Audio files will be offered via a RealNetworks server which offers media-streaming technology. This reduces to a negligible amount both the time and the hard disk space normally needed for downloading very large media files. In addition to this, media-streaming allows the client to begin playing the media file almost instantaneously at any point within the file. The original source for these artifacts is The Chicago Jazz Archive at The University of Chicago Library. In order to listen to the recordings you will need to install a RealAudio Player on your computer.
Installation is relatively painless.
Depending on your modem speed, you can listen to an array of different recordings which differ in quality according to how fast your modem is. Thus, there are recordings for 14.4 modems which transmit at a bitrate of 8 Kpbs, for 28.8 modems which transmit at a bitrate of 20 Kbps, and for ISDN connections or faster which transmit at a bitrate of 80 Kbps. In the left-hand frame of this Web page there are several options. The search engine allows the user to search by keyword in various fields. The browse feature allows the user to alphabetically browse through the full bibliographic records of all the sheet music and recordings contained in Hi-Fido.