AUDIO SECTION OF MEDIA PORTAL
What audio formats does the Media Portal support?
The only audio format supported by the Media Portal is MP3. The MP3 compression is designed to greatly reduce the amount of data required to represent the audio recording, while still sounding like a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio to most listeners. MP3 is one of the best audio formats for the web.
Is there an optimum compression setting for MP3 audio clips?
The higher your compression, the smaller your files. The smaller your files, the better the experience will be for your online guests... not to mention that you'll be able to store a higher quantity of MP3 audio clips since the file sizes will be smaller.
You are permitted to upload MP3 files as large as you'd like. It's just important that you recognize that larger files will require more storage space on your account, and might diminish the quality of the online experience for online guests with slow internet connections.
Additional information about size specifications is provided from within your Content Management System.
You are permitted to upload MP3 files as large as you'd like. It's just important that you recognize that larger files will require more storage space on your account, and might diminish the quality of the online experience for online guests with slow internet connections.
Additional information about size specifications is provided from within your Content Management System.
What is the easiest and best method for converting my audio content into an MP3 format?
While there are several products on the market... the easiest and most commonly used tool for converting audio to an MP3 format would be iTunes, created by Apple.
iTunes is a free download, and is available for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Click here for more information from Apple on choosing your MP3 conversion settings and preferences in iTunes.
iTunes is a free download, and is available for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Click here for more information from Apple on choosing your MP3 conversion settings and preferences in iTunes.
Can I move audio clips from one category to another once the audio clip is already uploaded?
No. Not at the moment. Once you've uploaded an audio clip to a category that you've created, there's no way to relocate that audio clip to a different category. It would be necessary to re-upload that audio clip to any additional categories in which you'd like the audio clip to be listed and heard.
AM I ABLE TO ENTER GRAPHICS FOR EACH AUDIO CATEGORY, OR FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL MP3 AUDIO CLIP?
Great question. You actually have the option of entering graphics for both. For example, if you upload a graphic for a particular audio category, then that graphic will be displayed for each MP3 that's played from that category. However, you're also able to upload a specific graphic for each individual MP3 audio clip.
If you have a graphic uploaded to a specific category, and then you upload a different graphic to an MP3 audio clip within that category... then the graphic uploaded to that MP3 audio clip will be displayed, and will override the graphic that was initially uploaded to the category for that MP3.
This means you have total flexibility. You can keep it simple, by only uploading 1 graphic for the overall MP3 category... or you can upload independent graphics for every MP3 within a category. It's your choice.
If you have a graphic uploaded to a specific category, and then you upload a different graphic to an MP3 audio clip within that category... then the graphic uploaded to that MP3 audio clip will be displayed, and will override the graphic that was initially uploaded to the category for that MP3.
This means you have total flexibility. You can keep it simple, by only uploading 1 graphic for the overall MP3 category... or you can upload independent graphics for every MP3 within a category. It's your choice.
What if I don't want to enter text for each audio category?
No problem. While the text area is a great place to feature sermon notes, or some call to action... you can always leave it blank. That's your option.
What if I don't have artwork for each audio section?
That's fine. We'd suggest creating one reusable graphic with your logo for any category in which you don't have specific sermon artwork.
Why is there an area for artwork in the Audio section, but not in the Video section?
There is no available space for artwork in the Video section due to the space the actual video player utilizes. Since there's no video player in the Audio section, there's room for artwork that can visually enhance and spice up your messages.
What are "Keywords" for?
Keywords are simply an added feature that makes your sermon audio content easier to find when an online guest performs a search.
For example... the title of your message might be... "Stewardship Principals." But in that very message, you also dealt with addiction, family, debt, obedience and sacrifice. In addition to entering a sermon title, you could include "addiction, family, debt, obedience, sacrifice" as additional keywords to be associated with that message.
When your online guests perform a search with any of those words... your message "Stewardship Principals" will show up in their search request. Just imagine the power of keywords.
For example... the title of your message might be... "Stewardship Principals." But in that very message, you also dealt with addiction, family, debt, obedience and sacrifice. In addition to entering a sermon title, you could include "addiction, family, debt, obedience, sacrifice" as additional keywords to be associated with that message.
When your online guests perform a search with any of those words... your message "Stewardship Principals" will show up in their search request. Just imagine the power of keywords.