What is the purpose of this learning guide?
After reading this instruction guide you will be familiar with and able to do the following:
1. Know how to listen to the classes at your computer, while you are on the internet via RealAudio.
2. Know how to listen to the classes at your computer while you are not attached to the internet via an MP3 file.
3. Know how to listen to the classes while away from your computer on a portable device called a MP3 Player.
4. Know how to listen to the classes while away from your computer via your CD player or boom box.

What are the 4 ways to listen to CoachVille/GSC classes?

1. RealAudio via your computer
To play RealAudio on your computer you simply click on the RealAudio file, while connected to the internet. The file will then play over the internet out through your computer speakers, via a RealAudio Player. Don't have a RealAudio player? Get one free from Real.com here. (hit restart download)

2. MP3 via your computer
MP3 is the latest in audio technology. When you have an MP3 file you can either play it over the internet just like a RealAudio file or you can also download that file to your hard drive and play it when you are not connected to the internet, via a MP3 Software Player. Don't have a MP3 Software Player? Get one free from Musicmatch.com here.

3. Portable MP3
But the best reason to use MP3 files, is you can then take that same file from your hard drive and transfer it to a MP3 Portable Player. This, then allows you to listen to the CoachVille/GSC material while hiking, working out, driving in the car, or walking on the beach. You are not stuck sitting at your computer to immerse yourself in this great material. Everything you wanted to know about portable MP3 Players here.

3. Listen on a 'regular' CD player
The third option is to take the MP3 files and convert them so they can be listened to a 'regular' CD player, like in your car. Less expensive than using a MP3 Player, but more complicated to convert files and this assumes you have access to a CD burner, which if you don't, will cost you about as much as a MP3 player. Step-by-Step instructions | here.

What exactly is MP3?

MP3 is a file format that you can play on your computer, as well as any sound system or device that plays MP3 files. Device examples include the Rio/Sonic Blue MP3 Players, and the Apple iPod. 
 

apple's iPod (5 and 10 gig) mac only

sonic blue's rio riot (20gig) pc or mac

How does this work?
There are 3 components to playing MP3's.

1. First is the MP3 file of the call, which we will provide for you.
2. Second is software on your computer to play the MP3. You can then listen to the classes w/out being connected to the internet. Possibly saving time/money. Software choices can be found http://genres.mp3.com/software/guide/.
3. And third, is the portable hardware device, like the 2 listed above, that will allow you to transfer the MP3 files to them and listen to music/gsc classes on the go!

What makes MP3 cool?
MP3 is cool because it compresses audio files (music or voice) just like RealAudio does. This, so you can transfer a file from your hard drive to an MP3 player. Audio files without this compression are VERY big. Think 7 megs vs. 100+ megs.

MP3 players (think Sony Walkman, in size), can play between 2 hours and 500 hours of content. Sweet.

A lot of folks 'burn and rip' their music CDs into MP3, so they don't have to lug CD's around.  For example, I have the Rio Riot MP3 player and it can hold 10,000 songs/files.  It's smaller than a paperback book and runs for 10 hours on a battery charge.  Capacity is 20 gigs in and also works as a back up for my computer itself.

Some home stereo systems, and even some new car CD players can now play MP3 files. It's on its way to becoming the new industry standard for music files.

Why MP3? 
Portability. You'll be able to listen to coach training in your car, on a hike, at the beach, resting on the couch. Without having to pay for cassettes or CDs and the related shipping costs. Currently, most coaches do not have MP3 players.  But some do and some are planning on buying one, hence this set of instructions.

Bottom line it for me, please. (hold the techie talk)
You can take the course content at CoachVille/GSC that you currently listen to on the computer via RealAudio and play them on your portable MP3 player for easy, portable listening.

What are the step-by-step instructions for listening via a MP3 Portable player?

Step 1
Purchase a MP3 Player.
You will need a way to play the files once you download them from CoachVille/other sites on the internet. That will require you to purchase a MP3 Player. You could download the files and play them with software on your computer, this will enable you to listen to the classes while not online, but you are still stuck at your computer to listen to them. The MP3 Player solves this problem and allows you to listen to your files whenever/wherever you wish. Which MP3 Player should you purchase? More information to help you decide here.

Step 2
Download the MP3 Files from CoachVille/GSC.
There are 2 steps....

          [MP3 of Training Call | here]

•  Use your RIGHT mouse button and click on the MP3 link. (try the example above)  When the option list pops up, choose 'Save File As...' or something similar (depending on your internet browser).  Although you can use the LEFT mouse button, some browsers are set up to automatically handle MP3s, with the result that the file may start to play versus being stored on your hard drive properly.
•  
• Save the file in a location on your hard drive where you will be able to find the file again. (i.e. create a folder called MP3 files).

Step 3
Transfer those files to your MP3 Player.
Depending on which player you get and what the connection is to your computer, this step will vary. Sorry we can't be more helpful here. Your MP3 Player, will come with step-by-step instructions for downloading the MP3 files to it. You will more than likely transfer the files via USB, PCMCIA card, Firewire or using a SmartMedia or Flash memory card.
 

Step 4
Enjoy!
You can now listen to the course material, available at both CoachVille and the GSC at your convenience!

This is good information, but I don't want to invest in $300 worth of technology right now, isn't there another way I can listen to these files away from the computer?

Glad you asked. Yes you can. (Assuming you have access to/or own a CD burner).
You can take those same MP3 files we just showed you how to download and turn them into files that can play on your 'regular' car/home CD player.

Really? Why didn't you just say so in the first place?

Well, for one, it's not as cool a solution (the MP3 players are Cool!) and while yes, there is a way to do it, and it's not overly complicated, there is software to purchase/download /configure and so purchasing the MP3 Player might look like a bargain when you factor in your time/energy/frustration level.

Why is this so complicated?
Think back to when it was 8-Track switching to VHS, or even now, VHS to DVD. If you were making a movie today, which hardware would you offer? No perfect solution exists for all. MP3 is the wave of the future....but there are other alternatives, so we are giving you a choice. Just like everyone has a portable CD Player now, in the future, everyone will have a portable MP3 Player.

OK, so how do I create CD's I can start using now?

Step 1
Download the MP3 file from the CoachVille/GSC website, as shown above | here

Step 2
Convert that file from MP3 to .WAV file
Unless your CD player also plays MP3 files, which it probably doesn't (it will usually say, MP3 on it somewhere), you can not play the MP3 files as they are. You have to convert them to a file format that your CD player can read/play. In this case, the universal file format is a .wav file.

This step is not hard, but you may want to just take $20 bucks and pay that neighbor kid to do it for you.

You are going to have to get a piece of software that will do this file conversion for you. There are many types of software on the web. Some fee, some free. At CoachVille we use a piece of software called CoolEdit 2000 ($69.00 US) which can be found here: http://www.syntrillium.com/cooledit/.

Another recommended piece of software is called MusicMatch Jukebox. It's free and will allow you to do the conversion we are talking about here. (We recommend you start with the MusicMatch Jukebox software).

Follow the steps for the software you download/purchase to convert the MP3 file to .WAV. Most, not all of the time, the conversion process is simply opening the MP3 file in the software and doing a SAVE AS and choosing .WAV for the extension. Simple as that! Usually just takes a couple of minutes per file.

Step 3
Burn the .WAV file onto a CD
The third and final step in this process, requires the use of a CD-Burner. And, we should stress, a CD-Burner with audio CD making capabilities. You see there is another step or conversion that happens to that .WAV file that makes it playable on a boom box or car stereo system.

And that conversion happens when you burn the file to an AUDIO CD. The CD-Burner software does the conversion for you. (or should).

And that's it. As easy as 1-2-3!

So in recap you need a piece of software that will convert the files from MP3 to .WAV. Then you need to BURN (or save) that .WAV file to an AUDIO CD. Most CD-Burners have this capability and will ask you when you start the process....do you want to make an audio cd? or a cd to be played in a computer? etc. This is why they ask that. If you want to make an Audio CD, it is a different process than if you want to just make a copy of a data CD.

I understand that MusicMatch Jukebox Plus will do both steps 2 & 3 ($19.00 US)

Tips for successful MP3 file making:

1. Buddy up to that neighbor kid. (hey, it's all about having the right resources at your disposal!)

2. Know your CD's limit.
Only about 6 (one hour) classes will fit on one CD. (one of the reasons we can't do this process for you, or it would include about 60 CD's per GSC member!) We also can't make the .WAV file available for download, saving you step 2, as the download would take hours to complete.

3. Know when to punt.
If you get frustrated w/any or all of these steps. See step 1 in the tip section. This process is supposed to make things easier for you, not more complicated. Technology is amazing and it can be highly frustrating. Know your limits on what you are willing to tolerate/put up with. When you cross that limit, time to bring in the help.

If you want additional help with MP3's, please check out http://www.MP3.com.