Web audio, made practical
Put great-sounding audio on your website
Clear, independent guides to web audio players, podcast publishing and streaming, for site owners and developers.
Find what you need
Start with one line of HTML
You may not need a plugin. The native audio element gives visitors play, pause, seek and volume controls.
See how it works<audio controls preload="metadata"
src="/media/episode-1.mp3">
</audio>Latest guides
- How to Add an Audio Player to a WordPress SiteYou can add a WordPress audio player without installing anything. The built-in Audio block handles most single-file needs, while shortcodes, embeds and…
- How to Optimize Audio Files for Faster Page LoadsAudio files are often the heaviest assets on a page. A few simple changes can cut their size dramatically without listeners noticing…
- How to Keep Audio Playing While Visitors Browse Your SiteMusicians, radio stations and podcasters often want a player that keeps going while visitors click around the site. By default this doesn’t…
- MP3, AAC, Ogg or Opus: Which Audio Format Should You Use on the Web?Choosing an audio format affects how fast your pages load, how good your tracks sound and whether every visitor can play them….
- The HTML5 Audio Element: A Practical GuideEvery modern browser can play sound without plugins, thanks to the <audio> element. If you understand a handful of attributes and one…
New to web audio? Start here
Follow these guides in order and you will go from a raw recording to a fast, working player.
- Choose a file formatMP3, AAC, Opus or WAV, and the bitrate to export.
- Add a playerUse the HTML5 audio element and its key attributes.
- Do it in WordPressThe Audio block, shortcodes and when a plugin helps.
- Make it load fastSmaller files, lazy loading, caching and CDNs.
- Keep the music goingOptions for playback that continues as visitors browse.
Quick answers
Why won’t my audio autoplay?
Most browsers block sound that starts before the visitor interacts with the page. Start playback from a button instead, or begin muted.
Which audio format should I use?
MP3 plays in every modern browser and is the safest single choice. Add Opus as a first source if you want smaller files. Compare formats.
Do I need a plugin to play audio in WordPress?
Not for a simple player. The built-in Audio block works for single tracks. A plugin is useful for playlists or a player that keeps playing between pages.
About this site
Dynamic Audio Player is an independent site that publishes practical tutorials on audio for websites. We are not affiliated with any plugin or software developer, including the developers of the WordPress plugin with the same name, and we base our guides on official documentation and correct mistakes quickly.
More about us