start page | rating of books | rating of authors | reviews | copyrights

Book HomeDesigning Web AudioSearch this book

1.5. Audio challenges and limitations

Audio formats do not have universal browser support, nor is there widespread use of one particular format. Adoption of a single audio format has been slow due to technical challenges that include browser incompatibilities, severe bandwidth limitations, and unwieldy plug-ins:

Sound advice tips from the sound designer of the film Titanic

 

Gary Rydstrom, Academy Award-winning sound designer for Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and Titanic, provides seven common film sound design techniques that also pertain to designing sound for a web site:

 
  • Pay attention to the sounds around you in your everyday life. Imagine how you would recreate them with effects.

  • Focus on sounds that have the highest emotional impact. Use sounds that help build and strengthen the character and theme of your web site.

  • Keep your soundtrack simple. Do not let it get too busy with distracting sounds; the soundtrack should pull you into the content of the web page. Only one or two sounds should be dominant in the mix at any given time.

  • Try to orchestrate the sounds in your mix so that they use the entire frequency spectrum of bass, mid-range, and high-pitched tones. Avoid the simultaneous use of sounds that fill the same frequency range, such as a mid-range voice and cello or a bass guitar and baritone male voice.



Library Navigation Links

Copyright © 2002 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved.