Paraphrasing RFC-1341, the only official audio format so far is
audio/basic, which is sampled audio encoded using 8-bit ISDN u-law
[PCM]. When this subtype is present, a sample rate of 8 kHz and a
single channel (mono) is assumed.
So mono is the default for audio. Ugh. I recommend that you include
an audio/basic version of any sound clips for interoperability between
platforms, but also include an MPEG Audio version of the sound clip for
better sound, more flexible sample rates, stereo, and to support future
standardization on this more mature audio format.
Check out my "Recommended File Formats for WWW Documents,"
http://sd-www.jsc.nasa.gov/web_formats.html
These HTML recommendations also apply to external file formats accessed
in VRML scenes.
-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/SD5, Space Biomedical Research Institute
Work: [email protected] (713) 483-4368
Home: [email protected]
Web: http://sd-www.jsc.nasa.gov/folks/kjenks.html
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men
with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a
proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated
derilicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the
problems of the human race." -- Calvin Coolidge