Learning ActionScript 3.0

Part IV. SOUND AND VIDEO

Part IV covers sound and video, the media types that arguably contributed most significantly to the ubiquitous use of Flash on the web. Chapter 11 covers the use of internal and external sound, and features examples of controlling sound playback, as well as manipulating volume and stereo panning. The chapter also includes a brief overview of parsing ID3 metadata from MP3 sounds, for display during audio playback. The chapter concludes with a sound visualization exercise that uses the Graphics class from Chapter 8 to draw a waveform in real time.

Chapter 12 contains information about encoding video using the free Flash Video Encoder that ships with Flash. This coverage includes instruction on how to create cue points. The chapter also discusses two approaches to authoring video playback. By using components, you’re able to focus more on the balance of your design and application as most of the ActionScript is taken care of for you. However, this chapter also includes the information necessary to code your own video player, so you can keep file size down if you choose not to rely on the video components. Finally, Chapter 12 provides true full-screen video examples, and covers accessibility and multilanguage projects through the use of video captioning.