Background Sounds On Cache Pages

[+Team Maddie UK]

I would like to use a background midi file on one of our cache pages. I did some research by looking at the html source in another page which has sound. I added the appropriate code

 

<bgsound src="http://myhomepage/mymidi.mid>

 

This doesn't appear to work. However,when I substitute anothers web address and mid file it does.

 

This would suggest that my address is incorrect.

 

However, when I create a dummy web page on my machine and copy and paste the code into it (ie. pointing at my address etc.) it works. Therefore the address must also be correct.

 

Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong?

 

Thanks,

Martin

[+robert]

PLEASE no midi's on cache pages.

[blschmidt]

I'll second the motion: PLEASE, no midi's on cache pages. Unless, by default, they are turned off and only play if one choses to listen. Thank you.

blschmidt N5ODD

[+Team Maddie UK]

Is this a rule I was not aware of or is it a personal preference Robert? If the former, why so many cache pages with sounds?

 

Regards,

Martin

[+garri]

I am reading the HTML of your cache page. I found this:

 

http://uk.geocities.com/martin.killiner@bt...t.com/knock.mid.

 

It is an invalid URL page.

 

You should write this code...

 

<NOEMBED><BGSOUND SRC="http://www.domain.com/music.mid"></NOEMBED>'>http://www.domain.com/music.mid"></NOEMBED>

 

...so that Netscape and others browsers ignores the bgsound tag, it only works in Internet Explorer.

 

For others browsers you have to combine that code with...

 

<EMBED SRC="http://www.domain.com/music.mid" HEIGHT="0" WIDTH="0" AUTOSTART="TRUE"></EMBED>

 

I understand perfectly the previous opinions. I never would add music to my cache pages. They can be very annoying while you are reading it or your are listening to your own music. It should be used for very special situations.

 

Firstly it can seem very original, but finally, people hate this.

[+Team Maddie UK]

Hi Garri,

Thanks for your response. It is rather strange though that when I put that link into a web page here, the mid plays. It is a rather odd URL but unfortunately that's how btinternet over here have set up there web space addressing. It is actually valid but when I click on the link you have added in your post I get the unavailable message also.

Oh well, it wasn't important and as you suggest I can appreciate how this could be annoying. I was testing it on a cache page but had intended to use a sound mid as a background to a themed TB that we are planning on launching shortly. Just a short classical clip but perhaps not everyones taste etc. I'll just plump for the usual format etc.

 

Thanks

Martin

[+briansnat]

Is this a rule I was not aware of or is it a personal preference Robert? If the former, why so many cache pages with sounds?

 

Regards,

Martin

 

A LOT of people find it annyoing. Most people don't mind as long as it's defaulted to off and you have to click on a play button to hear it.

[+Melrose Plant]

I always keep the sound turned down on the computer because of all the stupid MIDI files on Ebay. I hate them. I hate all background music, no matter what style or genre. If the music is worth anything, it ought to be listened to. If it's not worth anything, silence is nice. Why can't we deal with silence anymore?

[+Team Maddie UK]

Hi Balboagirl,

Despite my interest (now no more in putting the music on the page, I have to agree with your statement about silence. Some folks appear to be unable to exist without some form of noise in the background.

 

Regards,

Martin

[Swagger]

Nothing is more annoying than background music on a web page, except maybe those stupid scripts which cause some kind trail to follow your mouse pointer around. I watch TV on my computer and when a web page loads with background music competing with the TV's audio, I instantly either click the Back button or close the window.

 

Background music on web pages was cute in 1997. In 2004, it's just annoying. It's terribly presumptious for a designer to think that their web page is the only thing happening on the PC.

[+Team Maddie UK]

I would almost agree with that Cruzin. However, there is one thing I find even more presumptious and that is web designers who assume that everyone is running the top of the line PC with loads of power and unlimited disc space that can handle their web pages cluttered with superflous flash presentations etc.

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

Some of us on dinosaur dialup don't fully appreciate things that slow a cache page down anymore than it does. I do add backgrounds to my pages every so often but the background is small and usually no more than 2K in size.

[+Team Maddie UK]

Well folks,

I think the opinions speak for themselves. To avoid this thread departing from the geocaching central issue, I think it should now be closed. Thanks for all of your input. I will respect your opinions.

 

Martin