Frequently asked questions about capella playAlong

Before you search this list for a solution to your problem...

...please confirm, that you are using the latest version of capella playAlong. Load capella playAlong and open menu help | about capella playAlong. The version number will be displayed. Compare your version number with the version in our download section. If necessary, download the current version and install it on your PC. This might already solve your problem.

Have you met the capella playAlong assistant?

In capella playAlong, click <?>. If you choose <The assistant>, you will get a detailed instruction for each step.

Installation/Configuration

FAQs...

Installation manual	You need help with installation? Please follow the instructions in our manual "First steps" which you can download here:
Administrator rights	You need administrator rights on your pc for installation. As this is an important point you will often find the information: "You will require administrator rights" In user account on your control panel you can control if you have these rights.
Product activation	Detailed information on this issue is available here.
Activate again?	Major changes on your pc such as change of hard disk or new installation of your operating system will make tonica require another activation code which you will obtain from us.
Update installation	Owners of previous versions can purchase updates at reasonable prices. Technically spoken, these updates are full versions. The previous program version does not have to be installed on the PC.
Free revised versions	Our software is constantly revised, and we regularly offer free improved versions. The software automatically searches online for such a free update. If it finds one, you are asked if you want to install it. Accept with "ok", and the update is installed automatically.
No Internet	Install the software from your product CD. You can install stepUps by downloading the file on another pc. Copy the file via USB stick on your computer and start the installation by double-clicking the file. Product activation will be done on the phone.
Installation on Mac or Linux	There are no software versions for Mac or Linux. Several users work successfully with a Windows emulation or virtualization software.
Wrong serial number	This problem may have different causes. Have you made a typing mistake? Did you install the wrong software or the wrong program version? Please make sure that the information about the program version in the upper right hand corner of your screen and on your eMail with the serial number is identical. The version number must be correct, too.
Program version	Please click the <Info>button. There, you will find information about your program version, for example capella playAlong version 3.0 - 11. The last number (11) tells you which stepUp is contained in this version.
Installation on a new PC	Do you have to reinstall capella playAlong? Please download the current demo version from our download page. When starting the program for the first time you will be asked to insert your serial number. Please make sure that the information about the program version in the upper right hand corner of your screen and on your eMail with the serial number is identical.
Installation on your old PC	Do you want to install a new capella playAlong version? Please check if you have the eMail with your serial number. If this is the case, then deinstall your old version with the commandStart - User account - Programs (with Windows Vista) or Start - User account - Software (with Windows XP). In the program list, choose the name of your old program version, for example capella playAlong 2.1, and click Deinstall / remove. After having completed this process, you can install the new software.
Deinstallation	If you want to deinstall our software, choose the command Start - User account - Programs (with Windows Vista) or Start - User account - Software (with Windows XP). Choose your old version from the program list, for example capella playAlong 2.1, and then click Deinstall / Remove.
Installation was successful but nothing happens (program does not start after "select sample player")	capella playAlong is a program which records music among other things. For this recording Windows Vista requires that a recorder is installed, even though capella playAlong does not need it. In order to solve the problem please simply connect a microphone, a headphone or a dummy connector to the pink microphone port of your computer. A window opens, and you are asked what you have connected. Please select "microphone" (even though you may have connected something else). If you now select "sound" in the control panel, you will find an installed microphone under the tab "recording".
Installation was successful, but nothing happens - crash following splash screen	If this happens with Windows XP, you forgot to install the required hotfix. Please click here and install it.

Sound and Midi

FAQs...

Sound quality	Sample players, sound synthesis and Midi functions of your sound card are responsible for the playback sound. With a high-quality sound card you can improve the sound - however, it will only get close to the instrument's natural sound. Alternatives are sound libraries such as the capella Vienna orchestra. Here, notes are played back with the original sounds of professional musicians. You can integrate the capella Vienna orchestra in your capella playAlong via your sample player.
Sound card information	If you want to find out which sound card or sound chip is installed on your pc, choose the command User account - Device manager - Audio, video and game controller. Here, you can select the sound card and see all important information via right mouse-click properties.
Sound driver: Latest version?	Sound card and sound chip producers also offer sound driver software on the Internet. A search engine helps! Sound drivers have to fit your sound card and your operating system. New Windows versions often call for updated sound drivers. We suggest that you check if there's something new from time to time. The Windows Vista message saying "all drivers are up to date" does not necessarily have to be correct...
Sound card recommendation	We have successfully tested two creative sound cards on several Windows Vista computers and recommend them: a) X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series with an I/0 drive. Cost: about € 150.00. b) X-Fi Elite Pro with an I/O console (a separate "mixer") for highest demand. Cost: about € 265.00. creative is a renowned, experienced sound card producer. We proceed from the fact that successors will also work faultlessly.
Sound on board	Many new pcs dispose of a sound card chip located directly on the mother board. Unfortunately, sound quality is often not satisfactory. If you decide to install a separate, good sound card you may have to deactivate the sound chip in the system bios on your mother board.

Burn CD

FAQs...

Burner not found

no burner available

error 113

error 713

capella playAlong does not know all available CD burners. If you receive one of these messages, your burner is not supported by capella playAlong. This is how to succeed anyhow: Edit you project up to step 17 as usual. This is when wave files are created. Then exit capella playAlong without "cleaning up" and burn the wave files with your standard CD burning software. You will find the wave files in the project directory. The project directory is found in the "document" folder or in the program folder.