Disclaimer about this post: I will be writing this story in real-time on this blog. So if the content of this post seems incomplete, there are many typos, words are missing and at times I am jumping around without finishing a thought or sentence it's because I am working on the problem now as I'm writing. I will tighty things up latter.
9/29/2002
OK I have my MP3 files - Now what?
A little background
This morning I am pondering the audio file blogging integration problems Hugh is having over at American Invisible, Inc.
Last week Hugh the author of American Invisible, Inc., and a reader of this blog decided that he would try to integrate some of his new audio book into his weblog by adding audioblogging.
Quickly Hugh discovered the technical issues one faces as they begin this task.
Problem
Hugh is using Radio as his blog authoring software and Userland servers to store his blog. Hugh is trying to integrate audio content he's created with files sizes over 1MB. He needs the large files to sustain audio quality and complete the message. He has also chosen to use MP3s files.
The problems Hugh is having are problems I have been able to avoid by 1) using wav files instead of MP3s which you presently can't upload to Userland's Radio server 2) Keeping my wav files under the 1MB per file upload limit of the Userland Radio server. Luckily my present audiblogging needs have been mostly limited to short audio clips. Much like nightly news sound bytes. Because I follow these 2 requirements I have been able to upload my audio file onto the Userland Radio servers.
Hugh has decided and I believe rightfully so, that to get his MP3 files on the Internet he should find a Internet available web server (http/ftp server). Hugh files for his series are over 1MB (which exceed the Radio file upload limit size) and he plans many files like this soon.
For these reasons, all of them valid he will need to find other means to store his audio files other than Userland servers. Hugh's solution can still use Radio to author the text and links of his audio files and Userland servers to store and serve his blog.
The environment
To begin looking at Hugh's problem I will be build a test environment like the one Hugh could work with. I will do all of this from the perspective of a home network. If one wants to dabble a little with audioblogging and already own the equipment (server, hubs, etc.) and services (DSL, cable modem) this is not a bad way to go, almost a no brainer. But if you don't already own the equipment and services needed you should really compare the issues and costs of this setup today versus the costs of using a Internet web server (http/ftp server).
I will be using a cable modem. First I will need to place a server in the basement next to the cable modem router. Server is in basement and hooked to cable router.
In the background I am emailing with Hugh as we get ready to do some testing.
First test from home server:
The audio file is a MP3 file that is about .5MBytes
Test Audioblogging Post -> 
Received an email from Hugh saying he was able to access the file but did have a problem the first time he clicked the file.
11:45PM - Just emailed Hugh with information and instructions he needs to do a post like the above himself.
Hopefully by next weekend we will be past the basics and improving the process. The process at this point is way to technical and tedious. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.
8:50:09 AM 
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