Here is an overview of the requirements needed to use TouchTone Audio System software:

1. Winamp, iTunes or DirectShow (if you have Windows Media Player, you have DirectShow) [details]
2. Tagged Music File Collection [details] or formatted filenames (see file masking options)
3. Computer Specifications:
   • Windows 2000, XP or Vista (if TouchTone is run as administrator)
     

Winamp is optional, but recommended: If you have a decent mp3 collection, then chances are you've heard of Winamp and probably even have it installed. Winamp is an extremely popular free music player available online.

If you already have Winamp, please note that Winamp version 2 or 5 will work, but not version 3. We have not used version 3 because the other versions are better suited to provide the services required by the TouchTone software. There is no such thing as version 4.

The TouchTone Audio System software can combine it's simple "touch screen" style interface and multi-level playlist options with the backend "playing power" of Winamp. This gives users the music quality, reliability, and superior audio quality that Winamp is known for throughout the mp3 guru community, as well as multiple plug-in support. However, you do not need Winamp to run TouchTone. It will work just fine with DirectShow, which is installed by default with Windows Media Player.

You can download the latest version of Winamp here:

• http://www.winamp.com - Click on "Download Winamp"
  (for your convenience, this links opens in a new window)

Tagged Music File Collection: Most music files that you download will already be "tagged," which means that the music information (artist, album, title, etc) is located in the file. The TouchTone software uses this information in it's "jukebox" layout. Of course, some mp3s may not be tagged and some may need their tags cleaned up a bit. If an mp3 is not tagged, TouchTone will place it in the "No Artist" or "Not Tagged" category in the Artist List. Or you can use the file masking options to have TouchTone use the information in the filename.

To create/edit the tag information for your music files, we recommend the following software programs:

• TagScanner (free)
• Dr. Tag (advanced tagger)
• Dr. Tag Plus! (pro tagger and more)
• Other tagging programs can be found here
  (for your convenience, these links will open in a new window; please close the window to return here)

Running TouchTone as Administrator on Windows Vista : Go to "C:\Program Files\TouchTone 3" and locate "TouchTone.exe" then Right-Click it and choose properties. Click the "Compatibility" tab, at the bottom there is a check box "Run this program as an administrator".