1 Purchasing/Downloading/Playing

1 Purchasing/Downloading/Playing

MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC are audio files, that play on your computer (using Quicktime, iTunes, Windows Media Player, RealOne Player, etc) and digital audio players (including the iPod, the SanDisk MP3 Player, the iRiver, etc).

MP3 is the most common type of audio file. If you are unsure which format to purchase, choose MP3, as MP3s play on the majority of digital audio players, including the Apple iPod. MP3s at Telltale Weekly are encoded at 64kbps.

Ogg Vorbis is an open-standard alternative to MP3. Ogg Vorbis files released after June 2005 at Telltale Weekly are encoded at Quality 2 (which roughly translates to 64-96kbps). Prior releases are encoded at 64kbps.

AAC is a higher-quality alternative to MP3. Though AAC is the ideal format for those using the popular iPod line of players from Apple, MP3 currently has much more compatibility (than either Ogg Vorbis or AAC) with other digial audio players. AAC files (.m4a) at Telltale Weekly are encoded at 64kbps.

All downloaded files are zipped (compressed and collected for easy opening on most computers) and, depending on operating system, may require a third party unzipping tool. Telltale Weekly recommends Stuffit Expander from Aladdin Systems, Inc., free for Windows and Mac [links open in a new window]. Info-Zip [new window] offers an unzipping tool for just about any other operating system.

Telltale Weekly accepts two payment methods: Bitpass and PayPal.

Bitpass allows anonymous purchases in all increments (so you can buy just one 25-cent or $8 recording at Telltale Weekly and be on your way). You may fund your Bitpass account with a credit card or PayPal. Bitpass downloads begin at the instant of purchase, and you may re-attempt your downloads up to 10 times within 10 days without being charged again (should a download fail the first time). Learn More about Bitpass.

PayPal allows multiple purchases with one receipt (with a $3 minimum per purchase) using a traditional shopping cart method (add items to cart and then "view cart" to make your purchase). You may fund PayPal with a bank account or a credit card. Shortly after making your PayPal purchase you will receive download instructions. Save your download password (will be created after your purchase)!

Turn off any download assistant or manager. Pay attention to the file sizes of your purchased recordings, especially if you are on dialup. Try again, maybe using a different browser. It's possible that excessive traffic (on your ISP's end or Telltale's end) will require waiting a half-hour or so.

If you end up using all 10 of your downloads, query and include the name of the recording, the format, and the exact Bitpass-stamped time of download (remember: Bitpass recordings are anonymous). You will need to log in to your Bitpass account in order to get some of this information.

Check your junk mail folders. Make sure you can accept emails from alex@awstudios.net. Your email will be sent to your PayPal email address, so please make sure that your address is valid. If you paid via eCheck, Telltale will not receive the payment for 3-5 days.

Turn off any third party download assistant or manager (RealDownload, Speed Download, etc). Pay attention to the file sizes of your purchased recordings, especially if you are on dialup. Log-in and try again, maybe using a different browser.

Often times, doubleclicking on the file will open the appropriate software player on your computer (Quicktime, Windows Media Player, iTunes, etc). Using software like iTunes, you may also transfer the recording to a digital music player like the iPod, or burn the recording onto a CD (standard audio-CD or an MP3-CD). You may make unlimited copies of purchased audio files for personal use on an unlimited number of computers, portable devices, and CDRs, though you may not redistribute them--online or off.

Telltale science fiction author David Rowland Grigg shares this tip:

If you have an iPod, a small change to the AAC files will mean that the iPod correctly bookmarks the files. Change the file extension of AAC files from .m4a to .m4b on a Windows system. On a Macintosh, change the file type to M4B_ (where the _ represents a space character). This change means that the iPod recognises the file as an audio book and will save a bookmark when you leave the file, so that when you return it will start where you left off.

The download didn't complete. See

1.3 (Bitpass) The download didn't complete!
or
1.5 (PayPal) The download didn't complete!

2 "Funding a Free Audiobook Library"

2 "Funding a Free Audiobook Library"

Not immediately, except for the ones free from the outset at The Spoken Alexandria Project. Telltale sells "Funding a Free Audiobook Library" recordings inexpensively for five years (or 100,000 sales, whichever comes first) and then releases them free with a Creative Commons License.

A few works are released free initially. The rest have their date of release at the bottom of the page. You may not redistribute any of these cheap-now, free-later recordings until Telltale releases them with a Creative Commons License.

No. You may only redistribute recordings that Telltale Weekly gives away with a Creative Commons License. You'll find all these works at The Spoken Alexandria Project. Some of the works you purchase will be released free eventually. Please be patient and support this project by not redistributing these works while they are sold at Telltale. They say that selling DRM-free digital files invites piracy, and that giving people what they want is no way to run a business. Let's prove them wrong.

Many works at Telltale will be released with a Creative Commons License (specifically an Attribution, Non-Commercial License) after five years or 100,000 sales (whichever comes first), which will allow online libraries and other individuals the opportunity to redistribute the works free-of-charge. After a Telltale Weekly recording has been released under the license--anyone will be free to (a) copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and (b) make derivative works, all with two conditions: attribution, and non-commerical use.

Credit to the creators of the work must be given--in each case the author of the text performed, the performer of the work, and Telltale Weekly. And the work may not be resold or otherwise used commercially without permission of the work's creator(s).

"Internationally, the public domain is the body of creative works and other knowledge--writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others--in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest (typically a government-granted monopoly such as a copyright or patent). Such works and inventions are considered part of the public's cultural heritage, and anyone can use and build upon them without restriction (not taking into account laws concerning safety, export, etc)."

--Wikipedia

Currently, the US Copyright on most works created and published before 1923 and whose authors died at least 50 years ago have expired. Many countries (including most of the EU) require 70 years to pass after the author's death for a work's copyright to expire. For example, many of the works by HG Wells--including The Time Machine (1895), The War of the Worlds (1898), and The Invisible Man (1897) are currently in the public domain in the United States, Canada, and Australia, but not yet in the European Union, as he died in 1946.

When in doubt about a specific work's copyright, consult a lawyer. More information about the public domain can be found at the free encyclopedia Wikipedia [new window].

As traditionally defined, work in the Public Domain refers to work that has no copyright restrictions at all. Creative Commons Licenses allows copyright holders to distribute their work with relaxed restrictions, without giving up their copyrights altogether. For more information see the CCL FAQ [new window].

No. Recordings of work by modern (living) authors and other original modern work (modern radio dramas, etc.) will not be released under free under any CCL by Telltale Weekly. Authors and producers of original work maintain full copyright to their work, and they may license (or not license) their work however they see fit.

I use "audiobook." Google seems to prefer "audio book." It's clear what we're talking about either way, so whichever works for you; language is an evolving phenomena.

3 Contributors

3 Contributors

Possibly. See the contributors page and query. And please read the guidelines.

Possibly. See the contributors page and query. And please read the guidelines.

Possibly. We will consider as original works: musical storytelling, skits and dramas that are musical or operatic, original filk (but not filk that is based on proprietary universes and proprietary characters for which the filker does not own the rights), and musical parody. If you are unsure if your work is appropriate for a Telltale Weekly audience, query.

We will also consider traditional music which uses public domain works as lyrics/music (poetry, traditional ballads, hymns, Psalms, etc.) for the "Funding a Free Audiobook Library" part of the project.

See the contributors page and query. And please read the guidelines.