Your Website Visitors Want To Hear Your Music!
Being an independent artist in 2024 is a full time job. Forget the single hit dream. Indie artists today thrive by being hustlers. Build a die-hard fan base through captivating live shows and engaging social media. Embrace streaming, but diversify income with merch, licensing deals, and even creative online content. Be an entrepreneur, not just an artist. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Perhaps most importantly, having a well-designed website is crucial for connecting with fans and showcasing your music. A key element? A user-friendly and visually appealing way for visitors to listen to your tracks. Here’s where Sonaar MP3 Player comes in, a powerful WordPress plugin that lets you integrate a customizable audio player directly into your website.
This guide delves into the process of enabling Sonaar MP3 Player, transforming your website into a haven for music lovers to explore your soundscapes.
The Best Option On the Market
If you’re anything like us here at the IMLC, you will have already done some research on market options. A simple MP3 Player search on WordPress brings up a few options. Many of them are adequate. Some of them are not. After trying several on our website, we couldn’t see past Sonaar. It is by far the best option on the market. Ease, quality, adapability. It has everything. Take it from us: look no further.
Getting Started: Installation and Activation
1. Install the Free Version:
Head over to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New. In the search bar, type “MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar” and click Install on the plugin. Once installed, activate it for the changes to take effect.
2. Upgrading to Pro (Optional):
While the free version offers excellent functionalities, Sonaar also has a Pro version for advanced features like sticky players, playlist management, and album grids. If these features pique your interest, head over to Sonaar and explore the Pro version.
Adding Your Music: Playlist and Albums
Now comes the exciting part – adding your music! Sonaar offers two ways to organize your tracks: playlists and albums.
- Playlists: Perfect for curated compilations or thematic groupings, playlists offer flexibility in how you present your music.
- Albums: Ideal for showcasing a complete project like an EP or full-length album, albums maintain a cohesive structure.
Here’s how to create both:
1. Creating Playlists:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to MP3 Player > Playlists > Add New.
- Enter the playlist title and an optional description.
- Click Add Tracks and select the MP3 files from your computer’s library.
- Customize the order of tracks by dragging and dropping them.
- Click Publish to make the playlist live.
2. Creating Albums:
- Follow the same steps as creating playlists, but navigate to MP3 Player > Albums > Add New instead.
- In addition to the title and description, you can also add album art for a visually appealing presentation.
- Select the MP3 tracks belonging to the album.
Building Your Player: Shortcodes and Widgets
With your music organized, it’s time to embed the player itself. Sonaar provides three main methods:
1. Using Shortcodes:
Shortcodes are snippets of code that add functionality to your website. Sonaar offers various shortcodes for different player types; you can find detailed instructions and code options on their documentation page Sonaar Documentation [invalid URL removed].
Here’s how to use shortcodes in a nutshell:
- Choose the desired player type (single track, playlist, album, etc.).
- Copy the relevant shortcode.
- Paste the shortcode into your WordPress page or post editor using the “Text” tab.
- Preview your page to ensure the player appears and functions correctly.
2. Using Elementor Widget (For Elementor Page Builder Users):
If you use Elementor, Sonaar offers a dedicated widget for easy player integration. Simply drag and drop the “MP3 Player” widget into your desired page section, choose the music source (playlist, album, single track), and customize the player’s appearance.
3. Using Gutenberg Block (For Gutenberg Editor Users):
Similar to Elementor, Sonaar provides a Gutenberg block for users of the default WordPress block editor. Search for “MP3 Player” in the block search bar, add it to your page section, and configure the music source and player settings.
Customization: Tailoring the Player to Your Style
Sonaar understands the importance of aesthetics. Both the free and pro versions allow you to customize the player’s appearance to match your website’s design. You can adjust colors, fonts, and even add custom CSS code for more granular control.
Here’s a quick rundown of customization options:
- Free Version: Change colors for elements like progress bars and buttons.
- Pro Version: Extensive customization options, including custom skins, color palettes, typography control, and even custom waveforms for the visual sound representation.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Features with Sonaar Pro
While the free version offers a solid foundation, Sonaar Pro unlocks a treasure trove of additional features:
- Sticky Player: Keep music playing as visitors scroll through your website, enhancing the overall listening experience.
- Advanced Playlist Management: Create nested playlists, organize tracks in subcategories, and offer more flexibility.
- Woocommerce addons for seamless selling of your tracks.
- Analytics so you can keep track of how many times your tracks have been streamed.
The Go-To Music Player for Independent Artist Sites
Sonaar MP3 stands out for its unique features, making it a strong contender for the best WordPress audio player. Here’s why:
Visually Appealing: The animated waveform bar isn’t just cool, it lets listeners see the track structure and skip to specific parts.
Multiple Playback Options: Continuous playback ensures uninterrupted listening, while the carousel and coverflow add a nice touch.
Customization Power: From soundwave colors to player controls, you can tailor the look and feel to perfectly match your website.
Data Tracking: Gain valuable insights into listener habits with analytics that track plays, downloads, and popular playlists.
With its feature set and customization options, Sonaar MP3 offers a compelling solution for both music and podcast creators on WordPress.
I think the PRO version is great ♡
Mazedona Craqdi Craquis