By Roger Weavers
There are a number of different ways to add audio to your web site.
Some can be a bit hit and miss and others can work out just plain
expensive.
So what is a quick and easy way to add audio to your web site with
out breaking the bank?
You have probably guessed from the title of this article but I would
like to show you why by giving you all of the options.
The cheapest and easiest way to add audio to your web site is to
simply upload an mp3 file to your web site and create a link to it
on your web page, job done! Well not quite, there are pros and cons
to this method. If you want your visitors to be able to download
your mp3 so they can listen to it at a later date on their computer
or iPod, (this is called pod casting) the link method is perfect.
Simply instruct your visitors to right click on the link and select
"save target as" (or "save link as" in Firefox).
If you want your visitors to be able to play your audio file
immediately online then there are a few problems. If the link is
clicked on a number of things could happen depending on which
plug-ins are installed. If iTunes or QuickTime is installed the mp3
will download and play in a new browser window. Otherwise the mp3
could play in Windows Media Player, Real Player or another
application like WinAmp or maybe not play at all.
Another method of adding audio to your web page would be to embed
the audio into the page. With a bit of html code, instead of the
player opening in a separate window it will appear on your web page.
This also depends on which plug-ins are installed so it may play in
a variety of players or not play at all!
There are other options like using a dedicated server or proprietary
software but these can be expensive and your visitors would probably
need to download extra software before they could play your audio.
These options can work out very expensive and should only be
considered if you are going to have very large volumes of downloads.
So, let’s consider Flash Audio. The Flash plug-in is estimated to be
on 98% of computers on the Internet. You can create audio buttons to
fit on your web page in whatever position you want and in your
colour scheme. Flash uses mp3 audio which will stream over any
connection. So will flash audio you are in complete control. The
only problem is that would need to buy and learn Macromedia Flash or
pay someone else to do it. That is until recently when a number of
cheap and easy to use software packages have come onto the market
which enables anyone who can cut and paste, to add Flash streaming
audio to their web site. Most of these programs have been listed and
reviewed at www.websiteaudioreviews.com
So now any one can create professional and reliable audio buttons on
their web site.
Add Audio to your Web
Site
