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Interactive Encyclopedia
of Sound
Thanks to standardization, when we play an audio CD, we don't have to think about how that sound is formatted. (For the record, the CD-Audio standard is called "Red Book.") Such is not the case when we encounter sound on computers.

Here's where you can learn about sound file types that you're likely to encounter on the Web, and how to incorporate them into your browser. Included with each sound file type is a music example so you can compare sound quality and file size for each. You might also want to check out the sound formats chart, which gives a brief description of each type.
view sound formats chart

Overview

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Overview

Downloadable sound

All the major browsers are able to open text files and certain image files directly. But you may have encountered a situation where your browser doesn't recognize a particular file. In this case you are typically offered the opportunity to save the file to your hard drive. If you know what application is needed to open that file, you can do so (provided you have the application on your hard drive) after the file is downloaded. This is very often the case with sound, which is not always supported directly in some of the current browsers.

Helper Apps

However all major Web browsers support "helper apps", which allow you to deal with files that are not naturally handled within the native browser environment. One common helper app is "Stuffit Expander", which is often automatically launched on Macintosh browsers after you have downloaded an application from the web. It's easy to configure your browser to play sound via a helper app. When properly configured, your browser will automatically open the proper helper app after the sound file is downloaded to your computer, and play your the file either online or offline.

Sound plug-ins

Another more convenient alternative to selecting a helper app is to select a plug-in that will handle your file. Plug-ins extend the capability of your browser by allowing more seamless integration of many different kinds of file formats into your browser environment. Users typically download a plug-in from the Web, then quit their browser in order to install the plug-in. Once installed, the plug-in works seamlessly from your browser (at least, that's the theory.) Some browsers already include certain plug-ins, which are automatically installed at the time you install the browser on your computer. In such cases,you don't have to do anything when you encounter a file on the Web; the plug-in automatically opens and does its thing.

Netscape created the plug-in technology, and Microsoft developed Active-X technology as a response to Netscape. As a result, most plug-ins, such as Macromedia's Flash, have created Active-X-complaint "plugins" for Internet Explorer. However, other plug-ins do not always offer complete cross-platform and browser compatibility.

Non-streaming

Many different helper apps and plug-ins have been created to help deal with sound. Most of these are designed to open a file once it has been downloaded to your local drive, and then play it, either automatically, or under your direction. This method of downloading a complete sound file and subsequently playing it is called non-streaming.

Streaming

In the last couple of years we have seen the appearance of sound plug-ins that use "streaming technology." Streaming plug-ins and helper apps can play the first part of a file without having to wait for the file to completely download to your local drive. In this way it's possible to play very long pieces of audio with only a little waiting at the very beginning of playback. The faster your modem is, the fewer "glitches" will occur during playback of a streamed file. A 28.8 kb modem is the recommended mininum speed for streaming audio.

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Sound data types

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a standard for controlling synthesizers. It does not support audio per se; it simply controls the performance of MIDI synthesizers. To play a MIDI file, Macintosh users need the following:

1. either a General MIDI device such as a Roland Sound Canvas or a software-based MIDI synthesizer such as QuickTime Musical Instruments (which is included with QuickTime),

2. either a helper app that plays MIDI files, such as the cross-platform Arnold's MIDI Player, or a MIDI Plug-In, such as LiveAudio (included with Netscape), Crescendo, or Beatnik .

Windows users can play MIDI through most sound cards using either a helper app such as Microsoft Media Player, or using a MIDI Plug-In such as MIDPlug, Beatnik , LiveAudio (Netscape) or Crescendo .

Click here to play a MIDI file.

AIFF

The Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is commonly used on Macintosh computers. You can download AIFF files to your computer and play them using an application such as SoundApp or SoundMachine. Or you can use a plug-in--such as Quicktime (Mac and Windows) or LiveAudio (Mac/Netscape and Windows/Netscape)--to play AIFF files from within your browser environment. However, AIFF files are not normally used on the Web any more because of their large file sizes.

Click here to play an AIFF audio file.

WAV

WAV was developed by Microsoft for use with Intel-based computers (including Windows operating systems). As with AIFF files, you can download WAV files to your computer, and then play them using a separate application such as Microsoft Media Player. Normally a player application is included with your computer's audio card. Several plug-ins can also play WAV files, including Quicktime or LiveAudio (included with Netscape). However, WAV files are not normally used on the Web any more because of their large file sizes.

Click here to play a WAV audio file.

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RMF

Beatnik (formerly known as Headspace) developed the RMF (Rich Music Format) as part of its strategy to create a cross-platform audio standard for the web. RMF files can contain MIDI as well as other audio information, such as sampled sounds. To play an RMF file, you need the Beatnik Plug-In.

Click here to play an RMF (Beatnik) audio file.
(Note: You must have the Beatnik plug-in to experience this page.)


QuickTime

Apple developed the QuickTime architecture primarily to deliver cross-platform video, but QuickTime movies are also a convenient way to deliver audio without the video. To play QuickTime movies using a helper app, Macintosh users will need the QuickTime extension (included with all current systems) . Windows users can get QuickTime for Windows . Both Windows and Mac versions of QuickTime include QuickTime Player--a standalone player--as well as the QuickTime Plug-In (included with Netscape) to play streaming QuickTime audio from your browser. It's free, but unless you're willing to pay $30 for the QuickTime Pro upgrade, The QuickTime architecture is also capable of playing many other audio formats, such as MP3.

Click here to play a QuickTime audio file.
(Note: You must have the QuickTime plug-in to experience this page.)

QuickTime Music

QuickTime also supports "QuickTime Music Architecture (QTMA)." QuickTime Music is a specialized version of MIDI. If you have a Mac or PC with QuickTime 3.0 or greater and either the QuickTime plug-in or a QuickTime player, you can use QuickTime to play music files that have been converted from the MIDI format. The QuickTime Musical Instruments extension (included with the QuickTime extension) must be installed on your computer. The advantage of this format over MIDI is that you don't need any kind of external MIDI sound module to hear these files.

Click here to play a QuickTime Music file.
(Note: You must have the QuickTime plug-in to experience this page. You also need QuickTime Musical Instruments or some kind of General MIDI device)


Low- resolution AIFF, WAV and QuickTime

AIFF, WAV and QuickTime formats also support audio at lower resolutions.

Click here to select from a set of low- resolution AIFF, WAV and QuickTime audio files

Sun .au (u-law)

Another format for delivering sound on the Web is Sun .au, developed by Sun Microsystems. Windows computers can play these files using a helper app such as WHAM, and Macintoshes can play them using SoundApp or SoundMachine as helper apps. The cross-platform Quicktime Plug-In from Apple also supports this audio format--which commonly uses the u-law file compression standard--as does Netscape's LiveAudio plug-in.

Click here to play a Sun .au file with u-Law compression.

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MPEG Audio

MPEG-encoded audio is the latest darling of web audio formats, and rightly so. It offers an excellent combination of high quality audio and small file size.

Currently there are two common MPEG Audio formats: MP2 and MP3. Mac and Windows users can choose from a variety of MPEG helper apps. In addition, the QuickTime plug-ins for Macintosh and Windows can stream MP3 files directly from your browser. RealPlayer version 7 and above is also capable of streaming MP3 audio.

Click here to play MPEG audio files and to learn more about MPEG audio.

RealAudio

This format--developed by Real Networks--is a streaming audio format for use on the World Wide Web. It was the first commercial sound solution that allowed you to play audio as streaming data on the Web. To play this file you need the RealPlayer helper app or the RealPlayer Plug-in. Both are available for the major browsers and platforms.

Click here to play a "RealAudio" file using the RealPlayer Plug-in or the RealPlayer helper app.

Flash

Developed by Macromedia, the Flash plug-in is actually much more than an audio plug-in: browsers with this plug-in installed are capable of delivering sophisticated interactive Web-based experiences, including streaming audio, event-based audio and dazzling animation. The audio component–Shockwave Audio (.swa)–is a streaming audio solution that uses a version of MPEG to achieve remarkably small files sizes with minimum sacrifice in audio quality. The Flash plug-in is available for all major browsers and platforms, and many browser installers offer the option of installing this plug-in when you install the browser itself.

Click here to play a streaming Shockwave audio file using the Flash plug-in.

Liquid Audio

The Liquid MusicPlayer is a helper app from Liquid Audio that streams audio files. More than a web-based streaming audio technology, Liquid Audio has designed a proprietary system that lets you preview or purchase CD quality music from the Internet. And it allows you to see album graphics, lyrics, liner notes and promotions while listening via the Liquid MusicPlayer helper app. Dolby Digital technology provides superior sound. Liquid MusicPlayer offers additional features, including a personal Music Organizer, and the ability to easily record an actual Red Book audio CD playable on any home, car or portable stereo system. This player can also play mp3 files and RealAudio files.

Click here to find out more about Liquid Audio.

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