need one?
Learning Ally uses Microsoft protection technology to ensure that our distribution of WMA Downloadable books is in accordance with U.S. Copyright laws. The files are encrypted and cannot be played until a license has been issued by Learning Ally. Each copy of a WMA Downloadable book can be licensed to play on a single computer and for institutions the copy can be synced to 5 portable media players. To play the book on multiple computers, you need to order multiple copies.
8. Why do I need to enter my Learning Ally username and password to play a book? Will I need to do this every time I want to play a book?
We request your username and password when issuing a license to protect your account from unauthorized usage. You only need to do this once per book per PC. After the license has been issued for one file in an audiobook, it will unlock all the remaining files for that book without prompting you.
9. How do I get a license for a book?
You must have an active Internet connection in order to receive a license for a book. The license acquisition process will begin automatically the first time you try to play a book in Windows Media Player. A screen will pop up prompting you to get the license. You may need to provide your Learning Ally account login and password to do this.
10. I was able to play a book, but now it says that I need a license again. Why?
All book licenses expire on your membership renewal date. At that time, books you ordered under your prior year’s membership will no longer play and you will need to get new licenses. The license acquisition dialogue will explain this process; just follow the instructions to renew your books. You do not need to re-download the books.
11. Can I put my books on a file server or network share and then play them from more than one computer?
Yes, although you will have to order a license (copy) for each PC that will be used to read the book. For details, see the School IT Administrator's Guide.
12. Can I control the playback speed with Windows Media Player?
Yes. In the “View” menu, select “Enhancements” and then “Play Speed Settings.”
13. I renewed my license for a book, do I need to re-sync the book to my MP3 player?
Yes. After you get a new license for the book in Windows Media Player, hook up your MP3 player to your PC while Windows Media Player is still open. The license should be copied automatically to your player. If not, try manually re-syncing one or more of the book's files to the player to update the license.
Section 7: WMA Downloadable and Portable Media Players
1. Can I play my WMA Downloadable books on my DAISY player?
None of the current DAISY players support Windows Media DRM.
2. Can I use my WMA Downloadable books with my portable media player?
Yes, if your player supports Windows Media DRM for subscriptions. For individual members, you can sync two different players with a PC; for institutional members, you can sync five different players per PC.
3. Which portable media players are compatible with AudioAccess?
- The MP3 player must be able to play files at a bit rate of 32 kbps. Learning Ally uses the 32 kbps bit rate to minimize the size of the audio files. Some players cannot play files at very low bit rates. Check a player’s specifications to be sure.
- The MP3 player must have DRM (Digital Rights Management) capabilities to play subscription based encrypted Windows Media files.
Please note: Some players, even if they play WMA format files, cannot play protected WMA files. Learning Ally uses Windows Media DRM to protect WMA downloaded books. Players that can support protected WMA will often indicate “WMA-DRM” as a supported audio type. To determine if a player meets these requirements, refer to the player documentation for the player specifications. The specs will usually list the file formats supported, along with the bit rates supported for each. For details on system requirements, see the Learning Ally WMA Downloadable Compatible Players Guide.
Please refer to the player manufacturer's website to ensure that the player you purchase meets the minimum requirements necessary to play WMA Downloadable books.
4. Can I play my WMA Downloadable books on my iPod? What about my Microsoft Zune®?
Unfortunately at this time, neither of these players supports Windows Media DRM and therefore cannot play WMA Downloadable books.
5. How many portable media players can I use with my WMA Downloadable books?
One (1) copy of a WMA Downloadable book may be downloaded to one (1) computer and for Institutional members synced to five (5) MP3 players.
6. How do I move my WMA Downloadable books to my portable media player?
Use Windows Media Player to move ("sync") all or parts of your WMA Downloadable books to your portable media player. See "How to transfer books to portable players" for detailed instructions.
7. Can I move just part of a book to my portable media player?
Yes, you can add specific pages of a book to your sync list when syncing your player. You can repeat the sync process any number of times, as long as you are using the same portable media player.
8. How do I access my book on my portable media player?
Your WMA Downloadable books are stored as “albums” in the Music Library of your portable media player.
9. Can I control the playback speed on my portable media player?
Some portable media players do support speed change. See your player’s user’s guide for details on your particular unit.
10. Can I use bookmarks with my portable media player?
Some players do support bookmarks, and those that do may offer different bookmarking features. See your player’s user’s guide for details.