I'm stuggleing to get background sound to work on most browsers, IE and Firefox,

background-sound.mp3

Any helps?

Something like the following should work just fine.

<SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript">
<!--
var filename="musicfile.mp3";
if (navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer")
document.writeln ('<BGSOUND SRC="' + filename + '">');
else if (navigator.appName == "Netscape")
document.writeln ('<EMBED SRC="' + filename + '" AUTOSTART=TRUE WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=60><P>');
// -->
</SCRIPT>
<NOSCRIPT>
<BGSOUND SRC="Musicfile.mp3">
</NOSCRIPT>

WHY are you going to force your music on your visitors ?? Sticking in background music is one of THE MOST annoying things to visitors, people really dislike it. A lot of people have their own music playing, to land on your site and have YOUR music play over top of a visitors music is just plain rude, especially when there is no way to TURN OFF your music. In addition, not everyone is going to like your choice of music and will just leave.

My suggestion - FORGET THE BG SOUND!

FORGET THE BG SOUND!

Amen to that...

Depends on the kind of site you are doing really, i do agree with you that some sites with music are just anoying but some sites warrant it.
If you doing a site reviewing some local bands latest single then the bgsound is quite handy.

No, it's not. If you're going to do a site for a band, then use a jukebox and let the visitor CHOOSE what they want to listen to and when.

Background sound is a usability nightmare.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

My suggestion - FORGET THE BG SOUND!

I agree wholeheartedly:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/genera...tml#post720915

But....

Couldn't you code an "option" of playing it or not? Maybe something with a pause/play button?

Background sound is something you should use if and only if you don't want users to stick around.

Some people are at work and don't want to go to a site and have unwanted music start playing.

sticking it to the background and going on loops....your visitor does have a choice but to listen...lol

Nope, they have a choice - they will LEAVE !

Originally Posted by tamar

Background sound is something you should use if and only if you don't want users to stick around.

Hee, hee. When I really want them to leave fast, I use a background midi soundtrack with a musak version of a overplayed 1970's rock song.

Andrew

To stop the dicussion I guess, It's not me that wants the background music, It's been requested from a friend for what he wants so I'm doing it that's All, I know con's of it all, pointless having.

I still can't seem to get it to work on firefox.

Sheeze guys/gals, he/she just asked an innocent question...you didn't have to pick on him/her! Sometimes there are reasons for BG music and it's nice to know how to add it - and no, as a rule I don't use it and the rare occasions I have I set it OFF and let only users who wanted to use it have to turn it on.

I feel the same way about opening a site and having a video blasting in my face and drowning out whatever I'm listening to, also and that's happening more and more now, too.

I have to agree with the general consensus, background music is very annoying. I also turned off auto play music for people's MySpaces.

But if the OP's friend wants it, then he can have it. But he's been warned.

Originally Posted by aschecht

Hee, hee. When I really want them to leave fast, I use a background midi soundtrack with a musak version of a overplayed 1970's rock song.

Andrew

Next time, try something different that is sure to scare off your visitors. GTA4 has some pretty kinky stuff -- just record an MP3 of someone having wild sex and use it as background sound.

Originally Posted by fitnfree

Sheeze guys/gals, he/she just asked an innocent question...you didn't have to pick on him/her! Sometimes there are reasons for BG music and it's nice to know how to add it - and no, as a rule I don't use it and the rare occasions I have I set it OFF and let only users who wanted to use it have to turn it on.

I feel the same way about opening a site and having a video blasting in my face and drowning out whatever I'm listening to, also and that's happening more and more now, too.

We weren't picking on anyone. We were poking fun at the topic.

Originally Posted by tamar

Next time, try something different that is sure to scare off your visitors. GTA4 has some pretty kinky stuff -- just record an MP3 of someone having wild sex and use it as background sound.

Dirty mind you've got there

Background sound are just a pain... forget them. If you really need to add sound, why don't you use flash.