These instructions are written for people who are not exactly computer-whiz-kids. If you have any suggestions on them or can't understand what I'm saying, please let me know. If you already know how to convert a sound into the au format and upload to an ftp server, most of these instructions will seem unnecessary. Just browse through and find the directory for the upload in that section and read the last section. You may want to print this out...it's somewhat long.



Posting to the audio newsgroup is basically a three-step process:
  1. Record and convert your sound you want to post to the AudioNewsgroup
  2. Upload the sound to the ftp site
  3. Fill out the posting form on the homepage


Recording a Sound

To record a sound, you will need a computer with a microphone and sound recording capability. This capability is built-in on most Macintosh models. Macintosh models that include built-in microphones are:
If your Macintosh isn't listed above and you don't have a microphone attached to it, you can still record sounds from your stereo or other sources. Contact me for more information.

If your Macintosh has a microphone (or you have access to one that does), you will need to pick up some sound recording software. The file that you will have gotten is a custom installer. Double-click on it to install your software. Just find the option you want. To just record posts, all you need is the Sound Recording Software. Save your sound as a file with a name that includes no spaces and ends in ".au". The period before the au IS important.

If you own an IBM or PC-clone, your ability to record sounds may depend on your configuration. Some sound cards do support audio digitizing (how you put a sound in your computer). Seek out help over there if you don't have a mike.

Your sound file may be large (can be megabytes in size), depending on how long it is. Don't worry. Once you've finished this process you can delete it. And by using RealAudio, you never have to wait for it to come to your machine when you're listening to it! That's the beauty of RealAudio.

Converting a Sound

The RealAudio Newsgroup will only accept sounds in the following formats:
  1. au (Sun audio format, also known as mu-law encoding)
  2. aiff (Audio Interchange File Format, available on almost all types of computers)
  3. snd (System Seven sound format, Macintosh format)
The Macintosh recording software available from this site that you may have gotten up above records in au format already, so if you use it you won't have to worry about converting your sound file. Just make sure you save your sound without spaces in the name and ending in ".au". The period before the au IS important.

There is an incompatibility with AIFF files created by the Macintosh sound converter application SoundApp. To convert Microsoft Wave files, use SoundHack, available in the sound utilities package.

If you have a sound that you've gotten from somewhere else (such as a piece of music or a movie quote or something) that you want to post, you need to convert it into one of the above formats. In the same installer as the recording software are programs for the Macintosh that will convert your sounds between formats. Be sure to save in the Sun Audio format (au), Audio IFF (AIFF), or System Seven sound (snd). If you didn't get the installer from up above and still want it, here's a second chance.

If you have an IBM, getting the sound in a format that the RealAudio Newsgroup can recognize is half of the battle. Most IBMs will record sounds in the WAV format, or Windows Audio File. The program that makes files into the RealAudio format on this server does not support the WAV format. You need to convert your sound to an au or AIFF format. I have programs that will convert your WAV files for Windows 3.1 as well as Windows 95/NT

Make sure your sound file has an extension (a period followed by the cryptic letters) correspinding to its sound format, especially if you are using a Macintosh (the period IS important, folks):

After we've got the sound in the right format and with the proper extension after the filename, we're ready to send it to the server.

Uploading Your Sound

First thing you may is is...what in the heck is uploading? Simply, uploading is a fancy name for copying something to another computer. To upload your sound to the GSS server, we're going to use something called FTP, or File Transfer Protocol. In order to do this, we need a program that will copy a file, or "put" it, to the GSS server. Any normal FTP program will do this. If you don't think you have an FTP program, here's one for the Macintosh that will install the program along with instructions on how to use it to upload a sound to the GSS server. The installer will put a program called Anarchie on your hard drive, along with instructions for how to upload to this site called "anarchie upload instructions".

An FTP program for the IBM (Windows, Win95/NT), CuteFTP, is also available. The machine to log into is bohr.student.princeton.edu and open the "Sound_Uploads" directory and then Put the file. Make sure you upload the file in BINARY or MacBinary format! If you don't see that directory and have one listed named "ftpsite", open that one and you'll see the uploading area in it.

If you have a different FTP program, follow its own instructions to login for an anonymous file transfer, set the mode to bonary (the command for UNIX servers is "i") and "put" the file to the machine bohr.student.princeton.edu with the path:

ftpsite/Sound_Uploads/

You must put your sound file in this directory or else the server will not be able to process it for RealAudio.

Write down the name of your sound file EXACTLY as you uploaded it above so you don't forget it.

Finishing Up Your AudioPost

Now you must actually post your message to the newsgroup. Open up the AudioNewsgroup, and hit "Post" just like if you were going to send a message to the other text newsgroup. Fill out all of the information on the form as instructed. Make sure that you type the name of your sound file EXACTLY the same as when you uploaded it above. Please keep the descriptions of your sound posting short but informative. You will receive a message telling you if your sound was posted correctly. Be patient...it takes a while for the server to process the sounds, especially if they're long. If you get an error, make sure that you typed the filename of your sound file correctly...that's the most common error you'll get. If you get any others, make sure to let me know.



That's the exact method for uploading a sound file. If you have any questions, e-mail me anytime. Enjoy the first ever audio Internet newsgroup and talk away!