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:
- Record and convert your sound you want to post to the AudioNewsgroup
- Upload the sound to the ftp site
- 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:
- All PowerBook 500 and 5000 series models, and most 100 series
- Performa/LC 5200 series
- Color Classic
- Performa/LC 575 series
- Any desktop unit equipped with an Apple AudioVision monitor (has
speaker grilles on bottom)
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:
- au (Sun audio format, also known as mu-law encoding)
- aiff (Audio Interchange File Format, available on almost all types of
computers)
- 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):
- au sounds: .AU
- aiff sounds: .AIFF or .aif
- System 7 sounds: .snd
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!