Some people look at audio on a web site as a passing fad -- after
all, if it was really all that useful, why did it just recently
become popular?
The fact that audio can increase sales and sign-ups isn't disputed
by savvy marketers, but until recently the technology wasn't cheap
enough or easy enough for a "normal" person to deploy streaming
audio. It used to take a special server and more fiddling than a lot
of people were willing to do.
And then Macromedia Flash version 6 came on the scene and introduced
the ability to stream MP3 audio files from a normal server. Soon
after that several solutions came on the market that gave everyone
the ability to stream audio.
So, it's all good, right? Well, not exactly. Since using audio is a
new thing for most marketers there's some confusion about how to
record the audio files, what size they should be, etc.
In my communications with people who are putting audio on their web
sites the most common question is, "How can I create a sound file
that even dial-up users can hear without lots of stops and starts?"
The stuttering that dial-up users are subjected to is a result of
two factors. First, they're on a slow line and
things just aren't going to come across as quickly. Second, audio
files that are recorded at a high bit-rate require a high bandwidth
connection. Either everyone needs DSL or better (yeah, right!) or
you need to create an audio file that's much smaller in size.
So let's look at ways to do that. Note: there are about as many
audio editing programs out there as stars in the sky, so the
following won't be step-by-step instructions. But the info should
get you close enough to make the right choices in the software
you're using.
There are two options you're going to want to tweak. They're
typically called "sample rate" and "bit rate." The sample rate
numbers will usually be followed by the letters Hz or kHz and range
from about 8000 (or 8 if the info is in kHz) to 44100 (or 44.1 kHz).
Bit rate numbers are usually followed by the letters kbps and will
typically range from 8 or 16 up to 196 or even higher. (If you see
just two or three options, 8, 16, and possibly 32, that's not the
parameter we care about).
For CD quality audio you'd want a sample rate of 44,100 Hz but since
voice can get by with so much less, set your sample rate to 11,025
Hz (or 11.025 kHz). And most people listening to music want their
bit rate set to at least 128 kbps, but for voice work we can go much
lower. And, if we want dial-up people to be happy, we have to go
very low.
Try setting your bit rate to 16kbps and see if you're satisfied with
the result. If not, try 32kbps and so on, up until you are happy.
Just remember, every step you take up the ladder means more dial-up
people won't have a smooth audio stream. Folks with faster dial-up
connections should get 32kbps sound with little trouble -- but if
the sound quality of a 16kbps file floats your boat, then go with
that. Just about everyone should be happy in that case.
It might take an afternoon of tweaking with your audio software to
get comfortable with it the first time, but
after that you'll be able to crank out audio files as easily as you
crank out word processor docs.
If you haven't made the move to using audio on your web site yet, go
ahead and give it a shot. There are many great reasons to use it,
and now that you know how to create audio files that even dial-up
users can experience, there are fewer reasons not to.
Jay Jennings is the developer behind the Sonic
Memo sound utility and runs an email list that includes
different ways webmasters/marketers can profit with audio-based
products and projects.
Click here now ==> http://SonicMemo.com |
