RealAudio on Websites

> >> Forget RealAudio.
> >> I hate Java, Javascript, Flash, etc. on the web. Pointless exercises for
> >> now.

I missed the beginning of this discussion, so perhaps I don't know the particular application.

If your website is musically related, I can think of nothing more appropriate than putting music on it. It seems hard to imagine a more effective way to share microtonal ideas with interested browsers. As far as I can tell, RealAudio is the most accepted format for audio examples. The quality is ... well, not superb, but decent, and most importantly, they don't have to wait around to download before they can hear it; it starts playing immediately.

I presume what you're actually saying though is that you don't find much value in flashing, blinking lights and other generic "glitter" in web page? Assuming that that's your point, then I agree in concept, but not necessarily in practice. The degree to which I don't agree is the same as for CD cover art. Like it or not, people don't like to pay for a CD that doesn't have at least some flashiness in its presentation. Similarly, web pages have to catch peoples'
attention.

If I were preparing web pages for confirmed xenharmonics fans whom I know are interested in what those pages present, and I were directly calling their attention to them over Email, then I wouldn't pay much attention to the presentation. If, on the other hand, I'm trying to share cool new microtonal ideas with the public in general, I'd certainly do all of the following:
1. Have lots of real musical examples.
2. Take as much advantage of graphical-visualization analogies as possible.
3. Organize and cross-index (i.e., link) the material as thoroughly as possible.
4. Present it attractively.
5. Make sure that my spelling and grammar is correct.
6. Register it with one or more search engines.

If the vast majority of my web page's audience is going to get to it from a listing of 43 one-line summaries belched out by a search engine, then I have 43 good reasons to work hard to ensure that they'll give it more than a glance!