How to Add Streaming Audio to a Web Page

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Luis Estrada, and I am a software developer. In this video, I will show you how to add streaming audio to a web page. Audio files can be included using standard html as links. For example, if you add a reference to an mp3 file on a web page and click on it your browser will ask you if you want to download the file, or play it with an application. However, this is not streaming. What streaming means is that you get to hear the audio file instantly without having to download it, and without using another application other than your Internet browser. Audio streaming needs a web server that has a streaming server installed. Streaming technology can range from free to very expensive. Free streaming servers include for example the open source Icecast application, available at icecast.org. Products for sale that include configuration and support include the Helix Server by Real Networks, or the Flash Media Server by Adobe. Most streaming server technologies support not only audio but also video, both of them in a wide variety of formats. Icecast is free; however, it does not have support, and you have to configure it yourself; meaning that you have to be familiar with web server technologies. The Flash Media Server costs about nine hundred and ninety five dollars, and includes plenty of documentation, as well as support. However, you would still need a dedicated server to install it. So, another alternative is to pay a monthly fee for a streaming service. In this case, you do not need to buy an expensive streaming server program, or spend a few hours configuring it. An example of this service is the Excite Audio website that manages a subscription service that allows you to upload your files to their servers, and then simply adding a few lines of code to your web page to include audio in a player like this. I am Luis Estrada, and I have just shown you how to create web pages using html."