MMBC and True Blend™ MPS Requirements and Restrictions

The True Blend™ Media Player System (MPS) is only licensed as part of the Music MegaBase® Catalog (MMBC) Media Edition.  License restrictions apply.  The MMBC is available in the U.S.A. only.  Jump to hardware or software requirements, or read Microsoft®  Access™ compatibility table.  Go to miscellaneous notes and recommendations, including information about supported audio file formats.

Hardware Considerations

The built-in HELP topics provide context-sensitive guidance, and an explanation of MMBC capabilities.  Get an overview of the True Blend™ Media Player System and the Music MegaBase® Catalog Media Edition here.

Software Considerations

Compare the True Blend™ MPS "mixing experience" with other software / hardware sequential transition mixing products, here.

Compatible Version of Microsoft® Access™ Required

Codentity® LLC is licensed to provide a FREE “runtime” version of Access 2002 (XP) with the MMBC distribution files—for use on Windows® XP operating system computers.  Microsoft Corporation, via downloads, also provides a FREE versions of the Access 2010 runtime, and the Access 2007 runtime for use on Windows® 7 computers.  (See Microsoft notes for specific OS conditions.  At this time, our research indicates that Microsoft no longer supplies the Access 2003 runtime.)

Looking for the free 2010 Access download?  Download Access 2010 runtime 32-bit from Microsoft Web site.  Looking for the free 2007 Access download?   Download Access 2007 runtime from Microsoft.  (Note: These links connect with Web sites and computer systems not owned or operated by Codentity.)

The MMBC interface is designed to be extremely intuitive, and users can control the various aspects of the MMBC through a combination of familiar point and click selections or keyboard commands.  The MMBC also includes built-in context-sensitive HELP.  Database training, and previous experience with Access it NOT necessary.

IMPORTANT:  In order to avoid potential “version conflicts” between various Microsoft Office program files and Access, the compatibility table below provides version recommendations.  Use scenario A, B, or C—that which best describes your configuration.  Please follow Access version guidelines.

 IMPORTANT:  You must use a 32-bit Access™ RUNTIME version, or a runtime specified SHORTCUT launch order with a 32-bit retail or OEM Access™ installation, to operate the MMBC.  Attempting to open the MMBC with any version of Access™ in a non-runtime state is a violation of the End User License Agreement (EULA) and will cause the program to terminate.  Codentity License Manager (CLM), installed with the MMBC, monitors user-compliance with the EULA and CLM cannot be disabled.

 Technical Note:   To avoid conflicts between different versions of the Microsoft Office installer program, users should plan on installing the MMBC with True Blend™ technology on a desktop, laptop, or Netbook PC where a previously installed version of an Office program (such as Excel 2010, or Word 2003, or PowerPoint 2002, etc.) will not be a different version from the anticipated Access runtime files.

Notes and Recommendations

The MBC is powered by Microsoft® Access™, and requires installation of a compatible Access version: Access XP (2002), Access 2003, Access 2007, or Access 2010.  Earlier versions of Access are not supported by Codentity.  (See compatibility table above.)

Codentity is licensed to distribute the Access XP "runtime" with the MMBC.  Microsoft makes links available for free downloads of Access 2007 and Access 2010 runtime editions.  At this time, Codentity is NOT licensed to distribute the Access 2003 runtime.  For now, users who wish to use the MMBC on the same PC with installed  Office 2003 programs (such as Word 2003) may have to independently acquire the Access 2003 runtime; or a used retail version of Access 2003 from an Internet auction site.  The MMBC will work with existing compatible RETAIL, OEM, or educational license versions of Microsoft Access—however the MMBC will only open in runtime mode.

The MMBC is compatible with Microsoft Windows® XP and Windows® 7.  Recommended video memory is 256 MB or greater (however Codentity has successfully tested the MMBC on a laptop with only 64 MB of video memory—see Toshiba® laptop note above).  Master music folders should be organized and stored on drive "D" (or successive drives, such as E, F, G, etc.).  A flash media storage drive, such as a 16 GB USB drive, is strongly recommended for the location of the designated master music folder.  (Move to start of Requirements and Restrictions topic here.)

The True Blend™ MPS uses embedded Microsoft ActiveX® media players—namely the Windows Media® Player 9 series, version 9.x.  The players are compatible with Windows® XP and Windows® 7, however Codentity has not tested the True Blend™ MPS with Windows® Vista—or any other operating system.

ONLY WMA, WAV and MP3 audio file formats are supported.  DRM (digital rights management) has not been exhaustively tested.  However, performance should conform with Microsoft version 9.x standards.  For example, in order to evaluate compatibility with Web store MP3 format media files, Codentity purchased approximately 25 music files from the Amazon.com digital music store.  (Note: Amazon is a registered trademark.)

In testing, every MP3 format file acquired from Amazon Digital Services worked as expected in the True Blend™ MPS.  Codentity has not yet conducted testing for digital media files purchased from other vendors.  In cases where a user may have a media library consisting of unsupported formats (i.e., other than WMA, WAV or MP3), freely available conversion programs can be used to transform files into acceptable True Blend™ MPS formats.

 TIP:  Because the Music MegaBase® Catalog (MMBC) with its True Blend™ Media Player System (MPS) will be available as a FREE trial download, users will have an opportunity to TEST the software with their typical music files—before purchasing a MMBC / MPS license.

The True Blend™ Media Player System requires users to insert hyperlinks to digital media files on their computer.  The hyperlinks are saved in the catalog system and they correspond directly with TITLES (and their associated artists) present* in the Music MegaBase® Catalog.

*The MMBC includes approximately 4,000 entries for hit-music recordings made popular from the years 1950 through 2000.  If a particular song you want to use in the True Blend™ MPS is NOT in the catalog, you must enter its minimum data information as a new "record" (i.e., Title / Artist combination) BEFORE you can connect a hyperlink.  Minimum data includes; Title, Artist, Music Type (genre), Decade of release, and AFC (Audio File Content).

In cases where a particular detail, such as the decade of release is not known, the user must submit a "best guess".  They most common AFC values is "HMT"—designating hit-music track.  The program includes an assortment of special forms to speed data entry and management.  It also includes special tools for hyperlink insertion and validation testing,  Read Basics Help, Media Assets Help, or Player Assets Help, provided with the program, to learn more.

In testing, Codentity was able to confirm that, with a well-organized music folder structure, it takes about 3 hours for the one-time set-up* insertion of 1,000 hyperlinks (when the song titles are already present in the catalog database).

 FYI:   *The investment required to set-up your hyperlinks ONE time, pays off every time you use the MMBC with its True Blend™ MPS.  This is true because the direct association between a catalog title and its stored hyperlink is what enables the amazing SEARCH flexibility, and one-click FILTER capability, of Microsoft® Access™—the program that powers the Music MegaBase® Catalog.   In fact, the search and filter capabilities in the MMBC are many times more efficient than other search methods (such as simple folder sort then browse, or "thumb scroll").

The audio hyperlinks must connect with files on a drive NOT labeled "C".  In other words, our best practices recommendations suggest organizing and storing the master music folder, and its subfolders, on a D partition, or a discrete USB flash media drive—labeled D, E, F, or G, and so on.  Get complete guidance within the program by reading Modify Assigned Drive Letter Help.

Recommended video resolutions include 1024 x 768 and 1280 x 1024 in standard 4:3 aspect ratio*; plus 1366 x 768 in widescreen 16:10 aspect ratio.  256 MB of video memory is suggested.  *1024 x 600 is also accommodated.  Read UDS Manager Help for instructions.

The MMBC with its True Blend™ MPS has been extensively tested on Windows® (XP and 7) laptops and desktops.  All systems were configured with a processor capable of 2 GHz or better, and at least 2 GB of system RAM.  A Netbook device has not yet been tested.

Codentity® LLC is the developer, publisher, and exclusive licensor and distributor of the Music MegaBase® Catalog (MMBC) Media Edition—which includes the True Blend™ MPS.  The planned release date is March 17, 2012.  FREE trial downloads will permit potential customers to "test drive" the software on their Microsoft® Windows® XP or Windows® 7 PCs.  Product and option pricing for the MMBC and its companion software has not been officially determined.  Codentity will announce prices and availability at the time of public release.

Compare the True Blend™ MPS "mixing experience" with other products, here.  Learn about an important Codentity MUSIC SEARCH initiative here.

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