Flash CS5: The Missing Manual

Chapter 11. Incorporating Sound and Video

You can create almost any kind of picture or effect in Flash, but sometimes you already have the perfect piece of sound or video…and it's in another file. No problem: Flash lets you pull in all kinds of other media files—like songs in MP3 files or QuickTime videos. Whether you're showcasing your band's performances, creating an employee training website, or creating an online wedding album, Flash has all the multimedia tools for the job.

When Flash was born, it was a big deal to have moving pictures on the Internet. Most folks had pretty slow Internet connections, so it was a kick to see pictures move, even if they were simple, cartoonish images. The same was true of even the most basic sound effects. Today, we expect to use the Net to watch our favorite movies, sports, and TV shows. Sounds have gone from beeps and bells to radio broadcasts, audiobooks, and entire albums of music. Things have changed, and Flash is often at the center of the revolution.

One change, of course, is the number of people who use fast Internet connections. The other change came when web developers began to use Flash video (FLV). Most of the web browsers in the world have Flash capabilities—Adobe's estimates are way above 90 percent. For you, the good news is that when you wrap your audio and video offerings in Flash, you don't have to force your audience to download and install yet another plug-in. This chapter explains how to add sound to your animations and how ...