How To Add MP3 Files to your Blog
Marie Westerman, a REALTOR® member here from Georgia emailed me this morning and asked, "Brad how can I put a MP3 into a blog?" Knowing that there are probably other members wondering how to do this, here's a quick tutorial that will show you How To Add MP3 Files to a Blog Post.
VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Keep in mind that MP3 audio files should never be setup to "AutoPlay" on your Blog. Let your readers and listeners select if they want to hear it or not. If you set them up to "autoplay", you might scare the crap out of somebody when they load your post at 1:00am and their computer speakers are up full blast! lol~ This is the quickest way to get someone to close their browser on you!
Here's an MP3 player that is used for ODEO.com audio files and it works well here on AR. I used a funny example of an MP3 file just to make this Blog post a bit more fun and interesting. (It is NOT the actual AR Support Answering Machine)
button on the player to listen.This is the code you will need to place in the HTML tab when creating a new post. All you need to do is find the .MP3 file on the web that you want played, then replace the URL or web address you currently see in the HTML code highlighted below. Just erase the one that is there and replace it with the URL where YOUR MP3 file is located. For this type of MP3 embed, the file must be on the Internet housed on a server somewhere.
To use the embed code above, here's a site where you can copy the code to paste to your blog since the one above is only an image/screen shot and can't be copied and pasted. Click here to get the code.
Getting a bit more practical, here's an actual MP3 worth Listening to. It's a podcast MP3 by Marissa Mayar from Google talking about innovation at Google. This is the type of MP3 or Audio file that might bring more value to your readers listeners.
There are some other ways to embed sound files, MP3 files, podcasts etc. This should be a good start and easy way for anyone wanting to add "optional" audio to their Blogs and posts. Thanks for asking Marie, I hope this helped. Happy Blogging and Listening! :-)
If reading or listening just isn't your thing, here's a video that might help you more.
Hi Brad, This is a great tutorial. I do have a question. Suppose I want to embed an MP3 file that is a song that I purchased. If I put the file here in a blog post, would I be in violation of copyright rules for putting music files on line that others can have access to without paying for ? I ask that because AR is considered a commercial site and isn't that the rub?
This is a great one and when I start doing podcasts, this may get people that wouldn't have subscribed before to discover me and hopefully subscribe.
Brad - Thanks for the excellent tutorial. I hadn't thought of using podcasts, which Todd suggested above, to promote myself but the idea of adding MP3s may be very useful.
Hi Brad.....I sooo want to leave that message on my voicemail. Hilarious! (Okay, won't actually change my voice message).
William - you cannot use purchased mp3 songs unless you have permission of the author. Usually, the mp3 files used on blogs and posts are those that you have created. This can be music you've created, podcasts you've recorded, interviews or meetings, or mp3 files from sites that allow you to use their mp3's to link to. As long as they are in the mp3 format, not copyright protected, and are sitting on a server that you can access with a URL, you should be good to go.
I use mypodcast.com to create my own recordings. I also have an mp3 mini recorder I take on the road with me. Many of the sites like BlogTalkRadio also allow you to embed or use MP3 files as well. There is quite a selection of sites that allow you to record your own MP3's and host them on their site.
Always be sure you are not taking copyrighted content from the web in any format including pictures, text, and video too. :-)
Brad, Perfect answering machine message. Would love to record in my voice for a few special clients, friends, agents etc.
Need a sebatical from Real Estate just read and learn your wealth of information.
Fantastic, Brad. Another great example of using added-value technology to help us more creatively reach prospective clients. Thank you!
Brad, Here's a question for you. Do they have a player for when the file does not have an URL but is on my hard drive?
Bryant - with all the cool technology out there, I'm sure there's a way. In order to do it this way, you have to upload that file to a site that will host your mp3, then you can use the URL. I'm not aware off the top of a way to take it and play it right from your computer. Let me go see if I can find you a couple sites that will host the file, or let you do it from your computer. brb....
Ok Bryant... here's a couple sites you might want to check out that will host your created mp3 files:
http://www.4shared.com/
http://www.fileden.com/
http://www.filefreak.com/
http://mp3upload.ca/
http://box.net - but they don't have a unique URL address, box.net has it's own player.
You can Google search "Free MP3 Hosting Sites" for more. Each has some restrictions regarding file size and storage space, but they look like they might work for what you need.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for saying to never setup the auto-play. That drives me crazy! I actually unsubbed from someone because of it. OK. Yeah. I'm high strung. All the more reason for me to avoid things that annoy me >.< lol
Lisa - hahaha!! I don't care who you are, that's some funny stuff there! ROFL. You're not alone, the economy and market have left many in and out of the industry "high-strung!" I remember loading a page or Blog post once and I had my speakers full blast. When the audio auto-started, i jumped back 10 feet from the computer. :-O I had to close 6 tabs and 2 windows because I couldn't tell where in the heck it was coming from. Then I had to go change my under garments. :-)))
Brad - I think i might try this with some of our radio show mp3 files. Thanks!
....and another one...bookmark that is....until I try it....and have to call you.
I never knew how to do this. Another bookmark that I may never get too. At least I am honest
Initially I thought this of little interest since most people will only post their favorite song(s) - I could see the educational benefit if one can create short excerpts. Like short blogs that pack a punch. I can't see anybody listening at length. At least I'm to0 ADHD for that!
Brad, you have a really nice voice!
great info! I think it is a great idea but haven't gotton into the podcasting yet.
Ok Thank you so much Brad...After I Laughed my A** off I have bookmarked it so I can try tomorrow. Just for the record it is a great mp3 of our Mayor Deke Copenhaver sharing how great Augusta is doing. As always thank you again for your quick response.
thanks brad
Brad...as always, your timing and information are perfect! I just got home from doing my very first radio show and was mulling over all kinds of ideas. Of course, I'd like to be able to make the broadcasts available on my blog...and, now I can! Thanks for keeping all of us in the AR community so enlightened.
Don't lie, Brad. You know that's actually the real answering message at AR. Me pressed 3, myself pressed 4 and I pressed 5. But, nobody likes me so I need to go drown my sorrows in...wait, what was I talking about?
By the way, I agree with Lisa. Thank you for reminding people to keep on the optional play, not auto-play mode. There's nothing like having someone's voice yelling at you when you land a site because you forgot your speakers are on. Yikes! Besides the fact that, if you add more than one auto-play file, it will sound like you need to be pressing the 3, 4, 5 and 6 buttons!
Brad.. this is great .. I always wondered if there was a way to upload my jingle to my Active Rain profile.
Marie - I'm glad you got a laugh here, and just know that your question and email hopefully helped alot of members here too.
Now you can apply the same principle I did with a Blog post the next time you get an email from a consumer asking you questions about Real Estate or your community. It's also a good way to drive traffic to your Blog without the additional time and effort.
I truly believe that some of the greatest content our members could write about is sitting in the sent and received folders of their email. Thanks for asking such a great question and for letting me share it here on my Blog for others. You're awesome!!
Be sure to come back and share a link to your post using the MP3, I'd love to hear what your Mayor has to say about Augusta. :-)
Brad...not sure if I will be trying this anytime soon, so it is bookmarked for later. Thanks again for another great tutorial.
Brad...TY...yet another toy to figure out and play with!
Howdy there Brad
I'm not real sure as to how haven MP3's in our blog posts, gets us more traffic to our blogs. Could you help me out with understanding that?
I've bookmarket this post.
Thanks for doing all the legwork. You keep showing us the coolest things.
Brad- First of all, I laughed and laughed with the first audio, that was really good! Second, podcasting has been on my to do list for 3 years now! LOL! Katerina
Thanks for answering my question above. I wasn't sure where to host an MP3 file, but you've given me some ideas.
Brad - wow, another way to easily (I think) enhance our posts. Thanks for the tutorial. I am still planning to do some podcasts but they seem to get pushed to the bottom of the list...over and over.
Jeff
That is a great post and now I know how too do it...hmmm...I guess now I need to actually make a pod cast. Thanks for the post.
Jason - I'm really surprised you haven't already?
Missy - you know the number. lol
Russ - you'll get to it ....eventually, I promise...at least I'm honest. :-))
"I could see the educational benefit if one can create short excerpts. Like short blogs that pack a punch."
Steve, exactly!
Marie - all flattery is accepted on this Blog! ((((BIG SMILE)))) Thanks.
Naomi - there is an audience for it, the question is who? and what percentage or readers would rather listen?
Michelle- looking forward to hearing some of them, hope you'll let us know when you post.
Heather - OK, I lied, that's my shrinks answering machine!! :-O BTW - I just clicked play and woke the kids... DOH!
Roland - this should work the same on your profile as it does a post, or on the sidebar. On another note: Now that's how you drive traffic to your Blog. Planting little seeds about your jingle like that around the community, man...now that'll get some attention. Now I can't wait to hear your jingle. haha~ I Hope you'll remind me when you have it up??
Rebecca - only when YOU"RE ready, and when you are, you know I'll help ya with it if you need any.
Ed - maybe I should call my Blog that... I kinda Like that alot actually!! Serious - "ActiveBrads Toy Shop in the Rain" hmmm...
Dale - just do like Roland does! lol~
All I know is that when someone has a Blog with something really good or really bad, the social media and networking world have a way of spreading the word and love along very quickly, and in some cases, help make things go "viral" and drive traffic. There's Text, Audio, Video, Braille, Telepathy etc. (haha) I think there's an audience for it all though. Some like to read the paper, some like to listen to the radio, and others watch the movie. I think variety can be a good thing if used correctly. Driving traffic and adding value always has been, and hopefully always will be about "content."
Sal - the "ol guys" legwork will one day run out and no doubt need braces... I'm sure.
Better take advantage while you can! lol~ Thanks. :-)
Katerina - now you have me laughing and laughing, I remember you telling me that way back when.
I better never call you and get that Voicemail message!! ROFL~
Christine - check around before you just jump into one. There are many I'm sure, and some are better than others. You want a stable, popular, highly referred and recommended hosting site. The ones I added above were just from a little Google search, I haven't really researched them that deeply. The other way to find more info and get feedback is to use Facebook and Twitter etc. to get the word out that your looking for some recommendations or referrals for some sites that are good for hosting. There's good stuff out there, and the Social Media platforms really work. You can find the best of anything on the web these days. :-)
Ok...that's it. I'm done for the night, gotta get up at 3:00am to catch my ride to Phoenix Arizona. Goodnight all...
Thanks Brad. We can always count on you to have the answers to our technical challenges. It's a wonder you get any "real" business done.
Brad, Once again, A great post. I am inching my way into AR with text but an MP3 embedded blog is coming to AR soon, thanks to you.! Stay tuned!
Brad - You are always FILLED with information. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Thanks Brad for answering Bryant's question above, and thank you Bryant for question #8 above as I had the exact same question - I have a microphone and a little software program I bought years ago which allows me to record anything and it creates an MP3 file on my hard drive.
Brad,
William question (#1) and your response are particularly useful to keep me out of hot water! Will have to put on my thinking cap about how to best use this tip.
Thanks Brad, if I keep reading your information and give it all a try I will have to cut my sleep to a minimum. Oh well, sleep is overrated.
Brad thanks so much we do a radio show each week and I would love to post it here as part of my blog . Thanks so much this really helps
Awesome Brad. Thanks. I guess I could have done that. I'm a little drain bead lately.
Great tutorial, Brad...thanks for all the options! You really went all out to make sure that this one "sunk" in!
Thanks Brad, another technology to learn and get into. It was not on my plate but it really looks "cool". Not too sure how to integrate it with everything else...
Brad -- I LOVED that first MP3. I was wondering how to do this. Perfect timing. Thanks so much for the hosting info, too. You're awesome!
Thanks, Brad, for your ever useful information. I'm looking forward to meeting you in Phoenix on Wednesday! I'll be wearing a smile!
Brad,
Thank you again for some great information. I now have quite a library of your posts booked marked LOL
Brad~
Perfect timing! I was just wondering how to do that. Thanks for the great psot!
Thanks for one more way AR is adding value for its members. When I do actually start making my podcasts this will definately come in handy.
Bookmarked and thanks for the laugh!!! Referring to the first MP3 of course!!
Brad - Another bookmark in my long list of bookmarks to get to... thanks for this post... I am interested in doing this as well.... Cool :-)
Cool stuff Brad. I'm also testing out a comment to see if this new option in the Settings for "Signature" pastes a signature in our comments or if it's utilized somewhere else. :)
Chanda panda
OK, it appears the signature option is not for comments....Hmm...I need to figure this out...
Hey Brad, I wish I'd read your article one day earlier! I just paid for a software package to do what Screenr does for free! I love free! The software was cheap enough and has some plus features so I don't really mind but it's a great tool to recommend. I try to recommend free products to my clients whenever possible. This one's great!
Great post Brad. Really appreciate all the tutorials. Bookmarked !!!!
Hey Brad, you are a "wealth of knowledge" on this stuff. It just never ends!
Thanks as always and get back to me on the profile when you can please.
Patricia
Good tutorial - Thanks.; I think that you covered everything here. Thanks for the info.
Chanda - your signature can be modified on your "settings" page but will only show up on the footer of each of your Blog posts, not in the comments section. Jeremy Blanton did a great post discussing the new signature feature.
Dave - Screenr is a new site and tool, only a couple weeks old. It's the best screen capture video tutorial screencasting app I have seen and used in a long time. I'll do a post about it in the near future. I can see where it could come in very handy for a multitude of reasons for our members here and other Industry Professionals.
Wish I could stay and play, but the email and tickets have backed up... gotta run for now, be back later. :-)
Rick - very cool, this should work perfect for you. Here's one of the gadgets I use to create mp3's. It fits in your top pocket, records up to 80 hours on 2 double AA's, and has a USB pop-out to copy files (MP3s) to your computer, and it only costs abot 69.00. I love it.
Ut Oh Blog-N-Roll Brad...
This means that I'll be making audio comments. If it can be embedded in a blog, then it can be embedded in a comment?
Now THAT will get me in trouble, with or without meds :)
TLW...ROAR!
Howdy there Brad
Thank you for the reply, I'll look into the links you have put here in your replys to folks. To learn even more about add-en MP3's to my blog posts.
This is my main Digital Recorder, its an Olympus DS-40
I use it on all the Home Inspections, that I do.
Brad - Just another post that I can learn some new technological trick from. I can't wait, but need to get through the other 100 posts I have bookmarked of yours.
Wow, very cool post, I am going to use this TOO
Thanks Brad, I'll take a look at Jeremy's blog! Now that's pretty awesome. It'll help me keep my posts consistent. I seem to forget to put my info at the bottom of each post so this feature will be very helpful. :) Thanks!
Chanda panda
Brilliant!
I consistently learn so much from your posts Brad!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Just more good tools to enhance my Active Rain. I learn stuff all the time.
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3456
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69696969
And to think, I'm just getting warmed up :)
TLW...ROAR!
I've just spent the last hour trying to locate MP3 files to play with. I had no idea that's not an easy thing to do.
P.S. Enjoy the vid. That's all I got for ya until figure what it is I'm trying to do :)
TLW...ROAR!
Yup...
It can be done. Now I just have to figure out how the heck I did that :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW - Bob and I are sitting here listening to Santana while I'm commenting. He's laying over on the bed humming! LOL :-)
LOL...
I don't want to know what two of you are doing in a room together :)
I got this MP3 commenting all figured out now. Enjoy. I am :)
TLW...ROAR!
Okay...
Let's try that one again. I messed up my last code job :)
TLW...ROAR!
Man...
It really is a lot of fun once you get past all the code monkey crap :)
P.S. What can I say? I love my rock :)
TLW...ROAR!
Geesh...
Only Steve Tyler could improve the vocals of an old Beatles song :)
TLW...ROAR!
I am going to end this musical session with a little BTO :)
Thanks for humoring me Guys. It's for my meds. No Blogging on drugs. Right Bob? :)
TLW...ROAR!
Wait...
Just one more. I'm going to listen to your Blog while I'm Blogging tomorrow :)
TLW...ROAR!
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Nuff Said :)
That one is for you WidowMaker :)
TLW...ROAR!
Hi Brad, Love these tutorials! Will bookmark for later use. thanks for sharing!
A great audio editor that is Free and easy to use is "Audacity". It's easy to do some stuff but it so versitile that I haven't any limits yet. I've used to convert tapes over to mp3 and it will let you create breaks & even edit out the sounds that tapes make.
@TLW - you have great taste in music dear, but you're lacking in the desire to keep up with your meds. ROFLMAO!! At least all your audio files aren't slowing down my post like some of those videos do. So when are you doing the tutorial on how to add MP3 files to comments????? :-))
@Ginger - thanks, I'm glad you like these.
@Shawn - Audacity is another great site and tool. Thanks for sharing that. :-)
Thanks for the information... and the recorded message was so funny!
LOL...
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I took my meds late. I already got bitched at for that. Leave me alone :)
I'm all over that Tutorial, as time allows.
In the meantime...Enjoy This Oldie But Goodie :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW - Enjoyed the oldie so much, that.....
I bought 5 copies for my mother. lol~
OMG, I cracked up! Your instructions, as always, are invaluable but the MPS was HYSTERICAL. I plan to play it at our next meeting just for fun!
Wow was that the voice of Brad AKA Mr. Encyclopedia of AR? Fabulous! I loved the answering machine, it was great. Will bookmark so I keep it. Thanks for the fun tutorial.
Thanks for the great tutorial as well as some great ideas for application!
Advanced for me right now...but I have it book marked! Thanks!
LOL Blog-N-Roll...
You so have to deal with me stealing that picture to put in the tutorial I finally finished writing...
<CLICK>
And FYI, those tutorials really are hard to write. I don't know how you do it :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW - you totally ROCK & ROAR!!
God...
I love that frickin' song :)
I was going to wait until Tuesday to put my post up. I changed my mind because I certainly can't go around dropping music all over The Members blogs without showing them how to do it :)
I'm having a blast with my music :)
Thank you so much for all the things you've taught me. If it weren't for you I'd still be just another blonde who knows nothing about HTML code :)
TLW...ROAR!
Brad, Ok, I admit it I wasn't EVEN thinking about this. It opened my creative eyes a bit more and true to form you included the etiquette to go with the "how to". Thanks
That is a keeper Brad. I enjoyed this tutorial.
Thanks of the tutorial! It was very helpful
Thanks for the tutorial Brad. Your instructions are always clear and easy to follow, even me, and internet novice can have success.
Great information Brad. AR is such a wealth of knowledge. Looking forward to greater things.
oh wee! I have to bookmark. I am on overload and far behind on these whatumaycall'em. Thanks and I will catch up in 2010!
Hi Rosemary - no worries, it will still be here in 2010, and 2011, and 2012 etc... :-)
Happy Holidays to the Mother & Daughter Team!
Hi Brad,
This is cool. I am going to bookmark this. I also want to know how i can embed utube video on AR
thanks for your help
Hi Maya - embedding youtube video on AR is pretty easy. Here's a post that will walk you through it. :-)
http://activerain.com/blogsview/51330/a-video-on-how-to-embed-a-youtube-video
Brad, please give me a call re: blogs..tks Ron Di Lalla cell 714-476-4597
Hi Ron - I did call, left you a VM message. Feel free to call me back at your convenience. Thanks. :-)
Great post - I just found this and will be uploading some of our recent podcasts into future posts! I've been wondering how to get the MP3 - thanks Brad.
OK, I know this post was written like 6 months ago, but I had an inspiration and remembered yout tutorial on here!
With some tweaking and a lot of trial and error, I was able to hide the player and embed music to play automatically in the background of my blog post!
A few people have already asked me how I did it so I might just have to post a blog using your tutorial and adding in my tweaks!
Thank you for this tutorial Brad.
Craig - that's very cool, but I would warn and recommend against that.
When someone loads a post or article with sounds that automatically start, they will often close the window or tab immediately not knowing where the sound is coming from or how to turn it off.
Autoplay is a feature I always suggest not doing, even with video.
The worst case scenarios are when it's 1:00am in the morning, the speakers are full blast, and someone loads your page! Trust me, it'll startle the crap out of them and the "close window" X will get clicked in record time!
Trust me on this one my friend, seriously!!
Good point Brad!
The last thing I want to do is scare the cr*p out of anyone!
I think if I do post that tutorial, I'll caution everyone about the hazards of autoplay.
Thanks for the heads up Brad.
No problem Craig, just looking out for you and your readers.... like me!! My speakers are always up full blast and I am on the computer late at nite sometimes...ok... all the time!! lol~ :-))
Cool Idea... Another question though... When are we going to get more tools to be more creative with in our postings such as fonts, sizes, etc? Should we just continue to copy and paste or insert from somewhere else? Sure would be nice to have a bit more features in this little box I am typing from :)
Pam...
Many of us use <FireFox> on AR. FireFox offers an add on called <The ScribeFire Blog Editor>. You'll find both to be user friendly. Once you play around with ScribeFire you'll see everything you're looking for is available right at your fingertips. Not only will it tweek up your text, it will give you the ability to add color. The trick is to type your Blog Post in ScribeFire and then copy/paste into your AR Blog. If you're looking to spice up your Blog, this is what you need :)
Hope it helps. Blog-N-Roll Brad taught us about this. He's on the road for a few days so I thought I should jump in and lend you a hand.
TLW...ROAR!
Thanks TLW :-)
Pam - we are always looking at ways to improve the network and the member UI (user interface) At some point in the future, it's possible that we'll make updates and additions to the areas you've mentioned. In the meantime, TLW is correct in that you'll find scribefire very user friendly and it works pretty seemlessly with AR. :-)
Thanks for fixing my problem with the proxy server......
Always good to learn something new, thanks, by the way I would love to learn about How to search for Groups in AR???? Any advice?
Hi Barbara - the "search" tool for groups on AR is broken and has been for a while. It was reported to our dev team, and they have it on the list to fix but I don't have an eta just yet. Sometimes when these things are not announced or a date set, the team comes up with an entirely different model that surprises everyone, and works even better.
I am so optimistic aren't I? lol~