Streaming Audio Question

[tca]

I want to be able to stream an mp3 file on my site. Most people have 56k, and even those with dsl and cable it still takes a little time before the song starts playing. What is the easiest way to stream an mp3 so that those with 56k can begin to hear it asap? thanks.

[sandy]

What is the easiest way to stream an mp3 so that those with 56k can begin to hear it asap?

What you're wanting to happens seem impossible to me. The reason is the same whether you are downloading a large file, be it a webpage, file, or streaming audio file. The speed of the download will determine how fast the audio will start to play.

I have audio on all of my pages, and how fast they start depends solely on the server speed and the speed of the connection.

Sandy

[cathykopasek]

The only way I knew to make the music start by itself was by using a wav file, so I downloaded a wav converter to convert MP3 to wav. When I go to preview mode from design mode the music plays right away, when I do a local publish it plays right away, but when I access the published site from the internet the by the time I am 3 or 4 pages from the first page, the music from the first pages starts to play and this particular site is an 50th anniversary gift to my parents and the each song is relative to the page design or subject. Originally, I only knew how to put the music in by having the site visitor click a music note, at least but I didn't really like it, then after the site was published and presented to my parents, I had time to play around and found out how to make it so the music starts on it's own, it was great in preview mode and local publish mode, but then I republished the site with authomatic start music and now it takes forever to start and is no longer relative because by the time the song starts it is irrelevant, it really sucks, if anyone has an answer let me know. (I am totally self taught and figure new stuff out all the time, however I have been doing graphic design since 1990) SITE I AM TALKING ABOUT IS www.jimandpeggyryan.com Also, found out from some people using a different browsers that the screen splits or something like that, I can't see what they are talking about on my computer or my parents, someone said I need to tile it??? Don't know what that is, who does??? I clicked on center in browser and it fixed some pages, but messed up the button placements and other graphics. Any advice I am all ears. By the way the site I did for my parents is very graphical and decorative and on a dial up modem I hear it really sucks because of the time it takes to load, but I don't understand why anybody in the world would tolerate or pay for a dial up modem service. It takes 4 days straight to download a couple of songs, and 2 minutes on a digital internet access service. People waiting that long could become dangerously violent. I was close to it when I had a dial up many times.

[sandy]

Cathy,

I think your sites look great, and I am not sure what others are telling you about tiles either.

I've learned that with all of the browsers out there, and some keeping their resoluion at 800 X 600, or even worse, less,,, that no matter what you try to do, they will see your site differently.

If you have a stats package installed, you can see what the majority of your visitors use,, browser and resolution. Aim for the majority, and forget about the rest!

As far as dial-up .. you can't blame everyone for that. Some areas may not have it, and many may be visiting while on the road.

In conclusion ... great job on your pages!

Sandy

[cathykopasek]

Thank you for your very nice compliments. That site took 3 months and about 40-50hours a week to do. It was a nightmare. Anyway, I wish the music started on time. Didn't know some people didn't have digital in their areas, how sad. Also, my computer is so full with clipart, graphics that a dial up is even slower and more frustrating than others that aren't into graphics and music and are able to keep their computer more streamlined. I have 256 ram, and even with a digital my computer runs slower than it should. I was just making joke of the slow dial up modems, sorry if you have one, I have found that the majority does. Guess it is a matter of individual priorities, most people don't consider the extra expense to be a priority as computers aren't their world. My granddaughter and my computer is my world. So I don't mind paying extra for the digital. Some people might consider eating to be more important than a computer and their budget doesn't allow for the extra expense and they remain patient in order to avoid spending their grocery money on digital service. Myself, I will go without food if need be. Anyway sorry if I offended anyone, we all have our priorities, a lot would consider digital to frivolous. Thanks again.

[RadioRob]

Cathy,

Please never feel offended by asking questions or asking for clarification. That's why we're here. :) We'd be more than happy to help in whatever way we can.

As far as food v. internet access.... I'd say I'd be keeping my DSL line too. :D

Also, congrats on your site. Very nice!

[cathykopasek]

Thanks for you reply and kind words. So you actually work for Powweb? You read these messages and reply? What a cool job. I envy you. Do you get to do it at home? I have never communicated to people I don't know, like chat rooms, I am to into the graphic design thing and music burining thing. I don't get the lingo either, but this is my first experience and it is really fun. I just signed up with powweb and I am very, very impressed with this forum, their customer service, and the package I purchased. Great company, cool job.

Cathy

[RadioRob]

Hi Cathy!

The Administrators here on the forum are the "actual" paid staff. People like mjp, Starr, Andrew, Winnie, James... They handle the "really tough" stuff that fly over our heads. LOL

They help out with various questions as they have time...

But all of the Moderators themselves (like JadeDragon, JJ, SimCoWeb, and the others) are all just volunteers. We're fellow PowWeb users who've been around for a while and spend some time here helping other people here.

While we're not paid employees, all of us here take a good deal of pride in these forums. We like knowing we have a very unique place for webmasters to come and get their questions answered quickly in a friendly, professional manner. This place is one of a kind for most of us... almost a second home. :D

It's rewarding for us to look back and see how the advice and guidence we've provided has helped others turn out really great looking sites. Having someone come back later and say "thank you" and "this is possible because of the help you gave me" is a wonderful gift to the folks who hang around here on a regular basis.

We hope ya stick around and enjoy the discussions here on the boards. :)

[cathykopasek]

You must love computers more than me then to volunteer, or must be a very special person to want to help others with their computer problems. Afterall, the internet and the computer technology is so new, yet is becoming so vast. There is endless things to know and it is up to each person to decide how much they want to know, I don't want to know it all, which would be impossible, but I do want to know all that I can so that I can feel proud of my work. Anyway I am glad your there to help. I love this forum, it is really great and helpful. My site that is not all the way completed is now published thanks to a forum response from one of the participants that also uses NetObjects Fusion, his response was within minutes, I am so impressed with this forum. Please, if you get time take a look see at my site on the temp URL. The music won't start when you first open the pages. This is big problem as the music adds so much. Anything you know I am open ears. Please look see I am open for critique and input that is the only way you learn:

http://giftwebpagescom.powweb.com/
thanks for your help.
Cathy Kopasek