FAQ for EarMaster ear training software

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Frequently asked questions

	Installation and setup There is no sound? The sound is not good; the chords are muddy? The sound is delayed? MIDI IN does not work? How to install/configure EarMaster School in a network [see guide]
	Using EarMaster Can EarMaster be used for children? I don't want EarMaster to remember the first questions I answer Can I change the terminology (e.g. chord names) used in EarMaster?
	Other questions If I purchase the download edition, what happens if my computer breaks down or I need to change computer? Is EarMaster available for Mac?

Installation and setup

There is no sound?

Go to the Tools menu and choose Program settings. On the Devices tab you can choose among different Output-devices. Choose one from the list, set the volumen to max and click the Play button. If this doesn't produce any sound, try to choose another from the list. At least one of them should produce some sound.

In some situations it can cause problems if more programs use MIDI at the same time. Please try to restart Windows and run EarMaster as the only program using MIDI.

Please also make sure that the volume is set to max both for the Windows MIDI volume and the EarMaster volume setting for Chords, Rhythm and Metronome. All of them can be changed in the EarMaster Program settings.

The sound is not good; the chords are muddy?

EarMaster uses the MIDI sound in your sound card. Some sound cards can produce MIDI sound using different technologies, each with its own driver installed. Therefore first try to choose another MIDI device from the list in the Program settings (in the Tools menu).

If the sound is not acceptable, you must buy another sound card. A sound card with wave table technology will give you a better sound (see also “The sound is delayed” below).

The sound is delayed?

A sound card with Wavetable technology can give you a very good sound quality for the MIDI instruments. It is however important that your sound card generates its instrument sounds from a hardware Wavetable, not a software Wavetable. Software Wavetable sound generation leads to annoying delays between pressing the spacebar, and hearing the sound.

EarMaster can compensate for the delay in your sound card. When you activate this compensation, EarMaster will use a wave file for the clap sound to avoid using the delayed sound in your sound card.

Go to the Tools menu and choose Program settings and find the MIDI devices tab. Here you can Synchronize rhythms by adjusting the delay.

If the internal compensation is not acceptable or possible then the only solution is to buy another sound card.

MIDI IN does not work?

To make MIDI in work, do the following:
1) In the EarMaster " Program settings" , choose the driver that should be used on the " Devices" tab. If no driver is listed then you need to install one that fits to your sound card or MIDI interface.
2) Enable the MIDI in from the " Answer input" menu
3) Make sure that no other programs are running that use MIDI in. Often Windows cannot handle if two programs want to use MIDI in at the same time.

How do I install EarMaster School in a network?

See guide: Installing EarMaster School 5.0 in a network

Using EarMaster

Can EarMaster be used for children?

The Interval comparison and Rhythm imitation exercises can be used without reading skills and without note reading skills. When you use the Rhythm imitation exercise, we recommend that you un-check the "Clap rhythm with metronome" option in the "Exercise settings" menu, because it can be difficult for a child to follow a metronome and start at the right time.

The rest of the exercise areas in EarMaster requires you to either read notes or to read letters, but with help from an adult, all the exercises can be used to teach the child notes rhythms and to develop its aural skills.

I don't want EarMaster to remember the first questions I answer. I always want to start with a few non-obligating questions to get my ears tuned in. Is that possible?

Yes! You can clear the current results in the current exercise by pressing CTRL+DEL. If you are running the automatic tutor then this option is disabled.

Can I change the terminology (e.g. chord names) used in EarMaster?

Yes! All text in EarMaster can be changed. The file "English.lan" is a text file and contains all the English text strings in EarMaster. You can find the language files in the "Language" folder in the installation directory (e.g. c:\program files\EarMaster\Language). Just double-click the file to edit it with Notepad.