Frequently asked questions

What are the file formats that Polybonk provide and what is the difference between them?

There are two types of music formats available from Polybonk for download. The first of these is high-quality MP3s, coded applying the LAME program of MP3 encoding. This program is widely recognized for the being optimum MP3 encoder available. They're universally compatible with portable digital media (iPod, etc) and all modern computer operating systems. Our MP3s are encoded by applying Variable BitRate (VBR) encoding. This (VBR) stands for the variation of the bitrate, which alters throughout the playback of the MP3 file, economizing data space wherever the maximum encoding level isn't needed. These MP3's are excellent quality - and due to the new version technology they are indistinguishable from 320kpbs MP3s. The second type of music format is FLAC file format which is explained in detail below.

What are the files I can download?

Polybonk gives you the option of downloading either the MP3 or the FLAC version of the music with each single track purchase or subscription service.

What is a ZIP file?

The ZIP file format is a popular data compression and archival format. A ZIP file contains one or more files that have been compressed to reduce their file size.

How do I open or 'unzip' a ZIP file?

You can open a zip file by using a ZIP file extraction utility. Most operating systems provide the necessary software to extract the content from a zip file.

Simply Right click on the zip file and select "Extract here" or "Unzip" or Double click on the zip file and extract the files to your desired location.

Why does my media player say that the rate of encoding is so low?

Some media players such as iTunes only display the first frames (split second) audio encoding rate. This can lead to a deceptive impression of the overall file quality. This is not an accurate portrayal of the file quality and you can rest assured that all of our MP3s are excellent quality.

Is it possible to hear the music before I buy it?

Absolutely. Here at Polybonk we have a custom player that cuts the track into 30 second slices and discreetly cues them for you. The slices have a gap of a few seconds silence which interrupts the audio every 30 seconds while the next slice cued starts to lode. This enables us to provide you with a much higher quality stereo preview than other online music sites and ensures we can preview the whole track without long loading times. Click "Play" next to the track on the Polybonk player. This will play the whole track in 30 second slices one after the other. You can quickly skip into the track by pressing the next button. This will navigate through the track, in 30 second segments. Find out more about our player here

Is the track quality the same as the MP3 I will download?

No. The quality of the previews, while extremely high in comparison to the previews on other music sites, is lower than the quality of the MP3 files in order to enable faster load times.

Do I have to pay more for the higher quality FLAC files?

Absolutely not. Some music sites will charge a higher fee for 'handling' of FLAC files (but we at Polybonk don't see why you should charge a 'handling' fee for a non-material object!!). Polybonk provides both MP3 and FLAC format for each track bought.

My Mac thinks that the music is an Excel / Bina file. How do I play it?

It is common for Apple Mac users to encounter this bug, due to long computer file names. Once the MP3 is downloaded, your computer abbreviates the filename and cuts off the ".mp3" filename extension. This leaves your computer incapable of recognizing the file and finding an appropriate application to run it, and the computer assumes it is an Excel or Bina file. Just rename the track by adding the extension ".mp3".

What do I do If a file has a problem e.g. sound glitches etc?

Please contact us about the issue as soon as possible - if there's any issue with a track then we need to rectify it as immediately. Please email contact@polybonk.com with a description of the problem – provide us the time in the track that the error occurs – we will ensure you get the correct file straight away.

What has happened to my ZIP file? I downloaded it and can't find it.

This is often a problem for Mac users, but can happen in other operating systems. Internet browsers may automatically unzip your download. Search for the name of the album or track you have downloaded.

What do I do if I have deleted my download by accident?

The files you download become your responsibility. If you have purchased a current subscription from us you can just download the file again.

I couldn't download the track I paid for. Can I have it emailed it to me instead?

No Its possible to attach such large files to emails. We do however send you an email from Polybonk, This email will contain two links; one for the MP3 format, and one for the FLAC. These are only valid for ONE click. The file download will also be available in the File area of your account page. These files will be available for you to download for 2 weeks. This means you may download your music multiple times if you wish (there is a limit of 10 downloads per purchase). If you wish to download both formats, you must select BOTH links. The MP3 link will NOT activate a FLAC download, and vice versa.

How do I pay and how secure is my transaction?

All credit and debit card processing is through Paypal, the world's most used and secure processing company. All records and transaction information are handled by Paypal.

How long after paying for a subscription am I able to log in?

There are 2 methods for paying for transactions using PayPal. One uses your credit card and the other uses your bank account.

1) If you pay PayPal directly from your bank account (called PayPal eCheck), it may take up to 6 days for PayPal to receive the funds from your bank. The moment funds are successfully transferred PayPal will notify us via email. As soon as this happens we will enable your account and you will be able to log in.

2) When you use your credit card the process happens in just a few minuets and your purchase is available almost immediately.

New people sometimes choose the eCheck payment method without realizing that it will result in a delay. In this case you just have to wait.

Is my email kept private?

Absolutely. We will not give your email out to any third party and we will only use it to send you purchase information and news if you subscribe to our newsletter or groups.