WEB EDITOR

Working with: Flash Audio

EZGenerator provides two different Macromedia Flash Audio players and one Advanced Flash player.

The Single Song Player works with single file and can play most MP3 files (see the specification below) directly, or after they are converted to a SWF (Flash) file using the SwiftMP3 utility.
The Multiple Songs Player can play mutiple files, but works only with MP3 files.

For more information and a trial of SwiftMP3 utility, visit this address: www.swift-tools.net

NOTE: The integrated visualization will work properly only with MP3-s converted to SWF files by SwiftMP3 with the Generate Spectrum Data option turned on. When the player plays directly MP3 files, the visualization uses simulated spectrum data.

The Advanced Player works with multiple MP3, MP4, SWF or FLV files. FLV is native video format and will be streamed by the player. SWF is animation and can also be used as video, but SWF file needs to be fully downloaded before it can start play (no streaming supported).

With Advanced Player you can use Add Url option to also insert Youtube, Googlevideo and Dailymotion media.

To insert a Flash Audio player:

Position the text marker where you want to insert the player.
Right-click and from the menu select the Insert Flash Audio command.
Select certain player type from the menu.
For Single song player, select skin and MP3 or converted SWF file from the Open dialog.

For Multiple songs player, select multiple MP3's from the Open dialog by using Shift and Control keys.

For Advanced player, Flash Player window will open. Use Add button to insert MP3/MP4/SWF/FLV file(s). Use Add Url button to insert external file(s); you can insert here Youtube, Googlevideo and Dailymotion media. In Player Skin section, select skin for the player.

To convert an MP3 to a SWF file with spectrum data (only for single file player):

Launch the SwiftMP3 utility and add your MP3 files in the list for conversion.
Use the following conversion options (Convert menu > Options):

Frame Rate = 21
Generate Spectrum Data = On
Stop = At End

Where "YourFile.mp3" is the full path to your MP3 file, enclosed on quotes.
Use the resulting SWF file with the audio player.

The audio player provided by EZGenerator requires that your visitors have Flash Player 6 or higher installed on their systems.

Supported MP3 Formats

Since the audio player is based on the Flash Player, the MP3 files you use must be compatible with the Flash Player:

Sample Rate - The audio player supports sample rates of 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz and 44100 Hz. If the MP3 you use has different sample rate, please convert it before using it in EZGenerator.
Bitrate - The audio player supports MP3 bitrates from 8 kbps to 192 kbps (8, 16, 20, 24, 32, 48, 56, 64, 80, 112,128, 160, 192).
Bitrate Mode - The audio player supports only constant bitrate mode (CRB). Variable bitrate MP3 files (VBR) are not properly supported.

Audio Player Properties

For Advanced and Single song players

Once inserted, these two players behave like a standard Flash Object and their properties are identical to those of a standard Flash Object (check Flash Properties).

EZGenerator passes several parameters to the audio player. They are displayed in the Parameters edit box.

Here is an example for the Advanced player:

skin=apdb_4.xml&list=apdb_4.xml

The parameters have the following meaning:

skin - contains selected player skin.
list - contains name of the xml file that stores the file list.

Use Autoplay and Loop check boxes in Flash Properties to set your player to play automatically upon loading, or to loop playing. To fix loop to certain number of times, change the number in repeat parameter - &repeat=3 will loop 3 times. To change the default volume, use paramter &volume=[0..100] - $volume=50 will set volume to 50%.

Here is an example for the Single song player (notice that all spaces should be replaced by the "+" character):

name=My+Audio&audurl=myaudio.mp3&va=1&vb=1

The parameters have the following meaning:

name - the name displayed by the audio player in its title bar.
audurl - URL (address) to the MP3/SWF file to be played.
va - parameter which multiplies the strength of the integrated visualization effect (it can make the effect more visible for silent sounds). Value of 1 shows the original effect scale (default value). You can use fraction numbers as well (for example, 1.5);
vb - parameter which adds randomization to the integrated visualization effect (it can make the effect more pleasant to the eye). The higher the number, the higher the randomization. Value of 1 turns the effect off (default value).

For Multiple songs player

Loop - This checkbox toggles the Flash Loop property on and off .
MP3 files - This box lists the audio files inserted. Use Add button to insert more files, or Delete to delete certain file (make sure you have selected file(s) before pressing Delete). Use Up and Down buttons to change the files order within the player.