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These instructions will show you how to download
a real audio encoder, produce real audio sound clips,
and serve them up on your web pages.HTTP Pseudo-Streaming HTTP enables audio content providers to stream RealAudio from a World Wide Web server. While this method is not as robust as using a media server, it provides a reasonable method for providing low volumes of RealAudio content form sites such as personal web pages.
The following MIME types need to be configured for your ISP's Web server:
audio/x-pn-realaudio (files with a .ra or .ram file extension)
audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin (files with a .rpm file extension)Our World Wide Web servers are pre-configured with these MIME types.
To download the latest Real Audio Encoder (Version 5.0) go to the Real Audio Encoder Page
- An overview of Real Audio Encoder is in order.
RealAudio Encoder enables you to compress audio files or input from a sound device into one or more RealAudio formats. You can select input files by browsing from within the Encoder, or drag and drop files onto the Encoder icon for automated processing. The Encoder window displays information about input and output file formats and has fields for entering descriptive information.
RealAudio content may be created either from previously recorded digital audio files, or from an external audio source. Prerecorded files may be in .au, .wav and raw .pcm audio formats. External audio may be fed from a recorded source, such as DAT (Digital Audio Tape), CD (Compact Disc), or directly from a mixing console or microphone. Prior to encoding, prerecorded audio should be preprocessed using one of the various sound editing utilities available to maximize the audio quality of the encoded content. Similarly, when encoding live source audio, the input levels should be prepared and tested as before any professional recording session.
You will need to record a source using the sound editor that probably came with your sound card. It will probably be able to produce .wav files from voice, CD or other input sources. Once you create your .wav file, you are ready to encode it.
After you have downloaded and uppacked your encoder, follow the instructions contained in the on-line help utility to encode your file. It's really pretty easy!
Now that you have your brand new RealAudio (.ra) file, you need to go thru the steps of placing it in your www directrory and creating a meta file (.ram) to also place in your directory. The meta file is used to point real audio servers to the RealAudio clip. (The browser actually downloads the metafile when you click the RealAudio hyperlink, and the browser hands off the metafile to the real audio player to it's can begin downloading the clip and jam.
Enough details. Copy your encoded RealAudio files (files with the .ra extension) to your World Wide Web server.
Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to create a metafile containing a RealAudio URL for the audio clip. For example, the contents of your file should be in the following form:
http://hostname/path (i.e. http://www.akc.com/elvislive.ra)
Where hostname is the name of your World Wide Web server. For example: www.akc.com
Save your metafile in as text using a .ram filename extension.
In your HTML document, reference the metafile in a hyperlink. For example:
<A HREF="filename.ram"><A HREF="http://hostname/file.ram">You can use relative or complete paths. If you use complete paths, you must include both the hostname and the complete path. For example:
<A HREF="http://www.ra.com/home/welcome.ram">It as easy as that! Now, when a user clicks on the link, the audio file(s) begin to download. The RealPlayer on their computer begins playing after a few seconds; it does not need to wait for the entire file to be downloaded.
Here is a sample link to a real audio file of Rich Mullins, a pretty good Christian Singer.
As always, let us know if you have any questions, or if you would like to use our RealAudio Server for more aggressive real audio applications.
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©1999 AKC Computer Services Corporation
www.AKC.com