The upcoming WordPress 3.6 release will add core support for audio and video files.

Below is a quick preview of how you might upload a video in WordPress 3.6.

As you may see there is an option to post embed code or upload your own video file.

What we like about the update is that it provides a clear path of action. Once the user selects “Video”, he doesn’t have to wonder what’s next or how to get the video to display. He can either paste in the URL to the video or upload one. The shortcode is automatically provided.

Front-end video display

The whole experience is much easier than before. These updates make it possible for anyone to post the occasional audio or video file without having to search for a media player.

What’s under the hood?

Some of you may already be familiar with MediaElement.js and have perhaps even used in on your WordPress site via a plugin. There are a number of reasons MediaElement.js was chosen to power WordPress’ core audio/video support, but these are perhaps the most compelling:

• Huge support for all major browsers and devices
• MediaElement.js uses the same HTML markup, regardless of playback implementation
• The players can be easily skinned with CSS

MediaElement.js Features

• HTML5 audio and video players in pure HTML and CSS
• Custom Flash and Silverlight players that mimic the HTML5 MediaElement API for older browsers
• Accessibility standards including WebVTT

The good thing about the media players is that regular user with just a little bit of CSS can style them to make them look completely custom. Full visual control of the media player was quite rare in the old days of using plugins. In fact, many media players come branded for the software and make their logos/links difficult to remove. Not so with the new native players. The display is entirely under your control.

Why Core Audio/Video support makes life easier for everyone

The new native audio/video player makes it possible for anyone to upload and display multimedia content without having to be familiar with plugin installation and customization. Not only is it easier for those posting blogs but it’s also fantastic for the readers, given the broad support for browsers and devices.

Third-party services like Youtube and Vimeo no longer required!

So now if you take a quick video with your phone, you can easily upload it to your WordPress blog without having to jump through a bunch of different hoops. Multimedia bloggers, bands, podcasters, magazines and news sites can their own audio and video libraries with WordPress – no plugins or third-party services required. Just remember that streaming audio and video can take a huge toll on your server, so you may still want to use a service like Youtube or Vimeo. WordPress 3.6 has you covered with new embed handlers if you go that route.

The new native audio and video support is a giant leap forward for all WordPress users. Since WordPress powers a very large chunk of the web, we’re bound to see a huge increase in multimedia blogging.