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Sound of the Web
Audio is becoming more noticed and used on the web.
Sound of the Web
Sound is a very important element in all forms of media. People do not watch TV, Movies or other types of visual presentations without some sort of sound. We have hailed the computer and the technology of the information superhighway but until recently it has been a silent media. Today people and businesses have the advantage of using audio in their web presentations. Thanks to compression schemes like MP3 and faster connections like broadband it is possible to have a full multimedia site without taking forever to load. From funny sounding buttons and rollovers to voice-overs and soundtracks the web is finally starting to be heard.
In a recent article, Entrepreneur Magazine reported that three-fifths of the Web's top 75 sites feature audio. Why are Web merchants turning up the volume-especially now, in a down economy? Entrepreneurs and experts say that adding audio to a site not only cultivates customer loyalty, but also creates an experience much like the one they'd expect in an actual store. Audio also helps customers cut through the clutter of text and graphics. Prerecorded messages-such as checkout directions or key privacy policies-tell customers how to find special products or how to complete a sale. (Entrepreneur magazine - April 2002 By Melissa Campanelli)
One company that utilizes this concept is Saya Productions (http://www.sayaSFX.com), a web design company in Dallas, Texas, that uses motion graphics and sound design to design websites for small businesses. When we first thought about the concept, we wanted something that combines our talent and skills. Then after doing a few projects we found that we have evolved into a creative collaboration that pushes the limits beyond our expectations creating a constant evolution of the concept itself," says Miguel Hilao, sound designer and co-founder of Saya Productions.
| | - wanted to design websites that enables small businesses to deliver their selling point in a highly effective way even if it's only in a few words or sentences. And we accomplish that with the use of motion graphics and sound design says Alvin Chua, Sayas web designer and co-founder.
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Adding audio to a site not only enhances the site content but also sets the mood to create more impact for your selling point." This helps the viewer retain the message and other vital information like the name of your business. A kind of sound logo and we can all relate to those like NBC, Playstation, Intel and many others such sounds can automatically connect the listener to a business." says Chua and Hilao.
These types of sites can be very expensive depending on how big the production is the price can go from hundreds to hundreds of thousands. Many web design companies do not have complete in-house capabilities and must outsource the work this is where cost can become astronomical. Chua says Because we are multi-skilled and have our own studio our overhead is low and our quality remains high. This is a major cost benefit to our clients.
Sound is becoming an important part of the web experience. It makes sense by involving the viewer to tap into more of the senses by hearing and seeing. This can create a positive more memorable experience one that would cause people to come back time and time again.
Article quoted (Melissa Campanelli is a marketing and technology writer in Brooklyn, New York.
Copyright © 2002 Entrepreneur.com, Inc. All rights reserved.)
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