Installing MetaMix

Mac OS X

Standard Installation:
Double-click the installMM application to launch the installer and follow the instructions it provides.

Manual Install:
If you have trouble using the installer or prefer not to use it, you may instead do a "manual install." Extract the compressed archive by double-clicking it, then drag the folder to the location of your choice to install it. To launch MetaMix, double-click the "MetaMix.jar" file.

Windows

Standard Installation:
  1. Install Sun's Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.3.1_03 by visiting http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/1.3.1_03/jre/index.html.
    (This distribution is not compatible with JRE v. 1.4)
  2. Install Apple's Quicktime 5 by visiting http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.
    When installing, choose to do a "custom" installation, and be sure the following components are installed:
  3. Install MetaMix by double-clicking the installMM application to launch the installer and follow the instructions it provides.
  4. See FAQs below.
Special "Self-Contained VM" installation: (for advanced users who do not wish to install a new system-wide JRE)
  1. Install Apple's Quicktime 6 Public Preview by visiting http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.
    (This distribution is not compatible with Quicktime 5.)
    When installing, choose to do a "custom" installation, and be sure the following components are installed:
  2. Install MetaMix by double-clicking the installMM application to launch the installer and follow the instructions it provides.
  3. See FAQs below.
Manual Install:
  1. Install Sun's Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.3.1_03 by visiting http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/1.3.1_03/jre/index.html.
    (This distribution is not compatible with JRE v. 1.4)
  2. Install Apple's Quicktime 5 by visiting http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.
    When installing, choose to do a "custom" installation, and be sure the following components are installed:
  3. Extract the compressed archive (usually by double-clicking on it) and drag the folder to the location you'd like to install it to. Launch MetaMix by double-clicking the "MetaMix.jar" file.
  4. See FAQs below.

Frequently Asked Questions about Windows installation

I already have a Java Runtime Environment installed. Can I use that instead?

If you have Sun's JRE 1.3.1 installed, yes. MetaMix does not work with earlier versions of Java or java runtime environments from other companies (such as Microsoft). For information on JRE 1.4 compatibility, see below.

This installer will authomatically find all of the JREs on your system and let you select the most appropriate JRE to use.

Can I use Sun's Java Runtime Environment 1.4?

There is experimental support available for JRE 1.4. To use this version of the JRE, you must install Quicktime 6 Public Preview. JRE 1.4 will not work with Quicktime 5.

I don't know if I have Sun's Java Runtime Environment installed, or I don't know what version I have installed. How can I find out?

Go to Start>Settings>Control Panels>Add/Remove Programs. If a Java Runtime Environment is installed, it will be listed along with its version, e.g. "Java Runtime Environment Standard Edition, v1.3.1_03."

I already have Quicktime 5 installed; am I supposed to reinstall it?

Even if Quicktime is already installed, you need to make sure all the necessary components of Quicktime are installed. Go to Start>Control Panels>Quicktime>Update Check. Click on "Update and install additional QuickTime software" and then click "Update," then "Custom." Check Quicktime Essentials, Quicktime Internet Extras, Quicktime Authoring, and Quicktime for Java, then click "Update Now."

I try to install/update Quicktime, but the list of components doesn't include "Quicktime for Java" or the installer gives me an error stating that Quicktime for Java cannot be installed. What's going on?

Be sure you have the correct Sun Java Runtime Environment installed before you try to install or update Quicktime.

I am an advanced user, and I do not want to replace my current Java Runtime Environment with the version you ask me to install. Can I still use MetaMix?

Yes. Use the "Special Self-Contained VM" installation (see above). This installer includes a self-contained version of Sun's JRE 1.3.1 which will not interfere with the default Java VM on your system.

Why is Windows installation so much more complicated than Mac installation?

The Java runtime and Quicktime components that MetaMix needs are installed by default by Mac OS X. On Windows, they must be manually installed by the end user, or by extremely expensive installation software which is impractical for use with this free program

Quicktime 6 should somewhat streamline the installation process, so stay tuned!