Re: Best practice for mp3s in ePubs?

Hi Laura


1. I believe based on current spec the mp3 files needed to be embedded 
in epub file.

2. I have not found any existing standard code for a default player. A 
very basic player should be the html mp3 player. I can help with 
creating some example (please feel free to reach out if need any help 
with creating example and testing)

3. I think basically need to pass epubcheck - the epub validation tool.

4. Might need a bit more details on the use case.


Cheers,

Jeff


On 2025-05-12 13:23, Ciporen, Laura wrote:
>
> Hello, all.
>
> I am wondering if there is an accepted best practice for including 
> mp3s in ePubs?
>
>  1. Which is best?
>      1. Streaming (which requires users to be online)
>      2. Packaging the files with the ePub (which greatly increases the
>         file size)
>  2. Is there standard code for default players for mp3s in ePubs?
>      1. For a short player for tiny clips which would only have a
>         single play/pause button.
>      2. Different code for a more complex player for longer audio
>         which might also have ff, rewind, scrubbing, etc.
>  3. If not, are there particular controls that need to be included or
>     avoided?
>  4. Either way, if there are multiple audio files on the same page (or
>     in the ePub as a whole) is there a best practice for identifying
>     each distinctly (primarily to support voice control users being
>     able to easily indicate which audio they want to play).
>  5. Are there any other best practice considerations about including
>     mp3s in ePubs?
>      1. (Besides the fact that there should be a text version of the
>         content unless the entire point of an audio is to test
>         someone’s ability to interpret the audio.)
>
> Thank you ever so much!
>
> -Laura
>
> *McGraw-Hill logo.* <http://www.mheducation.com/>**
>
> *Laura Ciporen, CPACC*
>
> Digital Content Accessibility Manager
>
> McGraw-Hill | Higher Education
>
> 1325 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10019
>
> P: 646-766-2269
>
> laura.ciporen@mheducation.com <mailto:laura.ciporen@mheducation.com>__
>
> mheducation.com <http://mheducation.com/>
>
> JAWS Certified 2015 logo Freedom ScientificCertified Professional in 
> Accessibility Core Competencies from IAAP (CPACC) 
> <https://www.accessibilityassociation.org/cpacccertification>
>
> The information contained in this message may be confidential and/or 
> constitute a privileged attorney-client document.  If the reader of 
> this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent 
> responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you 
> are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of 
> this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this 
> communication in error, please notify McGraw Hill immediately by 
> replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.  Thank you. 
-- 


Jeff Xu

Chief Executive Officer

Wysebee Inc.

Logo of Wysebee