Adding Audio to Your Squarespace Site
TL;DR:
- Audio blocks let you add playable audio files to any Squarespace page or post
- Upload files directly or link to external hosts (only .mp3 and .m4a formats work)
- Files over 160 MB need external hosting
- Customise player appearance through design options
- Blog pages are required for podcast features and metadata
Adding audio to your Squarespace site works through audio blocks. You can either upload files directly or link to externally hosted audio. The platform supports .mp3 and .m4a formats only.
For best results, compress your audio files to 128 kbps or lower. This keeps file sizes manageable and ensures compatibility across different devices and browsers.
Adding Audio Blocks
Here's how to get audio onto your pages:
- Go to your page or post and click 'Add Block'
- Select 'Audio' from the block options
- In the block editor, click the 'Embed' tab
- Choose 'Upload File' for local files or 'External File' for hosted audio
When linking to external files, make sure the URL ends with .mp3 or .m4a and starts with https://. This ensures Squarespace can properly embed the audio.
Keep file sizes under 160 MB if uploading directly. Anything larger needs external hosting through services like SoundCloud or your own server.
Customising Your Audio Player
The 'Design' tab gives you control over how your audio player looks:
Player styles: Choose between 'Minimal' for a clean look or 'Classic' for a traditional player interface. The minimal style includes light and dark theme options.
Download options: You can enable download links for users, though this works best with directly uploaded files. Download behaviour varies between browsers and devices.
Colour settings: Adjust the player colours to match your site's design.
Podcast Setup
If you're creating a podcast, you'll need to work with blog pages specifically. Audio blocks on regular pages don't support podcast features.
Use the 'Podcasting' tab to add metadata that integrates with Apple Podcasts. This helps organise episodes and makes them accessible through your podcast feed.
The metadata includes episode titles, descriptions, and other information that podcast platforms use to display your content properly.
File Format Requirements
Squarespace only accepts .mp3 and .m4a files. Other formats won't work, so convert your audio before uploading.
Recommended settings:
- Format: MP3 or M4A
- Bit rate: 128 kbps maximum
- Channels: Mono or stereo
- File size: Under 160 MB for direct uploads
Higher bit rates create larger files without much quality improvement for web playback. Most listeners won't notice the difference between 128 kbps and higher quality files when streaming online.
FAQs
How do I add audio to my Squarespace site?
Add an audio block to your page, then either upload a file directly or link to an external .mp3 or .m4a file.
What audio formats work with Squarespace?
Only .mp3 and .m4a formats are supported. Files must be under 160 MB for direct uploads.
Can I customise how my audio player looks?
Yes, use the 'Design' tab in the block editor to choose between minimal and classic player styles, plus adjust colours.
How do I set up a podcast on Squarespace?
Audio blocks for podcasts must be on blog pages. Use the 'Podcasting' tab to add metadata for Apple Podcasts integration.
Why won't my audio file upload?
Check the file format (must be .mp3 or .m4a), file size (under 160 MB), and that the URL starts with https:// for external files.
Jargon Buster
Bit rate: Audio quality measurement in kbps (kilobits per second). Higher numbers mean better quality but larger files.
Embed tab: The section in the audio block editor where you upload or link to audio files.
Metadata: Information about your audio file, like episode titles and descriptions, used by podcast platforms.
External hosting: Storing your audio files on other services like SoundCloud instead of uploading directly to Squarespace.
Wrap-up
Audio blocks give you a straightforward way to add sound to your Squarespace site. Whether you're sharing music, creating a podcast, or adding audio content to your pages, the key is using the right file formats and keeping sizes manageable.
Remember that podcast features only work on blog pages, so plan your site structure accordingly if you're building a podcast site.
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