Audio Files

[Cris]

Hi Guys,

We have a new client that requires a website. They are a church. They have an archive of 500 sermons of approximately 30 minutes in length each which they wish to have on the site available for download by the congregation. They will also add four a month. I am informed that the files are in mp3 format 20mb in size:mad: each.

My questions are as follows:-


How can the file size be reduced.
What is the best way of offering the download facility
How simple is thisThanks.

[Piercy]

How can the file size be reduced.
What is the best way of offering the download facility
How simple is this

Chris

To reduce the files you can re-encode them and adjust the frequency say down to 128 and you will get a reduced size. However quality may be effected. You could be better off zipping them up as this would then allow for an answer to you next question!

If the files are zipped, by default, a browser will prompt to download it rather than open a file. All you need to do is upload then onto your server and provide a link to it!

An alternative (that will lesson your bandwidth) is to use an off site facility such as you tube. You just then include the link from the file. I am sure there is a similar thing but for podcasts which may suit your need.

[Cris]

Chris

To reduce the files you can re-encode them and adjust the frequency say down to 128 and you will get a reduced size. However quality may be effected. You could be better off zipping them up as this would then allow for an answer to you next question!

If the files are zipped, by default, a browser will prompt to download it rather than open a file. All you need to do is upload then onto your server and provide a link to it!

An alternative (that will lesson your bandwidth) is to use an off site facility such as you tube. You just then include the link from the file. I am sure there is a similar thing but for podcasts which may suit your need.

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the advice.

Zipping is a good idea but obviously still presents a potential bandwidth problem.

I am not sure if our client would want to be associated with You Tube as they are a church.

I will search around about podcasts and the solutions.

Many thanks.

Cris.

[Ben Collier]

From experience zip files don't compress mp3 files too much, they work better with software or text.

You could consider torrents, this way they are hosted by everyone at the church, you just have to do the initial seeding. Shockingly they can be used legally! This means no bandwidth or diskspace.

Could you not just charge them for the bandwidth and diskspace? Also have you considered they could sell them as a digital download on an online store to cover bandwidth costs.

Just some ideas.

Ben

[Carl Shepherdson]

Torrents! I somehow don't think a church congregation would know what one was or how to use them. I don't know much about them myself! :blush: :D

You can add extra disk space/bandwidth to your account at any time, we also offer a "on-demand" streaming media service.

Is bandwidth going to be a big problem though? Is the site going to be that busy? How many of the congregation have Internet access?

[Ben Collier]

Torrents! I somehow don't think a church congregation would know what one was or how to use them. I don't know much about them myself! :blush: :D


Meh just an idea! They can be simple enough.

Personally the church should just stick them on a CD!

Well in theory 20 x 500 = 10,000. So really you need 10gb of space just to hold what they currently have, personally I think disk space is the real issue here. I mean bandwidth could be high, but disk space must be if you're offering them. If that makes sense!

I'd fiddle with bit rates, I mean you could compress them loads, but quality would be awful, but it seems your only option unless you bill them for lots of disk space :thumbup1:

[Cris]

From experience zip files don't compress mp3 files too much, they work better with software or text.

You could consider torrents, this way they are hosted by everyone at the church, you just have to do the initial seeding. Shockingly they can be used legally! This means no bandwidth or diskspace.

Could you not just charge them for the bandwidth and diskspace? Also have you considered they could sell them as a digital download on an online store to cover bandwidth costs.

Just some ideas.

Ben

Thanks Ben.

I do not think torrents would be acceptable or even understood they are a small conservative communion.

Disk space is most probably more of an issue rather then bandwidth after the initial interest has worn off.

I believe that they need to offer this as a free service

Regards,

Cris

[Carl Shepherdson]

Is the church paying for the website?

[Cris]

Torrents! I somehow don't think a church congregation would know what one was or how to use them. I don't know much about them myself! :blush: :D

You can add extra disk space/bandwidth to your account at any time, we also offer a "on-demand" streaming media service.

Is bandwidth going to be a big problem though? Is the site going to be that busy? How many of the congregation have Internet access?

Thanks Carl,

I would be interested to know how much the extra disk space would cost per GB also in the live streaming costs; please mail me. I do not think that bandwidth will be a big issue.

The congregation is around a 1000 and in central London, I would expect a large percentage have internet access one way or another.

Regards,

Cris.

[Cris]

Meh just an idea! They can be simple enough.

Personally the church should just stick them on a CD!

Well in theory 20 x 500 = 10,000. So really you need 10gb of space just to hold what they currently have, personally I think disk space is the real issue here. I mean bandwidth could be high, but disk space must be if you're offering them. If that makes sense!

I'd fiddle with bit rates, I mean you could compress them loads, but quality would be awful, but it seems your only option unless you bill them for lots of disk space :thumbup1:

Thanks again Ben.

I do not think that Cd is a viable option for them.

Regards,

Cris.

[Carl Shepherdson]

Contact the Helpdesk if you want details regarding extra space/streaming media options.