Macromedia dreamweaver 8-using dreamweaver User Manual

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Chapter 17:  Adding Audio, Video, and Interactive Elements
Adding sound to a page
You can add sound to a web page. There are several different types of sound files and formats, 
including .wav, .midi, and .mp3. For more information, see 
. Some factors to consider before deciding on a format and method for adding 
sound are its purpose, your audience, file size, sound quality, and differences in browsers. 
Linking to an audio file
Linking to an audio file is a simple and effective way to add sound to a web page. This 
method of incorporating sound files lets visitors choose whether they want to listen to the file, 
and makes the file available to the widest audience. 
To create a link to an audio file:
1.
Select the text or image you want to use as the link to the audio file.
2.
In the Property inspector, click the folder icon to browse for the audio file, or type the file’s 
path and name in the Link text box.
Embedding a sound file
Embedding audio incorporates the sound directly into the page, but the sound only plays if 
visitors to your site have the appropriate plug-in for the chosen sound file. Embed files if you 
want to use the sound as background music, or if you want to control the volume, the way the 
player looks on the page, or the beginning and ending points of the sound file. 
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Sound files are handled very differently and inconsistently by different browsers. You 
may want to add a sound file to a Flash SWF file and then embed the SWF file to 
improve consistency. 
TIP
When incorporating sound files in your web pages, carefully consider their appropriate 
use in your web site, and how visitors to your site use these media resources. Always 
provide a control to either enable or disable the playing of the sound, in the event that 
visitors don’t want to listen to the audio content.