Best practices for audio (WAV vs MP3)?

[TheJazzMan]

I am building several new Flash applications (using Flash 8) designed for both CD and web delivery, and would like suggestions on which audio format works best (WAV or MP3) and what bit rates provide optimal results. (NOTE: Most of our tartget users will have the Flash 6 or possibly the Flash 7 player installed. Few, if any, will have Flash 8 player at this time.)

We are in the process of trying uncompressed WAV files and letting Flash do the compressing for both voice narration and background music. Is it better to import MP3 files and not have Flash do any of the audio compressing? If WAV files are the way to go, what Flash audio settings and bit rates do you suggest we use when publishing?

We use SoundForge for audio work, and there are MANY different settings to choose from for both WAV and MP3. Just looking for a tried and true audio workflow that provides proven results without having to redo what's already been done.

Is there a good tutorial on the many facets of Flash audio out there somewhere?

Thanks!

Jazzman

[annette]

I'm not sure whats more important to you - sound quality or syncing. If sound quality is important I would steer cleer of flash mp3 compression (my experience based on flash mx2004 and not flash 8) and use external mp3's for background music.

I use itunes to convert to mp3's. For modem users I use mono files at 64kbps with a sample rate of 44.100khz - the important trick is to convert your WAV file to mono first then compress. For broadband users you can be more generous with joint stereo and a bit rate of 160kbps.

Two sites I've found really useful in the past:

http://kennybellew.cowfly.com/tutorial/

http://www.sonify.org/

[micheeeel]

A little thing to add here... i had this problem doing this site www.gatabakana.com.br

When you save a MP3 file to use as audio/music, the MP3 has a little "cut" at the start and at the end of the file. So if you need a sound loop, the mp3 file will keep skiping and dont loop right. I tested with Sound Forge and Adobe Audition (good apps) and both gave me the same results.

Using a imported WAV file instead of MP3 gave me the correct results to loop the file. Im not a sound expert and dont know if this is correct, but i tried several times without sucess changing options to fix this mp3 "bug".