Streaming mp3

[Mitzi]

Could you please explain how I could stream an mp3 as background music for my webpage.
Or if I will need special software and if so which do you recommend?

[look]

I don't know the in's and out's of it, but as I understand it, you will have to pay for a real server to provide you with "streaming" (around $40).
If all you need is a tune, like a jingle, you can use a midi file & loop it.
Midi files are about 1 tenth the size of wav's, but you can only have tunes (no voices etc).
I haven't been much help really, have I ?

Sorry.

[Mitzi]

No No, Thanx anyway for taking the time I appreciate it.

[Hugh Jass]

I just came across this:
http://www.uniontel.net/howto/sound.html

It might help.

[Jason]

Mitzi,

Since an MP3 needs to spawn an external player, such as winamp, and does not play in the browser, I do not think it can be used as background music in this way.

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Jason M. DesRoches
Co-Founder / Business Development
Big Resources Network
jason@123webmaster.com
ICQ: 17947522

[Isaac]

Here's the facts:

-You want MP3 as a bg sound.
-If you want to run it in the background, (and not in a external player as Jason explianed), then you will have to pay for it.
-Real.com offers this type of service for around $70 a month.

Basicly unless you just have tons of money and time to wast or this is very important to you, then don't do it.

Another option is that with SOUND FORGE 7.0 you can convert MP3 files into wav file. This way you could run them a the bg, however remember that it would take a great deal of time to download. http://talkboard.123webmaster.com/ubbhtml/wink.gif



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Isaac
123Webmaster (http://www.123webmaster.com)
Big Resources Network
isaac@123webmaster.net
ICQ# 71401549

[Jason]

Unless you've got a way to make a streaming wav background, if you do, I'd sure like to know it myself.

------------------
Jason M. DesRoches
Co-Founder / Business Development
Big Resources Network
jason@123webmaster.com
ICQ: 17947522

[Henrik]

You don't need a real-server to stream real audio. It can be streamed through the http protocol and should work for any host that allows you to store .ra files.

[Isaac]

First of all Jason, I ment MIDI not wav. I don't know what was wrong with me there. :)

Second: It's true that you can play real format audio without using real's servers, however as Jason already explianed it would still spawn that external player so you would not be having 'true' backround music.

How can we resolve this? Any ideas? Music is not my best department, and personally, I'd like to know.



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Isaac
Big Resources Inc. (http://www.bigresources.com)
Big Resource Network
isaac@123webmaster.net
ICQ# 71401549

[Henrik]

Well, WAV and MIDI will also start and "external" player running in the browserwindow as a plugin. You can use real audio the same way and have it embed in the HTML file. This will start the realplayer "inside" the browser. It will require that you have real player installed ofcourse.
There is solutions to stream mp3's the same way but I don't think that people will download any plugin just to hear some background music.
Anyway, you don't have to start the player outside of the browser to play Real Audio(real video, real pix etc.).

[Isaac]

Thanks for the help Henrik. I didn't know about how to do that. You enlightened me.

:)


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Isaac
Big Resources Inc. (http://www.bigresources.com)
Big Resource Network
isaac@123webmaster.net
ICQ# 71401549

[Mitzi]

By the way there is actually a way to stream wav without spawning an external player but the surfers need the flash plugin. Macromedia flash 4.0 enables you to stream wav quite easily!

[Jason]

Mitzi,

That sounds interesting. Do you know the method? If so, could you post it? This is the first time that I've heard you could do that.

------------------
Jason M. DesRoches
Co-Founder / Business Development
Big Resources Network
jason@123webmaster.com
ICQ: 17947522

[Mitzi]

go to file>import and import the sound you want then simply double click the frame from which you want to stream from, click the sound tab and select your wav. then select stream and hey presto!

there is a more detaled tutorial that comes with the flash download.

[verybigkid]

If you have access to the server, it is possible to have either Icecast (http://www.icecast.org/) or Shoutcast (http://www.shoutcast.com/index.phtml) stream your MP3 files.
I believe there are also several Icecast and Shoutcast servers available for public use on the Web.


[This message has been edited by verybigkid (edited 10-20-2000).]