How to Make and Embed an MP3 File

An MP3 is a type of audio file that takes an uncompressed sound file, such as a WAV, and compresses it into a much smaller, more compact file without sacrificing a lot of sound quality. The small size of the MP3 format makes it easier to share songs with friends and makes streaming an MP3 file a shorter process. There are several software options that can help you create your own MP3 file. When you're ready to embed it on your web page, all you need to do is add a few lines of code.

Things You'll Need

• Account with a web host

Instructions

Creating Your MP3 File

1. Download and install Audacity, a free open-source audio recording application that also features the ability to convert to MP3. You can open a previously-recorded file in Audacity or create a brand new recording and save it to the smaller MP3 file format.

2. Visit the Cakewalk website and download the Cakewalk audio recording software. Much like Audacity, Cakewalk allows you to convert existing or new recordings to MP3. The smaller MP3 format allows your embedded music file to stream more quickly to a listener.

3. Use the Sound Recorder included with the Windows operating system and convert the WAV file you save to MP3 using the free WAV to MP3 Encoder, available for download from CNET. If you already have a WAV file ready for conversion, you can simply load it into the WAV to MP3 Encoder software and convert it to MP3.

Embedding Your MP3 File

1. Upload your MP3 to your web hosting space. All hosting services are different, but most allow you to log in to your hosting account, access a file manager and upload files. If you do not have this option, you may need to contact your host's technical support team or visit the help section of your web host's website to learn how to upload files.

2. Copy and paste the following code into the web page you'd like your MP3 file to be embedded on and replace the "your mp3 file" text with the URL of the MP3 file you uploaded to your web host:

   <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" width="400" height="52" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" flashvars="audio_duration=DURATION&external_url=your mp3 file" />

3. Update your web page and visit it to ensure that the embedded MP3 file shows up in the place you added it. You may need to click the "Refresh" button or press F5 to refresh the page and load the newest version.

References

• Digital Inspiration: How to Embed MP3 Audio Files in Web Pages

Resources

• Audacity: Free Audio Editor
• Cakewalk: Recording Software & Hardware for Making Music on PC and Mac
• CNET: WAV to MP3 Encoder