Microsoft Expression Web: How to Add Sound to a Web Page

Written by: Michele McDonough • Edited by: Bill Fulks
Updated Jun 3, 2010 • Related Guides: Microsoft | Microsoft Expression Web

In this Microsoft Expression Web tutorial, we take a look at the various types of audio files that are recognized by Expression Web and how they can be used to add sound to a web page.

Sound and Expression Web

There are times when adding audio to a web page can greatly enhance the goal you are trying to achieve with your design. For these situations, Microsoft Expression Web has a built-in method that allows users to quickly and easily attach a sound file to a web page.

The following types of sound files are recognized by and can be added to a web page in Expression Web.

Wave Files - .wav extensions
Midi Sequencer Files - .mid extensions
RealAudio Files - .ram extensions
AIFF Sound Files - .aif, .aifc, and .aiff extensions
AU Sound Files – .au and .snd extensions

If the sound file you want to use is in a different format, you may be able to convert it to one of these accepted types by using a free online file conversion program like Media-Convert. On the other hand, if you're looking for a special sound file, check out some of these sources for free audio downloads.

How to Add a Sound File to a Web Page in Expression Web

Open the web page to which you want to add sound in Expression Web. From the File menu on Expression Web’s main toolbar, choose Properties. See the first figure below for a screenshot of this process. After doing this, the Page Properties dialog box will appear on your screen as in the second screenshot below. (Click any image for a larger view.)

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Navigate to the General tab in the Page Properties box. Click on the Browse button and locate the sound file that you wish to add. After adding the sound, turn your attention to the Loop option. If you leave the box in front of Forever checked, the sound file will continue to play over and over for as long as the viewer keeps the web page open. If you don’t want this to occur, uncheck the box and enter the number of times you want the sound to be repeated.

Don’t forget that while sound can be an interesting addition to a web page, many viewers find too much sound annoying so use it sparingly!

Looking for more tips and tricks? Be sure to browse through the rest of Bright Hub's collection of Microsoft Expression Web user guides and tutorials.

Michele McDonough Aug 28, 2011 6:08 PM

RE: Microsoft Expression Web: How to Add Sound to a Web Page

If the audio is working in other browsers but not Chrome for you, I am not sure what the problem might be. Maybe another reader will have an idea and share it here.

Vikram Aug 28, 2011 3:35 AM

doesn't work properly..

Dear,
This is Good way to add a song but from this way song doesn't play in Google Chrome browser..?

what can i do to play the song in Google chrome browser?

Beth Jul 28, 2010 4:53 PM

Adding sound in Expression Web

Dear Michele,

First, thank you for your articles on Expression Web! I’m a high school web master who unfortunately doesn’t know much code, and you’re a life saver!

I just finished reading the article about adding sound to a web page. My question is as follows: is using the dynamic web template the only way to put sound on a page that has a template on it? I really want to use a .wave file for our index page (the principal wants to play the fight song once when they open the page), but that, and perhaps the Athletics or Band Home Pages, is the only place where we want it. I tried to get it to work just on that one page, but it doesn’t seem to want to do it.

So far, the only idea I’ve had is to open the main template (we have one basic template that we attach to each page; it just makes things super simple), click on “save as,” save it as “index template,” and make template changes to both documents whenever I have to change something on it. Then, I can go into index template and install the sound byte there, and it will only play on the index page. Still, if, for some reason, I should forget to edit something on both, then my templates are different, and I’ll have complaints.

Is there another way I’m not thinking of? I’d really appreciate any help you can give.

Thank you very much!

Microsoft Expression Web: How to Add Sound to a Web Page

Sound and Expression Web

How to Add a Sound File to a Web Page in Expression Web

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