Designing Web Audio

Designing Web Audio explains how digital audio is encoded from microphone to hard disk; how sound is processed using compression and equalization; and how to turn audio source material into a great soundtrack using loops and ambient soundscapes. Designing Web Audio demystifies its subject with informative step-by-step techniques for encoding, compression, and streaming audio over the Web.

This book includes the following:

• The most up-to-date, step-by-step guides to the latest popular streaming media formats for building multimedia web pages including RealAudio, Shockwave, Flash, MP3, MIDI, and RMF (Beatnik).
• A step-by-step guide to building multimedia Synchronized Media Integration Language (SMIL) presentations using the new RealSystem G2. (This is the only book on the market that offers information on this.)
• In-depth coverage of the sound design principles for building effective multimedia web pages with sound, including examples of real-world sound design techniques used by leading film and CD-ROM sound designers.
• Informative case studies featuring leading companies such as N2K, Fox News Corp, TechWeb, and Sonicopia, and how they are enhancing their web pages using Flash, RealAudio, Shockwave, or Beatnik's audio technologies.
• Tips from two Academy Award-winning sound designers that will help web professionals use audio more intelligently.
• In-depth consumer buyer's guide with street prices and tips for buying the best gear at the lowest prices to produce high-quality Internet audio in-house.
• Thorough practical coverage of digital audio theory and basic recording and editing techniques.

The easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on using the leading audio formats will make Designing Web Audio an invaluable resource for Web developers and individuals who want to stream their own music over the Web.

Contents

Preface

1. The Art of Sound Design

     A brief history of web audio

     What you can do with sound on the Web

     Two easy ways to add sound

     Adding sound effects

     Audio challenges and limitations

     Solid sound design

     Designing web audio

     Interactive sound effects and buttons

     Interactive sound design case study

     Summary

2. The Science of Sound and Digital Audio

     The science of sound

     Digital audio demystified

     Summary

3. Capturing Original Source Material

     Selecting the right equipment

     Recording techniques

     Summary

4. Optimizing Your Sound Files

     Basic sound editing

     Digital effects

     Web mastering: optimizing sound files for Internet broadcasting

     Summary

5. Introduction to Streaming Media

     Streaming protocols

     Streaming media formats

     Selecting the right format

     Summary

6. Encoding, Serving, and Streaming Sound with RealAudio

     The RealMedia System

     Streaming RealAudio from a web server

     Professional webcasting

     Advanced RealAudio applications

     Live broadcasting with RealAudio

     Case study: N2K streams live Mötley Crüe concert

     Summary

7. Designing Multimedia Presentations with SMIL and RealSystem G2 159

     SureStream

     SMIL

     RealPix

     RealText

     RealFlash

     Delivering backwards-compatible content

     Case study: TechWeb Today

     Summary

8. Playing, Serving, and Streaming MP3

     MP3 pros and cons

     What is MP3?

     Playing MP3 files

     Making MP3 files

     Creating a buzz: posting MP3 files to the Internet

     Start your own MP3 radio station

     Legalities of MP3

     MP3 resources

     Summary

9. Interactive Sound Design with Flash and Shockwave

     Flash and Shockwave basics

     Introduction to Flash

     Introduction to Shockwave

     Summary

10. MIDI: Quick and Easy Audio for the Web

     MIDI: A universal approach

     Adding MIDI to your web pages

     Creating your own MIDI files

     Summary

11. Designing Audio Web Sites with Beatnik

     New possibilities for interactive sound

     Beatnik authoring system

     Sonification tutorial

     Using the Beatnik Editor

     Summary

A. Creating the Ultimate Web Sound Studio: Buyers Guide and Web Resources

B. Audio Format Comparison

Index