Many of the newer shows are only available by download with a program called BitTorrent until they are uploaded to Archive.org. Basically it means that you aren't downloading the show from one source (like Archive.org) but you are downloading bits and pieces of the show from many different people who already have the show. If enough people are sharing, your download can be very very fast. You need a couple of extra programs to use BitTorrent, however. Here's a guide:
Step 1: Download a BitTorrent client from our
Downloads Page. We recommend uTorrent for PCs because it is much easier to use than some others available. Azureus is one of the best available for Apple users.
Step 2: Install the program of your choice.
Step 3: Follow the link (which is usually posted on Red Letter Tribe) to the etree.org site (or other torrent site) where the download is. If you don't see the link on the forums, check the ccbSayIt
Downloadable Shows index.
Step 4: Download the .torrent file. This only takes a few seconds, and you should make sure that you save it to your Desktop.
Step 5: One the .torrent file is downloaded, click on it (it should be on your desktop). It should open up the Bittorrent program that you downloaded, asking you where you want to save it. Save it wherever, just dont forget where it is. I like to save to the desktop.
Step 6: Wait for the download to complete (this may take a while). When there are a lot of 'seeders' (people who are sharing) your download will be fast. When there are only 1 or 2, it will be much slower.
Step 7: Once you have downloaded the show, make a copy of the folder you downloaded. Use the
copy for the next step.
Caution: don't delete the original folder!
Step 8: If the folder you downloaded is a ZIP archive (with the zipper on it) then you need to remove the folder or files that are inside, or the next step wont work.
Step 9: Once the show is downloaded, you will need to download a program called
FLAC frontend (
use this program if you are using a Mac). This program will decode the FLAC files into WAV files. Keep in mind that these files are LOSSLESS, which means that they are in perfect condition. Turning these files into MP3's, WMA's, or AAC's will ruin the lossless quality, and you will notice a very big difference. For now, keep them as WAV files.
Step 10: This step is up to you, but we highly recommend it. Open up your CD burning program and start a Data Disc (not Audio CD). Drag the
original folder (with the FLAC files you downloaded) into the burning wizard and burn the CD. This way if any of your audio cds are damaged, you can use this disc to make a new one, instead of re-downloading the show. Put this disk in a safe place.
Step 11: Now take the new files (the WAV files from the new copy folder) and put these files on an
Audio CD in your burning program. Make sure that they are in order (01, 02, 03, etc) and that, if you have the option, you uncheck the '2 second gap between tracks' option. Burn the CD
Step 12: Once the burn is complete, put the disc back into your computer. You can now copy the tracks to your computer as WMA's, MP3's, AAC's, etc. using your favorite program (iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc.). Make sure that you DO NOT distribute these 'lossy' copies. Only lossless (FLAC or WAV) may be traded (it's in the trading policy!)
Step 13: Keep the folder that you downloaded and keep the bittorrent client
OPEN. This makes sure that you are sharing the show for others to download.
Note: If you are using a college server with bandwidth limitations, seeding is unnecessary. It will eat up your bandwidth very quickly. If you're willing to spare some, at least seed until you've uploaded as much as you downloaded (if the file is 300MB, seed until you've uploaded 300MB)
