Scroll past the MAC guide for the Windows version.
Below is a quick comparison between the original unpacked audio files (right), The files compressed into a ZIP file (middle), and the files compressed into a RAR file (left).
As you can see here - RAR uses much better compression than ZIP, meaning the exact same files can be stored in half the overall size.
This has two main advantages - It makes the downloads go MUCH quicker (hence I highly recomend you download the RAR if you want the full Live multitracks) and uses MUCH less space on my server to store them (over 1TB saved on the Live Multitracks alone).
If you've got a MAC and downloaded one of the RAR files from this website, it may try to open it with a media player like VLC for some strange reason.
This will NOT work as a single RAR file contains many other audio files - but compressed together to save space.
In order to open a RAR archive you will need to download and install a program from the apple app store. I recomend "RAR Extractor Lite" as shown below because this is completely free and easy to use.
Once you have installed the program first I suggest you open it up and click the settings button. Here you can change where it extracts/unpacks files to, and set it to close itself down when it finishes.
If you leave it set to "Current Folder" it will unpack the RAR file to a folder beside it which is probably best for most people.
Next go and find the RAR file you downloaded within finder. Right click it and hover over "Open With" to open the next menu. Then select "Other" from the bottom of that menu. This lets us change the default program to open RAR files with in the future.
Now on the window that opens scroll down the list of applications until you see "RAR Extractor Lite". Click it then check the "Always Open With" box, Now click OK. Now RAR Files will automatically open with the extractor in future. (You won't have to do this again)
Now the RAR file will be unacrhived/unpacked by the application/program. Simply wait for this process to complete. Also - In future when you try and open a RAR file this will open and unpack it for you automatically.
Once the program has finished unpacking the RAR file you will find a folder at the side of the RAR (or in your chosen location, if you changed the settings earlier).
This folder will contain all of the individual audio files from within the RAR archive. You can now also delete the RAR file if you want to as it is no longer required once you've unpacked the files from it.
I hope this guide has been some help. If you are still having issues then let me know.
If you've got a PC running Windows and downloaded one of the RAR files from this website it will probably be unable to unpack it (unless you've previously installed a suitable archival program.)
My preferred program for Windows to deal with RAR files (and many other formats for that matter) is WinRAR. It has a "30 Day Free Trial" period but that 30 day trial actually lasts forever, It never actually stops you from using the program and is a running internet joke at this point.
To download WinRAR head over to the offial RARLAB download page here: www.rarlab.com/download.htm and choose the appropriate version for your installed version of Windows.
If you are unsure then choose the 32-Bit download.
Once you've downloaded WinRAR simply install it, Towards the end of the installation process it will give you these setup options. You can leave these settings as default normally - Just double check that the RAR box is also checked as shown.
Now click the OK button and then Done.
Next go and find the RAR file you have downloaded. Right click it and you should have the option to "Extract Here" in the context menu - click on this.
Now the RAR file will be unacrhived/unpacked by the program. Simply wait for this process to complete.
Once the program has finished unpacking the RAR file you will find a folder at the side of the RAR. This folder will contain all of the individual audio files from within the RAR archive.
You can now also delete the RAR file if you want to as it is no longer required once you've unpacked the files from it.
I hope this guide has been some help. If you are still having issues then let me know.