How to Play AU and WAV Sounds on a Macintosh
By Dan Pacheco
WashingtonPost.com
And Rob Pegoraro
Washington Post Staff
The following instructions explain how to configure Netscape Navigator, the most popular Web browser, to play AU and WAV sound clips. These instructions assume you are using a Macintosh. We also offer help for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.
Check Your Browser Version
If you are using Netscape Navigator 3.0 or Internet Explorer 3.0 (or higher), you already have everything you need to hear AU sounds. To find out which version you are currently using, click on the "Help" menu at the top right-hand corner of your screen and choose "About Netscape" or "About Internet Explorer." The version will appear on a Web page. Then click the "Back" button to return to this tutorial.
If you don't have either one of these browsers, upgrading is easy. Just go to our browser page to learn how. If you don't want to upgrade, you will still need to download and configure a separate helper application. Skip ahead to the section labeled "Install SoundApp."
If you've already upgraded, playing sounds is simple enough for almost anyone to figure out (if you've ever used a VCR or tape deck, the process will be intuitive). But if you need some help, read our quick sound guide.
Install SoundApp
Before going on, make sure you have Stuffit Expander installed (here's how to get it).
The best all-around tool for the job is a free program called "SoundApp." It nicely handles the .au, .aiff and .wav sounds found on Web sites.
Download SoundApp 2.2 (260 K).
Netscape will save the file to your desktop. Since you've already told
the browser to let Stuffit Expander handle stuffed files, this compressed
archive will be processed automatically, leaving you with an icon that looks like a speaker on your desktop. Drag this program to the folder where you want it to live, but take note of where you park it. You will need to know its location later on.
Any other document bearing the name "Sound App" is left-over packaging and should be dragged into the trash.
Introducing Netscape to
SoundApp
To tell Netscape how to play all sound files with the SoundApp, do the following:
- Open up Netscape and select the "General Preferences" item from the
"Options" menu.
- Click on the "Helpers" tab in the window that appears.
- Scroll down until you see the listing for
"audio/basic." . Click once on that line to select it.
- Click on the "Browse" button and locate your copy of SoundApp. Select it and click the "Open" button. Make sure the "Launch application" box has a check in it.
- Repeat these steps two more times, but this time select "audio/aiff" and audio/x-wav.
Try It Out
Now that you have your sound tool, go ahead and use it to hear these two sample sounds:
 Download a sample .wav file (WAV, 19K)
Download a sample .au file (AU, 81K)
Is That All?
For WAV and AU sound clips, yes. But more and more sites are using "Real Audio," a more efficient sound system that makes it possible to broadcast sound live over a standard phone line. Read our Real Audio guide to learn how to get the Real Audio Player.
Wav/AU for:
 Windows 95
Windows 3.1
Macintosh
Real Audio:
Follow this tutorial for all platforms.
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