Web Audio Working Group

Introductory Document, July 2001

Over the last few years the web has seen an explosion in the possible uses of graphics, video and animated delivery systems like Flash and Shockwave. But the audio side seems not only to be neglected but seriously lagging behind in development. The things we see most (like, MP3 for example) are generally simple encoding and decoding functions within specific file formats, that do not address the needs of interactive designers. Certainly the issue of sound quality with these formats is a problem for sound designers, but a more serious problem exists.

We must start to explore and acknowledge the interactive potential of these formats over the web. It is important to develop tools and interfaces that are useful for sound designers working in the field. The exploitation of smaller codex's like .MP3 and .SWA in relation to interactivity have yet to be fully explored or implemented. Their uses within existing delivery systems like Quick Time and Windows Media Player are limited to say the least.

I believe several factors are at the core of this problem:

1. The general lack of consideration that goes into the audio side of product development
   I feel that this is true on both the browser and imbedded player levels. Product designers need more feed back from the folks who are doing the everyday work. And the people who are out there need to find a coherent voice in a very fragmented industry.

2. The plug-in battle
   The lack of interactive audio potential within the existing browsers and the lack of co-operation between companies is killing the potential for audio designers. After all, if they already have to download one plug-in that is bad enough but you can forget having to make the end user download two. How many times have we heard that one! There is no lack of good creative solutions out there. These are solutions that take into account the best nature of both the Midi and Digital audio worlds (Beatnik is a fine example of a case like this) there work in cooperation with Macromedia is admirable but still does not go far enough.

3. The lack of integration between streaming media and MIDI based solutions
   It is hoped that this working group can increase the communication and dialogue between the creative types, Streaming companies, Authoring, and MIDI based solutions to the end of helping develop the next generation of interactive web audio tools. This development can only help to vitalize the market and bring into being the tools needed to address the broad band issues coming our way in the near future as well as the low bandwidth web of today.

It is also important that we look at the current interactive tools for composition being used right now in the video game field (Direct Music and the like). Many of the issues that we are dealing with over the web in terms of best resource allocation and streaming possibilities all seem to be directly related to long standing debates within the gaming community.

It is also my opinion that this group need to take a good look at the recommendations preceding us in the interactive composition work group. The information published and presented by them on the IA-SIG is of vital importance and relevance to this body and will speed up and aid in the agreement and normalization of industry standards pertaining to the future of all interactive composition regardless of platform.

Who should be involved in this group?

In my view anyone with a healthy interest in web audio should be welcome. Professionals working in the field of web audio as well as sound designers and composers in the games market as well as film and TV. It should also be open to designers with programming expertise on the various platforms we are discussing, regardless of weather they are involved with sound or not. After all, as creative professionals sooner or later we will be dealing with these issues as broad band convergence begins to take place. The creative community must start to communicate with the companies creating the tools. It is also vital that the companies themselves take the time to become involved and educate the designers on what is and is not technically possible. It is my belief that a very fruitful dialogue can be established in short order to the advantage of all involved.

WAWG Procedure

After approving the WG goals we will break into groups of two or three people (max) and get to work evaluating the platforms below. Our initial goal will be to produce a white paper describing the platforms and our assessments and recommendations. This is a very timely topic that has the ear of the industry. The White paper will be distributed throughout the industry, and should be a good candidate for presentation at GDC in 2002.