You will need the following:
The HTML Code to put them on your
page.
Instructions for your ISP so they can set the
appropriate MIME type for midi files on their server. Most will have done this by now but
some will not have.
Sources for midi files. Hymns to
download
Some basic
hints on configuring things.
The HTML Code You Will Need
Insert the following code into your page:
<EMBED SRC="yourhymn.mid" WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="55"
AUTOSTART="TRUE" HIDDEN="FALSE" VOLUME="80"> </EMBED>
What this code means...
- embed src - tells your web browser where to find the file.
- width and height - are the
midi-player graphic dimensions.
- autostart equals true - use this if you want
the hymn to load automatically. If not, omit it. If you omit it you will have to set up the hymn as a link that visitors click on.
- Hidden equals false - this makes the Netscape midi-player graphic
appear so your guests can have the option of stopping the song. Make it true if you
like to omit graphic.
- Volume equals 80 - this just tells the browser how loud to play it. "80"
seems to be the recommended standard by everyone.
How To Use This Code
- Use the edit menu on Netscape to cut and
paste the HTML code above. You can achieve the same thing by saving this file now and
viewing it later.
- Cut and paste the HTML code to the top of
your Web page. I put it just underneath the 'body' element.
- Change "yourhymn.mid" to the
name of the midi file you are using. Notice the filename is enclosed in quotation marks
and ends in .mid NOT .midi !
- Put the midi files you want to use
in the same directory as your web pages.
- It should work straight off. If it doesn't
your ISP may not have configured their computer to handle midi files yet. Its only a small
job for them so e-mail them the instructions below with a very polite request.
Instructions For Your ISP
You won't hear a thing if your host computer is
not set up for it. All the new plug-ins and technologies on the Web require things called
MIME types to be set up. Midi files have their own mime type. Crescendo, which makes
an excellent mime file player, have addressed this problem and put out instructions for
ISP's to configure their machines.
Click
here to get instructions for your ISP
Useful tips
- Use bright music that really welcomes people to
your page.
- Use recognizable and familiar tunes.
- Have only one midi file per page.
- Surprise people with it! Don't
advertise it as your "BIG FEATURE." Make your content the big feature and
the MIDI hymn a really nice "value added extra". It will keep them coming back.
- Change your tune! Occasionally
change the tune you use unless its absolutely totally your own personal anthem. A new tune
each other week will keep your page sounding fresh to visitors.
- A minute or two of music is enough
for most people. Music that goes on for a long while, especially if the tune is annoyingly
repetitive (like ice-cream vans) will turn people away from your site.
- You want people to get to your
content quickly, not to be sidetracked by music. Therefore it is probably better to have
the music as a background feature (loading automatically) and get their "clicking
finger" going toward your content.
E-mail the Digital Hymnal's webmaster, Pablo Aguilar