SCiBody General FAQ's

1. How do I get the MP3's from my computer to my music player?

The primary playback method for MP3's is through computer-based and portable music players. Both players allow you to easily organize your MP3 collection, and the portable music players provide customized digital playback in a surprisingly small package.

When you purchase a hardware-based music player, it will generally include a software package which offers the features above as well as software designed to transfer the MP3's to the player. Some players have the ability to interface with particular third-party software players; however, this depends on the player.

In additional to the commercial music players, there are a number of freeware and shareware music players available on the Internet. One of the best known freeware players is the Winamp™ player. Each of the major platforms (Microsoft® Windows® and Macintosh®) feature a free MP3 player designed for that platform. The Windows® player is the Windows® Media Player®; the Macintosh player is called iTunes®.

As a minimum (and in addition to simply playing the MP3's), an MP3 software player should also allow the user to organize their music into playlists, rip CD audio to MP3 at varying bit rates and burn both MP3 and audio CD's. Additionally, most players have downloadable skins, which allow the user to customize the appearance of the player.

Bit rate specifically refers to the number of bits played each second (bps). This rating identifies the resolution of the digital music file, with the quality and file size increasing as the bit rate increases. MP3's are generally recorded at 128 kbps for the best compromise between speed and file size.

Occasionally, your player software may skip or stutter while playing either downloaded MP3's or streamed MP3's. This can be due to low memory resources or a damaged MP3 file. If a stand-alone music player does this, it would be due to a damaged MP3 file.

2. What is a platform with regards to music players?

Platform refers to the type of computer and operating system required to connect to and transfer files to and from the music player. The two primary computer types are PC and Apple®. The two primary operating systems are Microsoft® Windows® and Apple's Macintosh® OS. A music player which can be connected to a computer will support at least one or possibly both of these platforms. Occasionally, the Macintosh-compatible software will be made available for download rather than being packaged on the CD. Generally, you would need to contact the manufacturer of the software to determine if they support a particular version of your operating system (such as Windows XP or Macintosh OS X). You can get more information on the software package for a particular player by clicking on the software title in the comparison chart. Microsoft® Windows®: Most common operating system for PC computers. Macintosh OS: Standard operating system for Apple® computers.

Other operating systems, such as those listed below, are not as commonly supported. Connecting an MP3 player to computers running these operating systems will usually require additional drivers, which may not be available. OS/2: IBM® operating system for PC computers Linux: Open source operating system for PC or Apple computers (not typically supported out of the box). Unix: AT&T® and Berkeley University for PC or Apple computers, primarily workstations (not typically supported out of the box).

3. What is meant by Included Software?

This is software (usually on CD) which is packaged with the player. At a minimum, this software should allow you to play MP3's on your computer and transfer them to your MP3 player. Additional software features include ripping MP3's off of CD's, managing playlists and burning audio and data CD's.

Most music players come with music management software to convert your CDs into files the player can handle. You can also organize your music collection according to artist, album, genre, and a variety of other categories, as well as create playlists to suit any mood or occasion. All come with software to help you shuttle music between your PC and the player via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or FireWire connection. All players work with Windows PCs, and many support the Macintosh platform.

4. On which music players, if any, can I upload and play .wav files?

All SCiBody music players can play .WAV files.

5. What is Connection Type?

This is how the music player is connected to a computer or how information is shared between the computer and the music player. This is usually done through a direct cable connection or a cradle; however, depending on the player, this may also be accomplished using a memory card reader. Direct cable connection is through one (or more) of the following types, with USB being the most common: Parallel Cable: Offering the slowest cable connection speed, parallel connection has the primary advantage that it uses a port style which is found on most of the older computers (which may not have a USB or firewire port). Note: Macintosh computers do not have parallel ports. USB Cable: USB is a fast connection speed using a port style commonly found on most computers sold recently. Most new computers will have at least one USB port built-in. Firewire: Using the IEEE-1394 standard, Firewire offers the fastest connection speed presently available. Because firewire ports are not yet standard on new computers, you may need to install a firewire port in order to use this connection type.

A cradle is a piece of hardware which remains connected to the computer and allows you to quickly connect the music player without connecting and disconnecting cables. This is more important when using a parallel connection. A memory card reader allows you to plug a memory card for your music player into a reader connected to your computer in order to transfer songs directly to the card. There are three basic types of card reader, listed below in order of speed and by how they connect to the computer. The reader would need to be capable of reading the recording memory card used by your music player.
Parallel Port Card Reader: Slowest. USB Card Reader: Fast. PCMCIA Card Reader: Fastest.

6. What is Built-in Memory?

The amount of memory the player has built-in (internal), which determines how much music the music player can hold without using an external memory card. Everything else being equal, this should be as high as possible.

7. What memory card types are used with SCiBody music players?

SCiBody music players support either one or both of the following external memory cards:

Multimedia (MMC): 36.4 mm x 24 mm, up to 1.4 mm thick.

Secure Digital (SD): 32 mm x 24 mm, up to 2.1 mm thick.

Secure Digital cards are similar to Multimedia cards, except that they use a different number of pins and incorporate SDMI requirements. Devices with SD slots can generally use MMC cards as well.

8. What is the significance of Power Supply?

The type of power supply directly affects where and for how long you can use the player. An AC power supply allows stationary use without relying on battery power. A DC power supply allows use in a vehicle without using the player's batteries. If the player does not have a built-in battery, you should use either high-performance alkalines or rechargeable batteries; MP3 players are high-drain devices and will go through batteries fairly quickly. There are three types of batteries which are most commonly used (the size is usually AA or AAA).

When not using the music player or when using the AC or DC power supply only for an extended period, you should remove the batteries to prevent leakage and/or corrosion.

AC Power Supply
DC Power Supply
Rechargeable Battery (built-in)
Premium Alkaline Batteries (AA, AAA): These will last the longest of the battery types. However, they are single-use and may be more expensive over the long run.
Rechargeable NiMH Batteries (AA, AAA): These will not last as long as alkaline batteries. However, they generally have a higher capacity than high-capacity Ni-Cd batteries. The cost per unit is higher than alkaline, but the ability to recharge the batteries will make them less expensive over the long run.
Rechargeable High-Capacity Ni-Cd Batteries (AA): These will typically have the lowest capacity of these three types. As with NiMH batteries, the cost per unit is higher than alkaline, but the ability to recharge the batteries will make them less expensive over the long run.

9. Is it better to let a lithium ion battery drain before charging or can it just be charged whenever?

Most battery manufacturers actually recommend NOT letting a lithium ion battery drop below a certain voltage (which is usually protected against with a built-in circuit) and they offer that recharging a partially discharged battery does no harm at all.

10. What are the other features to look at when comparing music players?

Once the major considerations of compatibility and usability have been compared, there are a number of other factors which need to be looked at. The importance of each of these features will vary between customers and depends on what they are looking for in an MP3 player.
Player Controls: Refers to the number and type of controls available as well as how they are accessed. While some people will prefer a player which has all controls accessed by one or two buttons used in combination, others will prefer a more straight-forward system with multiple buttons. The standard controls are On/Off, Fast Forward, Rewind, and Volume. Information Displayed: Refers to the type of information displayed while the MP3 is playing. This information is taken from the ID tag (ID2, ID3, etc.) and the playlist and includes Track Number, Elapsed Time, Total Time, Song Title, Artist, et al. Display Size: Refers to the physical size of the display, which determines how easy it is to read the information.
Carrying Options: Refers to whether the player has a carrying strap, a carrying case, a belt clip or some other carry method. Output Options: Refers to the audio output method, which is usually a 1/8" stereo jack. Some units may include an audio adapter to convert the 1/8" stereo jack to two RCA jacks, for connection to a receiver or other audio equipment. This adapter is also available separately as part number 274-369..
Firmware: Refers to whether or not the product firmware (the software which is built into the player) can be upgraded to reflect technological advances. Upgradeable firmware provides the advantage that the player can be upgraded as needed, which increases usability and can extend the useful life of the player.
Supported Formats: Refers to the type of audio formats that the player can handle in addition to MP3 files.

11. How do I convert my CD's and existing audio files (such as WAV or AIFF) to MP3's?

While the Internet is a good source for MP3's, for many people, the primary source for their MP3 collection is from their existing music collections (audio files, CD's, and analog recordings). This is particularly true for audiophiles, who may have extensive collections of analog recordings which are no longer in print. Converting older media to digital is commonly done in order to preserve the recording, so that it can be enjoyed without risking damage to the record or tape.

Converting CD audio to MP3's is called ripping, as opposed to encoding, which refers to converting an existing audio file (such as WAV or AIFF) into the MP3 format.

Most MP3 player softaware (such as Winamp, Windows® Media and iTunes) offer the capability to rip CD audio into MP3 format, although the specific process, options and time required will vary depending on the player, your operating system and your hardware.

Encoding existing audio may be done through your player, but it often requires a separate conversion program. The support information for the player should cover file conversion if the feature is available.

12. How do I find MP3's on-line?

There are a number of MP3 web sites on the Internet which can be found by searching on "MP3" using your favorite search engine. Additionally, many search engines and portals (such as Lycos® and MSN™) allow you to search specifically for MP3's. A great deal of press has been dedicated to the illegal use of the Internet for downloading copyrighted music, and this is touched on later in this document. In short form, it is perfectly legal to download MP3's as long as the site you download from has been authorized by the holder of the copyright to offer that MP3.

There are a number of legal (free and commercial) MP3 sites on the Internet. Downloading from these sites not only helps legal sites to continue and encourages the availability of music on these sites, but legal sites are significantly more reliable and less likely to result in the unintentional downloading of trojan horse or other viruses. If you have a question about whether a particular site is a legal or a pirate site, you should first look for the "legal-ese" section of that website (such as RadioShack's Copyright Information page). Legal sites will usually have a page (or more) of legal information which explains their intellectual property and copyright policies. For general information on legal download sites for a particular artist, you can usually contact either the recording company or the artist (if they have their own website). You can generally find a website for either the recording company or the artist by doing a web search on that artist.

Amazon.com® - General music downloads and streaming music Ampcast.com™ - General music downloads and streaming music e-music® - General music downloads and streaming music iTunes® - General music downloads and streaming music IUMA - Independent artist music downloads and streaming music

Once you have found an MP3 you want to download, you can often just click on the download link and follow the prompts from your browser. Once the file is on your computer, you will need to add it to your MP3 player. Generally, this can be done by clicking on the file; other methods are usually also available and will vary from player to player. Specifics on the download and addition process should be available in the software's help file.

Note: The list above is intended to provide examples of the types of download sites available. SciBody.com is not affiliated with and does not specifically recommend any of these websites or services.

13. Why are Flash-memory players better than Hard-disk players?

Hard-disk players have a hard drive that can hold hundreds and even thousands of songs. Storage capacity can reach 80 GB (enough for more than 1,000 hours of music). But often that extra capacity translates into a bulkier, heavier player. Some are bigger than a portable CD player and weigh up to a pound.

Flash-memory players are solid-state devices with no moving parts, which eliminates skipping, even on a bumpy road or during a grueling jog. They're also the smallest and lightest category, which makes them easier to carry around. Sizes vary, ranging from as small as a thick matchbook to the size of a deck of cards. Weight usually ranges from about 1.5 to 4 ounces.

Most of the players have 128 and up MBs of internal memory; 128 MB can hold about two hours of MP3-formatted music recorded at a CD-quality setting. You can fit more music into memory if you compress songs into smaller files, but that may result in lower audio quality.

Some flash-memory players also have expansion slots to add more memory via card slots or "backpack" modules on the player. Common expansion memory formats include Compact Flash, MultiMedia, Secure Digital, and SmartMedia. Memory-card capacities range from about 32 MB to 1 GB.

14. What is meant by Player upgradability and why is it an important feature?

On most models, the firmware (the built-in operating instructions) can be upgraded so the player does not become obsolete. Upgrades can add or enhance features, fix bugs, and add support for other audio formats and operating systems.

15. How can sound be enhanced on these players?

Equalizer (EQ) modes on our players allow you to adjust the sound in various ways. A custom setting via separate bass and treble controls or adjustable equalizers gives you the most control over the sound. Most of our players offer six to seven preset EQ modes.

16. What Playback controls are available on the music players?

Volume, track play/pause, and forward/reverse controls are standard. Most portable players let you set a play mode so you can repeat one or all music tracks, or play in a random order, also referred to as "shuffle" mode. An A-B repeat feature allows you to set bookmarks and repeat a section of the music track.

17. What is the A-B repeat function?

An A-B repeat feature allows you to set bookmarks and repeat a section of the music track. For example, if you set a particular song as 'A' and another one as 'B', you should be able to keep playing the sequence between them.

18. Why should your music player be compatible with your computer?

Make sure the player you're considering is compatible with your Windows or Macintosh computer (including the version of the operating system your computer uses). Your computer must have USB or FireWire ports. Consider high-speed Internet access if you plan on downloading much of your music. Also keep in mind that getting started can be tricky with some players. When used with older operating system computers, the computer may not recognize the player.

19. What are ID3 tags and what is their function?

ID3 tags are the information in an MP3 file that is displayed on the music player.

Along with playing MP3 files, most music players can be used to create or import karaoke lyric sheets for music , which can then be displayed on-screen as the music plays. The built-in audio MP3 player is able to recognise ID3 v1/v2 tags, organize MP3 files by either album name, artist or song title.

20. Why does my player skip tracks?

The player will only play valid media formats. Other types of media formats are skipped. Generally, your player plays MP3, WAV and WMA files.

21. My music player turns off immediately after it is turned on, or it simply doesn't turn on.

The battery may be too depleted to power your player. Try charging the battery.

If your player cannot power up after the unit is left unused for a period of time, you can try to reset the player.

Alternatively, please check if the timer is set.

22. What do I do about slow file transfers?

You may be transferring files that are configured for other devices and formats, or your PC ’s CPU does not meet the recommended system requirements.

Windows Media Player 10 changes or transcodes files before transferring them to your player. Files that exceed the following specifications will take more time to change or transcode:

Bitrate - 800 kbps
Video or image resolution - 320 x 240
Frames Per Second (FPS) - 30
WMA Profile - Simple (SP)

23. How do I improve battery usage between charges?

Some tips for battery conservation:
Set a shorter backlight setting.
Set a lower brightness setting.
Avoid skipping ahead and back within tracks unnecessarily.
Avoid turning the player on and off unnecessarily.
Avoid using passive speakers or high-powered headphones.

24. How long can I leave my music player plugged into the adapter?

You can leave your player plugged in when it is not near any heat source. However, it is generally recommended that you disconnect it from the power adapter after charging your battery or after use.

25. I’ve deleted some files on my music player, but the disk space continues to be shown as occupied. How can I free this disk space definitively?

Connect your player to the PC and run a Scandisk on it.

Note : This only applies to the customers using a PC. For those using a Mac computer, they have to use Disk Utility in order to check the disk and if necessary repair it.

26. What do I do if the picture and sound are not synchronized on my player?

You must encode the video file using an appropriated software, like MPEG4 Translator that comes with your player.

You can also use a third party software. Some are available at the following address: http://www.mpegmobile.com/

27. I just copied some audio files on my music player. Why can I not see the album art when I play them?

In order to enable your device to show album art, you have to insert this on the ID3 Tag of the audio file you’ll play. This can be done by editing the ID3 Tag file using Windows Media Player or any other appropriated third party software.

28. How do I install the games on my music player?

You need to copy the game installation file into the root (upper level) of the player’s drive. Then turn it OFF, and then ON again.

29. Why can't I transfer any more files even though my players memory isn't full?

The player may temporarily use your computers recycle bin when connected to the PC. Please empty the recycle bin on the desktop while the unit is connected and check the properties of your player if memory capacity has changed.

30. Why does my new music player show lesser memory than is mentioned in the specs?

The difference in the memory capacity mentioned in the specs and that actually shown on the music player can be attributed to the original data created and stored into the flash. This can't be viewed/ revised by the user, and is extremely important for appropriate functioning of the device. If this data is lost or damaged, the flash memory will not work any more.

31. Why doesn’t my computer detect my music player drive?

For Windows 98, ME, XP and 2000 users, the USB function is already enabled, thus the player is automatically detected when the USB is connected to the computer. If you are running an older version of Windows 98, install the driver now.

32. Can my music player be infected with a virus?

Yes. Any music player acts like your hard drive and therefore, can be infected by any files you save on it. It is recommended that all users run an anti-virus software before adding or copying files to and from the player(s).

33. Why can’t I hear any music after I transfer music files to the music player?

Please make sure that the songs you upload onto the music player are compatible with it, i.e. in the formats mentioned in the specifications for that particular player.

34. What is an LED indicator?

An LED (Light-emitting diode) indicator is not to be confused with the LCD display. In music players, LED indicators are used as informative indicators, status indicators, continuity indicators, etc.

35. What is meant by the Line-in function?

The Line-in function allows direct recording from other sources such as TV, DVD, VCD, etc.

36. What do you mean when you say a music player can act as a storage device?

The flash memory of any of our music players is capable of storing all types of files on it. However, it will only play those formats which are mentioned in the product specifications. In all circumstances, our music players can act as a removable disc/ pen-drive, etc. You can use them to transfer files from one device to another, using the USB cable.

37. Do Scibody products have a warranty?

We offer a one year warranty on all of our products here at Scibody, unless there is some major physical damage done to it.

38. Do you have a Return/ Refund policy?

At SCiBody, we pride ourselves on the quality that we offer in the form of the most slickest, top-notch products. In the remote event of our products not measuring up to your expectations, you can return these back to us within 30 days from the date of purchase and we guarantee that every cent paid for it will be refunded to you in full.

39. Are Scibody product prices the same worldwide?

Our products are available only on our website: www.scibody.com. We do not sell any of them in offline stores as of now. Hence, the prices, as mentioned on the website, are the same worldwide.