| How many times have you read in an online | | | | direction can mean the difference between a |
| forum or a web design tutorial that embedded | | | | two-week vacation in Cancun and a day trip to |
| midi (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) files | | | | the local water park.The real problems with |
| are "bad"? Probably more times than you care to | | | | embedded midi files arise when webmasters do |
| remember. For the most part, embedded sound | | | | not give their visitors any control over the sounds |
| files of any kind have been categorized as web | | | | emanating from their web pages. Most people |
| site "bling-bling", right along side animated gifs, | | | | become frustrated and annoyed when they are |
| flashing banners and complex frames layouts. | | | | forced to listen to music that they cannot shut |
| Essentially, they just contribute to unnecessary | | | | off at leisure. Using the example above, I imagine |
| glitz and clutter that does nothing more than | | | | that even John and Jane would be getting pretty |
| distract visitors and significantly slow page | | | | annoyed around the 10th time the background |
| download times.There is historical justification for | | | | music loops as they are still trying to decide |
| this stereotype, as many beginning webmasters | | | | between the granite and the obsidian plaque.The |
| tend to go overboard with the bells and whistles | | | | IE browser makes it a bit easier in cases like this |
| on their first web design attempts. This is just | | | | because the toolbar stop button is capable of |
| part of the learning process and should not be | | | | stopping midi play, along with page download and |
| judged too harshly.With all the bad press that | | | | all other animation, of course. However, other |
| embedded midi files get, some of the more | | | | browsers like Mozilla Firefox that have to rely on |
| accomplished web designers tend to avoid using | | | | a QuickTime or other third party plug-ins do not |
| them. This is unfortunate, because if implemented | | | | have this luxury. If the site designer does not |
| and managed properly, midi files can add benefit | | | | supply a control console of some type, the |
| to some types of web sites, both for the visitors | | | | visitors are held prisoner and will likely escape at |
| and the web site owners. In fact, I'm going to go | | | | the first chance they get.There is no voodoo |
| as far as to say that an appropriately | | | | involved with displaying a midi console on a web |
| implemented midi file can actually drive more | | | | page. The basic EMBED code is fairly standard. |
| traffic and even increase sales! Sound fishy? | | | | You've probably seen or used something similar to |
| Maybe so, but just hear me out.The key to using | | | | this in the past:< EMBED SRC="filename.mid" |
| a midi file effectively is to help create a desired | | | | HIDDEN="false" AUTOSTART="true" |
| mood in conjunction with the color scheme, | | | | VOLUME="60" height="25" width="200" |
| graphics, and layout of a given web page. Let me | | | | LOOP="true" >The trick is getting the darn |
| give you an example.Let's pretend that John and | | | | console to display properly across all browsers |
| Jane have just lost their precious little Maltese of | | | | using different plug-ins. The embed statement |
| 12 years to kidney failure. They are surfing the | | | | shown above, for example, will not display |
| Web, looking for a perfect pet memorial to | | | | properly in Firefox or Netscape using the |
| celebrate the life of their dear friend. They have | | | | QuickTime plug-in.I have had decent success |
| narrowed their search to your site 'A' and a | | | | implementing midi consoles using BGSOUND with |
| competitor site 'B'. Site 'B' has a professional | | | | the following javascript. I make no guarantees, |
| looking site, reasonable prices, adorable pictures of | | | | but I've seen this work in the newer Firefox and |
| other pets whose owners have bought from and | | | | Netscape browsers using the QuickTime plug-in as |
| recommend them, and detailed descriptions and | | | | well as in IE with QuickTime or Windows Media |
| images of the various memorials. It almost brings | | | | Player.x="midifilename.mid"; |
| a tear to your eye. Almost.Now, your site 'A' has | | | | document.write('< NOEMBED >< BGSOUND |
| comparable professionalism, prices, emotional | | | | SRC="'+x+'" AUTOSTART=true LOOP=true >< |
| design, etc., but in addition, you've included an | | | | NOEMBED >< EMBED SRC="'+x+'" WIDTH=200 |
| embedded midi file that plays a sad little, | | | | HEIGHT=45 AUTOSTART=true LOOP=true > |
| heart-tugging, piece of music in the background. | | | | ')Don't be afraid to experiment. If you have an |
| Those eyes that were almost ready to tear up | | | | existing web site or are in the process of building |
| at your competitor's site now start watering full | | | | one that you think might benefit from a bit of |
| tilt as the background music helps them | | | | midi psychology, then track down an appropriate |
| remember all the wonderful times they had with | | | | file and give it a whirl. You may be pleasantly |
| their pup. Who do you think they're going to buy | | | | surprised.Bob Davis is a professional database |
| from? Exactly.The previous example may be a bit | | | | consultant, web designer, graphic artist, and |
| over-dramatized, but the theory is sound. | | | | Internet marketer. |
| Sometimes, little psychological nudges in the right | | | | |