Troubleshooting Music on PCCWeb Daily Devotionals

Because Microsoft plays midi music files in a different way than the standard Internet method, we need two music versions to cover the two methods. However, there are so many different e-mail programs, so many different browsers, so many different mobile, tablet, and desktop operating systems, and so many different people, some who like the music while others do not, that it is impossible to predict what will suit any particular person. The two music versions are called the Standard Music Version and the Alternate Music Version. In the Control Panel at the top of your devotional e-mails, there is a statement that tells you which music version that you are currently subscribed to. If your computer system is correctly configured, the music in either version might start all by itself, but this might happen with only one of the two versions, with both versions, or with neither version.

1. If you usually like the music and if the Standard Version works on your computer, but sometimes a selection plays that you don't care for, the Standard Music Version has a console in the Control Panel that you can use to make it stop playing by clicking on the Pause Button (two parallel bars), or you can reduce the volume or mute it by clicking on the speaker icon. Unfortunately, no such controls are available for use in the Alternate Version.
2. If you hear the music in both versions and don't want it at all, you can switch to the No Music Version.

1. If the music doesn't start when you open the e-mail, switch to the other version of the devotional by clicking on the link in the Control Panel at the top of each devotional. The two versions do not handle music the same way, and what works in one version will not necessarily work in the other.
2. If the music doesn't start by itself in either version, then you can hear it by clicking on the "Audio" link in the Control. You can also click on the "Lyrics" link or the "YouTube" link (whichever one is present) and the music will play in another window while you read your e-mail.
3. Clicking on the "Website Version" link will take you to the PCCWeb Daily Devotional website, where you can read the devotional, and the music will play.
4. It may be that your e-mail reader is not capable of playing music. If you can get the music on the website version of the devotional, you could try activating an account with Google Mail, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail. You would be able to hear the music with that.
5. If you want to put in a little effort to see if you can remove the barriers to the music playing, check out the information in the next section.

1. The question, "Why can't I hear the music?" is the single most common query we get, and one of the most difficult areas to advise about, since it is impossible to be a computer guru by long distance. The easiest recommendation is that you consult someone locally who is familiar with the operation of computers.
2. Anti-spam and anti-virus programs can prevent sound from playing in e-mails while the sound comes through on their browser. Some who have installed Norton 360 have noticed that the sound quit playing in their e-mails. Those with free AVG virus protection have noticed that there is a one-line message at the top of the screen that asks if they wish to download pictures with the message. When they click on "yes", the music starts.
3. Many programs can change your sound characteristics without your realizing what they are doing. Think back to any changes you have recently made to your computer, or new programs that you have installed. For example, an MP3 player, a game program, or a sound recorder can completely mess up your media player. One of the best ways to correct the problem is to reinstall your media player. You can download the latest version of Windows Media Player or Apple QuickTime.
4. One way to analyze the problem is to go to a site where you know that midi files will play, for example, the individual hymn pages at the Cyber Hymnal and the archived devotional pages at the Daily Devotional. If you cannot hear the music, then the trouble is with your computer. You should open your control panel and search for sound, audio devices, and volume control. Make sure that mute is not selected and that your volume is high enough. The volume can be turned off without your realizing it. Sometimes just scouting around in your audio controls will inexplicably start everything to play!
5. If you cannot hear the music when your browser is pointed to a page where you know that midi files should be playing, it may be that your browser requires an additional plugin to play midi files. Updating that plugin may solve the problem. Or your browser may be outdated and you need to update it. Or you could switch to a different browser. If another browser works, then the problem is with the browser, not with your computer. Here are some download suggestions for updating or switching browsers: Internet Explorer for Windows -- Firefox for Windows -- Firefox for Mac -- Chrome for Windows: -- Chrome for Mac -- Apple Safari for Windows and Mac

1. If you want to ensure that you receive the Daily Devotional without interruption, read our article on Non-Delivery of PCCWeb Daily Devotionals to find out what you can do about your Internet Service Provider's spam and virus protection, which can block, filter, delay, or divert e-mails with religious content mis-tagged as spam to a junk or spam webmail mailbox. Many subscribers also have an anti-spam or anti-virus program that can mis-direct religious material to a junk or spam mailbox on their own computer, where a number of our subscribers have been surprised to find their devotionals.
2. If you read the devotional on your smartphone, click on the Mobile Version link at the beginning of the Control Panel at the top of each devotional for a simplified formatting of the material.
3. You can listen to the narrator read the devotional by clicking on the Podcast Version link in the Control Panel.
4. You can manage your subscription yourself by going to the Subscription Page, where you can change your address, give gift subscriptions, vacation-stop your subscription, switch your version, or cancel your subscription.
5. Those who are interested can explore the links in the Control Panel to the RSS Feed for both text and podcast, and to our Facebook and Twitter pages.

If you have problems or concerns not mentioned in this article, don't hesitate to contact me.

Robin Ross <$openaddress>
Technical and Oversight Editor.