Chapter 27
Using Audio on Your Web Page
In This Chapter
- Digital audio fundamentals
- Music files overview
- MP3 mini-primer
- Linking and embedding sound
- Streaming audio
- Incorporating podcasts
Websites tend to be divided into two categories: those totally without sound, and those that use a lot of it. There’s not much middle ground. Many music and entertainment sites rely heavily on both streaming audio and downloadable audio files, such as MP3.
In this chapter, you learn how to use audio in the web pages you design with Dreamweaver. You look at traditional digital audio formats, such as AIFF and WAV, and how you can turn these into files suitable for publishing on the web, in formats such as MP3. Finally, you learn how to link to an individual podcast and a podcast feed.
Lest you forget that you’re dreamweaving here, you also look at some Dreamweaver extensions you can use to get audio-enabled sites up and running in no time. But before you leap into those deep waters, it’s a good idea to get an overview of digital audio and its place on the web.
Essentially, there are three ways you can work with sound on the web: You can link to an audio file, embed a plugin, or insert an audio-based SWF file. The following is the quick approach to all three methods. Let’s first look at the steps to link to a sound file:
1. Select the text or image you want to use as a link.
2. From the Property ...
