Audio bit rate (kbps) and file size balance

Question

I'm new to Flash, and I'm trying to decide how to set the bit
rate (kbps) for my audio files.
I'm creating PowperPoint-like presentations with voice audio.
You can see what I'm doing at
http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_Audio_Book.htm
I first decided on 16 kbps, but I'm not happy with how it
sounds, especially through headphones connected to the computer. My
presentations, of course, sound better with higher bit rates, but
file sizes roughly double for each doubling of the bit rate. At 16
kbps, my files range from 1-3 MB, so for 32 kbps (which I'm leaning
toward now), they are 2-6 MB. My questions are
What's the concensus on the best bit rate for Internet sound
files, especially voice?
How important is it to minimize files size? The files are
already large enough so that dial-up folks will probably not listen
to them, and even the larger files seem to download fast enough
with my cable connection.
Thanks for the help.
Mark

Answer 1

Chemistry guy wrote:
> I'm new to Flash, and I'm trying to decide how to set
the bit rate (kbps) for
> my audio files.
>
> I'm creating PowperPoint-like presentations with voice
audio. You can see what
> I'm doing at
>
>
http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_Audio_Book.htm
>
> I first decided on 16 kbps, but I'm not happy with how
it sounds, especially
> through headphones connected to the computer. My
presentations, of course,
> sound better with higher bit rates, but file sizes
roughly double for each
> doubling of the bit rate. At 16 kbps, my files range
from 1-3 MB, so for 32
> kbps (which I'm leaning toward now), they are 2-6 MB. My
questions are
>
> What's the concensus on the best bit rate for Internet
sound files, especially
> voice?
The best is the import high quality sound in wav format. Than
in library you can
play around with m3p compression changing the rates and all.
Checking the quality
versus the file size and find one that suit your needs. There
is no BEST format to
import. Every single fill have individual setting. It's all
depends on the sound.
Like, in case of voice. Very different to other sounds.
Save it as ADPCM (adaptive pulse code modulation) or Mp3
9kbps as your second choice.
Also take note that STREAM always lower down the quality , it
suppose to load fast so flash reduce
it enormously , usually sound like pure crap, go to library
(CTRL L to open) right click your sound
and go to properties, adjust the compression and type of
audio format to find best size and quality...
> How important is it to minimize files size? The files
are already large enough
> so that dial-up folks will probably not listen to them,
and even the larger
> files seem to download fast enough with my cable
connection.
You would be surprised. I was doing voice overs two or 3
weeks ago for a client.
Needed 5 sounds , up to two minutes each, for different
slides. Ranging from 2.5 MB
to 2.9 MB per file.
After compressing all of them, I had 5 sounds in very good
quality of total size 1.4 MB
Best Regards
Urami
<urami>
If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
</urami>