Streaming lots of audio

August 19, 2005 7:21 AM

What's the best way to link to a lot of MP3s on one page?

Right now, a section of the blog I maintain features a page with dozens of copies of a Flash SWF, each linking to a different mp3. I get the sense that this is somehow tremendously inefficient, as well as a strain on processor power, and a nightmare for older computers without Flash installed. I just don't have the technical know-how to make it any better. Can you think of a better way to deliver these MP3's, ideally one that works (like this does) without opening a new application on the user's system?

If the current setup is as heinous as I think it is, and opening a new application is necessary, I like WNYC.org's implementation. Apparently, they've got some sort of wonderful Python script that can take a series of MP3 links as variables and play them in sequence. Is this script widely available? Does this work for people without RealPlayer? How do I use it? Is it better or worse than the SMIL protocol?

Thanks in advance for your tips and suggestions.

posted by grrarrgh00 to technology (5 comments total)

Why not just link to an index of the files? I love it when sites are courteous enough to not guess how I want to play their media, and just link to the actual files themselves.

So, make a nice little page consistent with the style of your site, with an unordered list of anchor links to the actual mp3 files. You could definitely script this so that it links to all files in a given directory, if that's what you're after.
posted by odinsdream at 8:05 AM on August 19, 2005

Thanks, odinsdream. It's the need for opening a separate application I most want to circumvent. I started off with straight links to the files, but quickly got tired of answering e-mails from folks confused because their DVD software opened up every time they wanted to play an MP3. I want to add the straight MP3 links back in, but I also want to keep an easier option available for people who prefer having less control over their technology.
posted by grrarrgh00 at 9:03 AM on August 19, 2005

SoundBlox is an open source Flash widget that can play multiple MP3s. You put the .SWF file on your server, embed it in your page and point it to an XML file that lists all the songs you want it to display.

Or set up a WebJay playlist and see what you can do with that.

And yes, the current setup is bad. I spent 10 minutes waiting for my browser to stop churning and close your tab after I opened it. 10 minutes. I'm not coming back to your site and I imagine anyone else who experienced what I did won't be either.
posted by revgeorge at 9:11 AM on August 19, 2005

10 minutes?? I just hit his site and was listening to music in < 5 seconds.br>
Am I missing something here?
posted by mosch at 12:35 PM on August 19, 2005

If you're not fixed on having the mp3s play in page, and can run php and have a mysql db try Ampache. It does somewhat what WNYC can do, but it will cause the user's choice of mp3 player to launch.
posted by Auz at 1:00 PM on August 19, 2005