If you're looking to expand your web presence using audio, you need to select the right audio format for your needs. There's no shortage of formats which is why you need to take the time to choose wisely.

Choosing the Right Web Audio FormatYou may already be familiar with several of the formats listed, but others you may not. Read on to find out more.

RealAudio

This is by far the most common audio streaming format. It was the first streaming technology on the web and its popularity has grown due to its highly accessible features. This server side streaming technology is ideal for showing audio streams to large audiences. The technology allows the stream to match the listener's bandwidth, thus reducing compression while still offering a satisfactory viewing experience for the user. The one disadvantage to this server side technology is the delay between the user's request and the audio's arrival. Because of this, it's more suitable for longer streams.

Windows Media

As you would imagine, Microsoft's streaming solutions are also very popular and are not only limited to audio. They also allow video, animation, and other multimedia to be played back using Windows Media Player. This technology supports most media file types, works very well on Windows, and is easily playable on any machine using the Windows operating system.