Why the Essential Audio Player?

Essential Audio Player JS is a simple, clean, minimal, reduced-to-the-essential custom JavaScript / HTML5 / CSS web audio player.

The core idea of the design is to merge the play button with the time pointer, making the audio player even simpler and more intuitive to handle. Further, it radically questions what functions a basic web audio player actually needs:
Does a web audio player need a volume control when everyone knows where the volume button on their device is? Does a web audio player need a time counter when the pointer gives you an intuitive idea of the overall length while playing, which is totally sufficient in most cases?
So many audio players are overloaded with additional functions. Let’s get rid of that nerdy stuff and focus on what’s really important!

The Essential Audio Player, as a result of these considerations, is an extremely slim, tidy and unobtrusive web audio player that fits everywhere!

Setup

1. HTML & Audio

Create an Essential Audio Player with one simple <div> tag:

Done! All the rest will be unfolded by the script.

Notes for Nerds

Note: The player <div> will by default assume the width of its container element. The player height is defined by the track height.

Note: Audio file paths can be relative or absolute.

Note: Only audio files ending with .mp3, .ogg, .wav, .aac or .m4a are supported.

Note: Before loading an audio source, the script will test whether the file exists. In order to prevent redirection problems with .htaccess you should skip redirection rules for “HEAD” requests.

Note: If you want to use multiple audio file formats for one player, just omit the file extension (including the dot!) from your audio url in the data-url attribute. However, this entails some constraints:
1. It requires the associated audio sources to be stored at the same location.
2. The file extensions must be lower case.

Note: If you want to load audio files from an external server, make sure it has the correct CORS setting (Access-Control-Allow-Origin).

Note: The current version does not support live streaming. Maybe a future release…

2. JavaScript

Just include the script in your website. Done! All the rest works automatically.

Notes for Nerds

Note: The Essential Audio Player uses the namespace Essential_Audio. You may change it in the script if necessary. Caution: not to be confused with essential_audio (lower case), the CSS class of the player’s <div>.

3. CSS

Just include the ready-made default CSS file in your website. Done!

You may also easily style your Essential Audio Player: The default CSS file is commented and self-explaining (hopefully).

Notes for Nerds

Note: For a better overview, the CSS document is split into two sections: “The Looks”, which contain the visual stylings, and the “Core Values”, which contain indispensable functional stylings that should be handled with care.

Note: For a button-only player, set the player’s main container and the player button to equal width and the CSS variable --button-protrusion to 0px. The result is a track length of 0px, and the player button is locked into position.

Note: The Essential Audio Player uses the div class essential_audio as CSS namespace. If you want to change the class name, you must also replace essential_audio in the JavaScript file. Caution: not to be confused with Essential_Audio (upper case), the name of the entire player function.

The default CSS layout.

Some simple CSS adaptation examples. Let your fantasy play!

Extra Features

Loop Mode

This player plays in loop mode!

Add the attribute data-loop (no value needed) to the <div> tag if you want the Essential Audio Player to play in infinite loop.

Scratch Mode

Check out if your browser supports the scratch mode!

Really cool: If you want the Essential Audio Player to “scratch” when dragging the player button while playing, add the attribute data-scratch (no value needed) to the <div> tag.

Notes for Nerds

Note: The scratch mode is actually a nonsense feature that has no real effect on some browsers which delay the playback to resume when the time pointer is changed. Check out if it works with your favorite browser.

Preload

This player has its audio preloaded!

Add the attribute data-preload (no value needed) to the <div> tag if you want the Essential Audio Player to preload the audio file.

Notes for Nerds

Note: Consider if you really need this option. Preload is actually not a good practice: Data should only be loaded when actually needed.

Autoplay

Let’s get it straight: Autoplay is intrusive and not a good practice – and anyway prevented by default by modern browsers. That’s also why there is no autoplay demo on this website. Nonetheless, by mere completitude, the Essential Audio Player comes with the autoplay option: by adding the attribute data-autoplay (no value needed) to the <div> tag.

Notes for Nerds

Note: If there are multiple players with autoplay mode on a single webpage, the first encountered element will start playing (if not prevented anyway).

Note: The preload attribute is not needed when the autoplay mode is set: Even a blocked autoplay will preload automatically.

External Access / API

The script automatically assigns an ID number to each player, starting with 1. You can access any player with JavaScript by using this ID number. If you prefer to assign a custom ID to your player, just add id="your_ID" to the <div> tag.

Player Control

Play:

Essential_Audio.Play("your_ID"); (ID optional)

Stop:

Essential_Audio.Stop(); (no ID)

Stop & Reset:

Essential_Audio.Stop(0);

Reset:

Essential_Audio.Reset("your_ID"); (ID optional)

Notes for Nerds

Note: For a single player on a webpage you don’t need to specify any ID for external control. In case of multiple players on a single webpage, the last active player or the first player in the document will be addressed automatically if no ID is specified.

Note: The Reset function resets the pointer to zero but does not stop the player.

Data Access

Audio Object:

Essential_Audio.Audio; (returns an object containing all audio elements)

Player Object:

Essential_Audio.Audio["your_ID"]; (returns the specified player’s audio element)

Player List:

Essential_Audio.players(); (returns an ID array)

Active Player:

Essential_Audio.active(); (returns the ID of the currently playing player or false)

Last Player:

Essential_Audio.last(); (returns the ID of the last played player or false)

Notes for Nerds

Note: The Audio object gives you complete access to all Essential Audio Player audio elements on your webpage with all their methods, properties and events.

Download

Download your copy of the Essential Audio Player!

The download includes:

JavaScript file
Default CSS file
Sample HTML file

Download now!

By downloading the Essential Audio Player you agree to the license terms:

The code is free for everyone to use, copy, share and modify, under the following conditions:
The code or any result of its modification remains free for everyone and must not be commercialized in any way.
The code or any result of its modification must not be used to spread division, hatred, conspiracy theories or the denial of scientific facts.
No liability whatsoever relating to the use of the Essential Audio Player.

I agree.

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You like the Essential Audio Player?
You appreciate the dedication of time, patience and fiddling in detail that made it work like a charm?
You’re happy the Essential Audio Player is saving you so much work and helps making your website a better place?
You’re willing to support the further development of the Essential Audio Player?

Then do not hesitate and honor it now with your donation!
Big or small – any amount is appreciated!

Donate now!

Thank you!

Essential Audio Player JS