archive project/coverting sounds problem

Hi
I need some help please, I hope I found the right forum...

I want to build a sound archive for a local radio news office.
In my estimates it will grow with about 400 Gb per year (.wav). Using .mp3 with no quality difference I can compress it to 40 Gb.

The users on LAN can edit the files only if they are .wavs (because of the software they use; can’t change that – licence issues and, more important, it took ages to teach them to use it for sound editing, they still believe cutting tape is easier…)

Every LAN user has his own network share with a maximum capacity of about 2 Gb.

I plan to make a file server from one of the workstations (Windows 98 – can’t change this; Apache/SQL/PHP)

I need:
1. a part for archiving/administration – every user on LAN to be able to see what he/she have in the personal folder; to be able to play a file; to delete a file; to send a file to the file server/ in archive (.wav--->.mp3); to add metadata.

2. a part for searching the archive: all kinds of searches, metadata etc…; modify metadata; retrieve a file for editing (.mp3-->.wav).

3. a part for WAN users – only search and retrieving .mp3s; maybe some streaming for preview (not sure yet and will only add to the existing problem).

My problem, as far, is the conversion. Everything can be done quite easy in php with the exception of the conversion of the wavs in mp3 and vice versa.
What do you think – is there any way around this? Part 3 is straight forward – PHP all the way.
Should I use for 1 and 2 parts some Visual Basic, Deplhi for the interface?
Any ideas will be helpful

Thanks
Mihai

Well, as to mp3 streaming there is mod_mp3 for apache, although I cant say anything from personal experience sice haven't used it myself.
Now, as to step 1,2 I'd recommend reading this article on working with mp3's, but unfortunately (for you) it is for linux.

Thanks for the links, very useful.
I think I have to give up making a web interface for this

Thanks
Mihai