Webpage background music: Mp3 to.... ?

[Namie]

What's the best way to convert a mp3 (to small size and so they could stream while it downloads) for website background music? Is WMA most common?

[mrtunes]

Flash is the most common to my knowledge. you should try out this program Swishmax (www.swishzone.com) the 14 day trial is fully functional and what it does is export flash applets.

wma for example you will have to get the encoder from microsoft. you wouldnt want to encode a mp3->wmv but more you should be doing wav->wmv

[aktee]

it's WMA.
then you put..
<bgsound src="blabla.wma">

You need Windows Media Encoder, it's free I guess. You should encode at hmm, FM Quality so it can be easily streamed.

Or you could use Flash, put multiple song, a stop/play/forward button..

[lordsmurf]

I wish we could ban music on web sites. What an obnoxious (and often TOTALLY UNNECESSARY) pain in the butt.

[gadgetguy]

I wish we could ban music on web sites. What an obnoxious (and often TOTALLY UNNECESSARY) pain in the butt.

Amen

[Namie]

Wow, I wasn't expecting this many replies... I'm not sure about flash because some would have to download the plugin. I will try the Windows Encoder.

I wish we could ban music on web sites. What an obnoxious (and often TOTALLY UNNECESSARY) pain in the butt.

I know... but it won't be annoying if there are added controls. And some people have better taste in music than others.

[aktee]

Flash is on every platform, and it is the most common plugin available..
WMA only works on windows machine..

and.. Controls doesn't work very well with WMA.
Flash on the other hand, works very well.

But...
Flash only accepts CBR MP3 (sucks). Very low quality if you want it to be easily streamable.