1. Browser settings – please be sure that you can accept cookies, at least from the sites you log into.
2. Download file placement – where do you want these music files to go? Some browsers automatically ask this question. For others, like Safari, you will find that in Preferences>General, you can create a FOLDER and specify it for downloaded files.
3. File management – We love iTunes for music file management, playback and burning. You can download the free iTunes player/file manager for PC from Apple.com. http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
4. Once your music files are in the DOWNLOADED FILES folder you created, VIEW the FILES AS LIST and SELECT ALL.
5. OPEN iTunes, CREATE a New Playlist (“+” icon) with the title of this set, and DRAG the downloaded files into the new playlist.
6. In EDIT>VIEW OPTIONS, you have 26 choices for information to display and sort tracks. To be sure you play the tracks in the sequence the artist intended, SELECT “Track #” as one of your display choices, then sort the tracks in numerical sequence.
7. Display - When you view the files in iTunes, the titles are displayed in the correct track sequence, as regular text, without the extra characters you saw in the original downloaded files.

If you experience a hitch along the way, please be patient with your operating system and browser. If this FAQ file hasn’t helped you solve the issue, please feel welcome to contact the Help desk.

Solutions to Common Problems:
Help! The Download Manager won't work for me!
How do I download the files I purchased?
What do I do if I couldn't download my show within 48 hours?
Why am I having problems registering as a new user?
How do I burn FLAC files to CD?
How do I listen to FLAC files?
How do I download the show I purchased?
I received a gift card with a registration code, now what?
Why is there a gap or click before each MP3 track?
Why won't the labels align properly?
Why am I having problems buying shows?

General
What are FestivaLink.net downloads?
How much does it cost?
What do I get?
What's the difference between MP3 and FLAC formats?
Why is FLAC more expensive than MP3?
Why are some of these releases shorter than the live performances?
Why are some sets dropped from the catalog?
How does FestivaLink.net affect my favorite band's taping policy?
Can I use a dial-up modem or do I need a cable modem or DSL?
Can I download shows I've purchased from multiple computers?
Can I make copies of the FestivaLink.net downloads?
Can I get a refund?
If I've purchased a show in MP3, can I "upgrade" to FLAC?

Technical
What are the recommended specs for enjoying FestivaLink.net downloads?
How do I download the show I purchased?
Is there a cumulative list of all the shows that I've purchased?
How do I burn FestivaLink.net downloads to CD?
Can I copy shows onto my portable player?

Troubleshooting
Dude, Where's My Download?
The show I downloaded is incomplete. Can I download again?

Links and Software
Links and Software


Solutions to Common Problems
Help! The Download Manager won't work for me!
The new Download Manager ("nugster") requires the latest version of Java. The Download Manager will work on both Macintosh OS X and Windows XP with either Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari browsers. Below are step by step instructions for using the Download Manager. If for some reason you are unable to use the Download Manager, you may always download manually by clicking the Manual Download link.

1. First we will check that you have the latest version of Java installed and that it is enabled in your browser.
2. If you see the screen below, then click the Start Download button to launch the Download Manager and skip to Step 6.
   
3. If you have a problem on this page, please make sure you have Java and JavaScript enabled in your browser for LiveDownloads.com.
4. If you see the screen below then click the Download the latest Java Runtime link to install Java on your computer.
   
   
5. Follow the instructions on the Java web site to install Java on your computer. Once the installation is complete, please close your browser, reload the download manager window and return to Step 2.
   
6. The first time you launch the Download Manager, your browser will prompt you to accept the security certificate for the Download Manager. This certificate ensures you that the code is secured by nugs.net enterprises, LLC, the company that powers this website. Please make sure the checkbox is checked to Always trust content from the publisher and click the Run button.
   
7. The Download Manager will prompt you to choose where to save your files. Please select the folder where you want to save your files, or create a new folder. Then click the Start Download button.
   
8. Once your downloads start transferring you may monitor the progress and start listening to each file once it is completely downloaded. Each filename will turn blue when complete and you may click on it to listen to it.
   
9. Once all your downloads are complete you can click on each file or right-click a file to open the folder where you saved your files.
   

How do I download the files I purchased?
Please follow these instructions:

1. Please make sure to log in to the site with the email address you used to purchased your files. Click the LOGIN link at the top of any page on FestivaLink.net to log in.
2. At any time, you may return to the MY STASH page to view the status of all your purchased downloads.
3. Click the START DOWNLOAD link next to the item you would like to download.
4. Alternatively, you may click the checkboxes next to several items, and then click the DOWNLOAD SELECTED button.
5. Please review the instructions above for our Download Manager.

Once you start a download, you will have 48 hours to complete that download. Please note: if you experience problems downloading particular tracks from a given show, you may return to download those tracks again for up to 48 hours from the time you started to download that show. If you continue to have problems downloading some or all tracks from a particular show, please contact customer service rather than attempting repeated downloads. Every download attempt (whether successful or not) adds significantly to the operational costs of Live Downloads, especially in the case of FLAC files - the long term viability of this service relies on users successfully downloading purchased shows on their first attempt.

What do I do if I couldn't download my show within 48 hours?
If you have technical difficulties downloading all the files for a show you've purchased within 48 hours of the time you started to download that show, please contact customer service. The "My Downloads" page will always show how much time you have left to download each show you've purchased.

Why am I having problems registering as a new user?
To register with FestivaLink.net, click the LOGIN link at the top of any page. A login window will pop open. Click the REGISTER HERE link to create a new user account. Make sure you use a valid email address when creating a new account. Please make sure you are using Internet Explorer 5 or later. You will need to have cookies enabled to use FestivaLink.net. In Internet Explorer, enable cookies by selecting Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Edit. Make sure you are not refusing cookies from FestivaLink.net.

1. Extract your FLAC files to WAV; simply drag all your FLAC files onto the FLAC front-end software and click the DECODE button.
2. Drag the WAV files onto your favorite CD burning software.
3. If you are using the latest version of Nero CD burning software, you can skip the conversion step. Make sure you have installed the proper FLAC software with the FLAC plugin for Nero. Drag the FLAC files for each disc onto Nero and burn your CDs according to Nero's instructions.

1. If you are using the latest version of Toast CD burning software, you can burn your flacs straight to CD, skipping the conversion step all together. If you are using another CD burning software please proceed with the following directions.
2. Make sure you have OS X (10.2 or later) and the latest FLAC software.
3. First you must expand your downloaded FLAC files to AIFF. You can do this using one of 3 applications: MacFLAC, FLACer, or MacAmp Lite X.
   
   To use MacFLAC:
   1. Launch MacFLAC. NOTE: If this is the first time that you have used MacFLAC, you should set the Output Format to AIFF.
   2. Drag your FLAC files onto the MacFLAC icon in your application dock to expand the files to AIFF.
   3. You can now preview the files before burning them to CD. Double-click on any of the AIFF file icons to play them in the Quicktime player, or drag the AIFF files into the iTunes library to create a quick playlist for preview purposes.
   
   
   To use FLACer:
   1. Launch FLACer. NOTE: If this is the first time that you have used FLACer, you should set the Output Format to AIFF.
   2. Drag your FLAC files onto the FLACer icon in your application dock to expand the files to AIFF.
   
   
   To use MacAmp Lite X:
   1. Launch MacAmp Lite.
   2. Open Window -> Plugins -> Output and check the box next to AIFF Writer.
   3. Drag your FLAC files into MacAmp Lite and click PLAY.
   
   
4. Finally, to burn your CDs, import the AIFF files into your CD burning software in the proper order and burn your CDs according to the instructions for your CD burning software using Disc At Once (DAO) to ensure that there are no 2 second gaps between the tracks.

How do I listen to FLAC files?

1. Install Winamp and the FLAC plugin for Winamp, which comes with the FLAC Front-End installer.
2. Drag your FLAC files onto Winamp and enjoy!

1. You may use MacAmp Lite X to play your FLAC files on OSX. Simply install and launch MacAmp Lite X and queue up your FLAC files and enjoy!
2. Look here for links to download MacAmp Lite.

How do I download the show I purchased?
Please review the instructions above.

I received a gift card with a registration code, now what?
First, create an account via our new user/registration page. In the field that says "Promo/Gift Code: (optional)," enter the code from your gift card. A future email will be sent informing you that your free gift download is available in your account.

Why is there a gap or click before each MP3 track?
Every MP3 file has at least 20 milliseconds of silence at the beginning of it. Unfortunately, this is part of the MP3 format and cannot be removed. Most MP3 players (such as Winamp) remove these moments of silence automatically upon playback by cross-fading between tracks for seamless transitions.

Why can't I print the labels correctly?
Some CD labels, are in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), while others are JPEGs. The labels are designed for Neato label templates, available here. Please make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for free at http://www.adobe.com). Different printers align the printout of Acrobat (PDF) files in different ways.

NOTE: We have noticed some problems with certain PC printers and Acrobat 6.0 – we are looking into this problem and hope to have the alignment fixed soon

Why am I having problems buying shows?
Please make sure you have cookies enabled in Internet Explorer. Verify that your billing address matches the address your credit card statement is mailed to. Also make sure that your credit card number does not contain dashes or spaces. Make sure you enter a valid expiration date. If you are ordering from outside the U.S., please enter the name of your country in the STATE field as well as the COUNTRY field. If you continue to have problems, please contact customer service.


General

What are FestivaLink.net Downloads?
The download format is a natural progression for the serious collector and the new fan alike, offering an opportunity to listen to an artist's most current performance very soon after it's happened.

How much does it cost?
The price of each show is based on format and length. Each show is available in two formats: MP3 (standard) and FLAC (premium). The size of the show varies from artist to artist. Pricing can be found by clicking on a particular show page for an individual artist. Most shows are also available for CD purchase, in which case a physical package will be mailed to the shipping address you provided.

What do I get?
After completing the purchase process you may download the entire show in the format you've chosen. For those who wish to burn the shows to CD, we have created printable PDF files for the CD labels. You'll need to use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later to print the files. The color files are printable on ink-jet and laser printers, and use NEATO templates.

What's the difference between MP3 and FLAC formats?
We have chosen two of the most popular audio formats among the online community: MP3 files are the standard format, and FLAC files are the premium format. With both MP3 and FLAC files you can continue to use your favorite audio applications and CD burning software. For a list of recommended software, look here. The standard MP3 files, encoded at 128 kbps are easy to download, easy to burn to CD and easy to transfer to portable players. However, MP3 files are compressed and therefore may not sound quite as good as the original source recording. MP3 files are versatile enough to use on your computer, home stereo system, and portable players. For fans who desire higher fidelity, we also offer a premium format. FLAC is a "lossless" compression which means that the source audio file is compressed, but without sacrificing any of the audio information contained in the master recording. An extracted FLAC file sounds identical to the original source (44.1 kHz, 16 bit stereo). The hi-fi FLAC files are much larger files and will take longer to download. These files are for listeners who want CD quality without the CD. FLAC files may be burned directly to CD on a PC running Nero CD Burning software with the FLAC plugin, while Mac OS X users must extract FLAC to AIFF files to burn CDs or to listen to the files. You may listen to FLAC files with a special plug-in for Winamp (PC) or using MacAmp Lite X (Mac). Be sure to check for compatibility with your favorite software or portable player. Please see the software FAQ for more information. New to downloading? We recommend starting with the standard MP3 format.

Please note that there is currently no FLAC software for any Mac OS prior to OS X.

Why is FLAC more expensive than MP3?
FLAC downloads are more expensive because they cost more to deliver to you. A show compressed in FLAC is typically five or more times the size of a show in MP3, and therefore costs substantially more to deliver over the Internet.

Why are some of these releases shorter than the live performances?
There are a few reasons why any given release might differ in length. First and most important, the artist has the final word on which tunes are released. They want to release their best work. They might delete tunes for tuning, broken strings, a less-than-stellar performance of a tune, or to focus the release on certain tunes. Sometimes a song is set for an upcoming CD release, and they need to save it for that project.

A second reason a set may be shorter is technical problems. Live recordings are sometimes made under challenging conditions, and are subject to dropouts, line noise, or any number of technical problems that can't be overcome in post-production.

Finally, there are some tunes for which we are unable to track down the songwriter to obtain the necessary license. Then we have to drop the tune.

In all cases, we work to deliver the live experience; sometimes it's just not the complete live experience.

Why are some sets dropped from the catalog?
When we make our catalog list, we have every expectation of offering those sets for sale. Here are the most common reasons that sets disappear from the catalog:
1. The recording had insurmountable technical problems.
2. The performance was not up to the artist's standards.
3. A prior commitment - a record label deal, a re-recording restriction, some other claim on the repertoire - doesn't come to light until after the fest.
4. If an artist feels that a later performance is stronger than the first one we offer, they may request that we drop the earlier show.
We try not to make promises we can't keep. Sometimes, it works out that, despite everyone's best intentions, that's what happens.

How does FestivaLink.net affect my favorite band's taping policy?
Information about artists' taping policies is most accurately found at the individual artists' web sites.

Can I use a dial-up modem or do I need a cable modem or DSL?
In general, the faster the better. You can download shows from FestivaLink.net on a dial-up modem, but it may take about 12 hours or more for one show in standard MP3 format. On a cable modem or DSL it typically takes between 15 minutes to a half-hour to download a show in MP3 format.

Can I download content I've purchased from multiple computers?
Yes, you can download files from a computer other than the one you originally purchased the show on. If you login from a different computer, you will receive an email containing a one-time security code. This code must be entered before you will be able to download the show.

Can I make copies of the songs I buy at FestivaLink.net?
You may only copy the files you download onto CDs or other devices for personal use. Copies are strictly for your own use and you may not make additional copies for other people. Making copies for others violates some festivals' and artists' taping policies as well as federal and state copyright laws. FestivaLink.net relies on an honor system, and we ask that you do not abuse the unrestricted nature of these files. If you would like to see this type of delivery flourish, please don't abuse the system.

Can I get a refund?
No. Due to the liberal distribution methods we have chosen (i.e., shackle-free unencrypted files), all sales are final. All purchases from FestivaLink.net are subject to the Terms of Use.

If I've purchased a show in MP3, can I "upgrade" to FLAC?
Again, all sales are final. If you want to hear a show or shows in a different format that you've already purchased, you'll need to go through the purchase process again.


Technical

What are the recommended specs for enjoying FestivaLink.net downloads?
Please note: we do not recommend downloading FLAC files on a dial-up modem. If you are on a slow connection, please purchase MP3 files instead of FLAC or order a CD.

Windows
Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP, or later
128 MB RAM
10 GB Hard Drive (a larger hard drive is optimal)
Pentium III 750MHz or faster (or equivalent)
Cable Modem or DSL
Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Mac OS
Mac OS X (10.2) or later
128 MB RAM
10GB Hard Drive (a larger hard drive is optimal)
Cable Modem or DSL
Internet Explorer 5.2 or later

Unix
You probably don't need our advice.

Is there a cumulative list of all the shows that I've purchased?
Simply click on "My Downloads" at any time once you've logged in, and you'll be taken to a page that lists all the shows you've ever purchased. The "My Downloads" page will always show how much time you have left to download each show you've purchased.

How do I burn my FestivaLink.net Downloads to CD?
General Note:
To avoid those annoying 2-second gaps between tracks on audio CDs, make sure you use the Disc-At-Once (DAO) option in your CD burning software or set number of seconds between tracks to ZERO.

MP3
If you have access to a CD player that can play MP3 files, all you need to do is create a data CD of the MP3 files in the proper show order and play it in your CD player. However, many CD players can't play MP3 files from a data CD. Therefore, you will need to burn an "Audio CD" from the MP3 files. Most CD burning software allows you to burn MP3 files as audio discs directly. Older software may require you to convert the MP3 files to WAV files manually. Make sure to burn the audio CD with the Disc-At-Once (DAO) option turned on or set number of seconds between tracks to ZERO to avoid any two second gaps between tracks on your CDs.

FLAC
Using the appropriate software for your operating system, uncompress each of the FLAC files into WAV files. The WAV files are what you will need to burn an audio CD that can be played on most CD players. Keep in mind that not all CD burning software can burn WAV files. Be sure to check compatibility with your software. After the WAV files are extracted, burn them using the Disc-At-Once (DAO) option in your favorite CD burning application.

Can I copy shows onto my portable player?
Yes, MP3 files may be freely transferred onto your favorite portable device. FLAC files have to be uncompressed and converted into other file types (i.e. WAV or MP3 files) to be playable on a portable player. Use the software that came with your portable player to copy FestivaLink.net downloads onto your player.

Troubleshooting

Dude, Where's My Download?
Make sure to remember where you saved your files each time you download. If you can't remember, you can search your hard drive for files named "wild060428" where "060428" is the date of the show you purchased and "wild" is the abbreviation for the artist who performed the show or album.

The show I downloaded is incomplete. Can I download again?
Yes, you may download the CD archives for the shows you've purchased again if your download was incomplete. If you are on a PC using the FestivaLink.net Download Manager, then you can resume a broken download by saving into the same folder each time.


Links and Software

Need Help?
Contact FestivaLink.net Customer Service

General Information and Software
http://www.cdrfaq.org

FLAC
Please note that many CD burning programs natively support FLAC so that there is no need to decode your FLAC files to WAV. (For example, Toast and Easy Media Creator)

FLAC installers for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Stand-Alone FLAC Plugin for Nero (Windows)
FLACer (Mac)
MacAmp Lite X (Mac)

CD Burning
Nero (Windows)
iTunes (Mac & Windows)
Roxio Toast (Mac & Windows)

MP3 Players
Winamp (Windows)
iTunes (Mac)

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