Audio Voodoo

Audio files are huge and take a great deal of bandwidth (read time) to download over the internet. File size difference can be shown by comparing a 60 minute audio CD with a multimedia CD which includes graphics, photo's, text and animation. In each case, the CDs are limited to approximately 660 megabytes (megs) of digital information, but the other formats can store more knowledge than the audio files can. Text files are the most thrifty; an entire encyclopedia can be stored on a CD.

By resampling audio files, the size can be reduced significantly with little degradation to voice. Music however; suffers at rates below 22 mhz.

RealAudio (tm) has been developed to overcome some of the file size-waiting time. This compression method allows downloading or streaming audio to be heard by the listener before the file arrives in its entirety.

MP3 is at the centre of contentious issues of the music industry. These music files are only 10% the size of a .wav file, but maintain fidelity. This technology is viewed as either a benefit or a threat to the music industry depending on your view. Software programs called MP3 rippers will convert audio files into MP3. The downside is the listener must have an MP3 player program installed on their computer. These are free programs for those who take the time to find them and install.

Another method of allowing the users computer to receive the audio files without getting discouraged and clicking off in another direction, is to provide them with a long text file to read while the download is continuing. So in addition to this windy explanation, the reading time is giving the system some breathing space .

sound forge (13782 bytes)
A screen shot of Sound Forge, a program for digitally manipulating sound files.

Multimedia

Audio adds another dimension to your production. Convey the message with text, video and audio. That's three times more opportunity of reaching your audience than through a single media source.

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©  1999 Wayne Hawthorne