In-browser, off-line mp3 player?

August 22, 2006 4:48 PM

I'd like to play .mp3 files on .html pages in a browser without opening the files in a media player (off-line, too.) Is this possible?

I've been using .html instead of PowerPoint for my in-class lectures. Constantly switching computers (which have different software and settings) and intermittent internet access are a problem. The best solution would be cross-platform and browser-based (since I just open my presentations in whatever browser is available.) It would be truely awesome if the page could then be uploaded to a website and still work the same way.

It seems like one of these nice little Flash players would be great, but they require an internet connection. (Do they?) Does the sort of thing I'm thinking of exist? I already bring along VLC with me wherever I go, but I'd like to be able to play the audio without leaving the page.

P.S. I already rip all the audio to .mp3 and I've just been linking to them in the .html.

posted by imposster to computers & internet (14 comments total)

A Flash player should be able to do this from the local system.
posted by bitdamaged at 4:51 PM on August 22, 2006

See http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/02/23/mp3_embed.html

<object width="300" height="16">
<param name="src" value="sample.mp3">
<param name="autoplay" value="true">
<param name="controller" value="true">
<embed src="sample.mp3" autostart="true" loop="false" width="300" height="16" controller="true"></embed>
</object>

Apparently you need that object ickiness to work with IE.
posted by trevyn at 5:08 PM on August 22, 2006

(Actually reading the warning at the top of that page, apparently that won't work in Windows Firefox if QuickTime is not installed. But the nurse is saying I have to go take my medication now.)
posted by trevyn at 5:16 PM on August 22, 2006

My favorite Greasemonkey extension does exactly that.
posted by chrisamiller at 6:02 PM on August 22, 2006

bitdamaged: What if flash isn't installed?

trevyn: The second article "Building a better web audio player" talks about fixing most of these problems. On the third page, there is even some code allowing for the player (with controls) to be embedded on the page (instead of in a pop-up.) I don't know anything about javascript though. Where would the .js file be saved or uploaded? (in other words, I'm not sure how to associate the .js file with the .html file.)
posted by imposster at 6:04 PM on August 22, 2006

chrisamiller: But doesn't that require that you be using Firefox and connected to the internet?
posted by imposster at 6:05 PM on August 22, 2006

The greasemonkey inline mp3 player uses the source on the XSPF Web Music Player page. You can download the mini-player on there and embed directly into the page, so you don't need to make all your users download Greasemonkey (as well as the specific script).
posted by chimmyc at 6:12 PM on August 22, 2006

chimmyc: I had looked at the XSPF player and hadn't noticed that before. Thanks. So I could just carry the application with me. I don't understand flash very well, and I'm not sure if the computer I'm working on would need to have some macromedia product (or something like that) installed in order for the .swf to work.

In fact, looking at the code, it looks like macromedia flash must be installed for the player for work.
posted by imposster at 6:32 PM on August 22, 2006

[Keep in mind, this isn't so much for a website as it is for in-class presentations done in .html]
posted by imposster at 6:33 PM on August 22, 2006

Use the del.icio.us playtagger. "Play Tagger allows you to easily play mp3 files directly on your website or blog. Simply include a tiny javascript, and your mp3 links will automatically become playable right on the page." The code is simply:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://del.icio.us/js/playtagger"></script>
posted by yeti at 7:21 PM on August 22, 2006

yeti: Do you know if playtagger works offline or if the .js can be downloaded? I actually use playtagger on my personal website and it really like it. It has the disadvantage in this instance of not having more advanced play controls, but it would be great if it could work offline.
posted by imposster at 7:25 PM on August 22, 2006

I barely have rudimentary html, let alone java skills.
posted by yeti at 7:37 PM on August 22, 2006

I'm not familiar with PlayTagger, but looking at the Javascript it appears to reference a Flash file and some GIF images (for the player controls) on del.icio.us. The GIFs could certainly be grabbed and used locally (so long as the URLs in the JS are updated), but I'm not sure what dependencies the Flash file might have. "None" would be my guess, however.
posted by neckro23 at 11:15 PM on August 22, 2006

neckro23: Thanks for pointing that out. I looked at the .js and couldn't find the .swf before. The .swf still requires flash to be installed, right? Or can the .swf be run like an application?
posted by imposster at 6:04 AM on August 23, 2006