Typically, a wave player will let you select a file to listen to - then exit from the 'file open' dialog to play the sound. The problem is that when you want to open another sound file, you must access the File | Open menu option again, and then find your wave - problematic if you've got hordes of Wave files that you want to browse. ConWave continually keeps the the File Open dialog 'open' so that you can pick and choose the files you'd like to hear with quick point & clicks.
Another drawback of common wave players is that you often cannot choose to keep or destroy a wave file - ConWave, on the other hand, enables the user to delete wave files on the fly.
Additionally, ConWave enables you to 'loop' sound effects, will save your settings - including the last directory you were in, and allows you to select and play multiple files at once (through multi-selection).
), you will be able to
check the file size. Remember, every 1048KB (1048576 bytes) equals 1 MB.
Playing and Stopping
Playing a wave file is as simple as finding one (they will automatically
appear in the window when some are present in the folder you've currently
opened) and then left clicking on it.
What happens next depends on the settings of the two checkboxes, "Loop the Sound Effect" and "Play Asynchronously". If a checkbox has a check beside it, the feature is enabled - if it is blank, the feature is disabled. For example, if you select Looping then the wave you have chosen will play and when it's done it will start over. It will continue doing this until you select another wave file, press the Stop button, or deselect Looping and then press Play again.
With Asynchronous Play enabled, the sound will play and control of the program will immediately return to you - otherwise, the sound will continue to play and cannot be stopped (ie. if you've selected synchronous play). This is mostly a style preference and (I think) most people will choose to have wave files play asynchronously - so I've included Async Playing as the default setting.
You cannot select Looping and Synchronous play at once, since this means you will never be able to regain control of the program!
Playing Multiple Files
ConWave also lets you select multiple wave files to play one after another
through multiple-selection. When you click on a wave file in the list, you
can additionally select further wave files in one of two ways: 1) You can
hold down the CONTROL key and then click on extra wave files - those files
will be added to your play list. 2) You can hold down the SHIFT key and
click on another file - all the files between your first choice and this last
one will now be highlighted and added to your play list. When you've
selected all of the files you want played, just press the Play button to
begin.
One thing to take note of is that after your list of waves has finished playing, you should RIGHT click on your next selection - if you were to left click, that file will be added to your last play list and the whole list will play again! (Annoying, yes I know).
Another tip is that when you make selections, Windows adds the most recently selected file to the top of your Play List - what this means is that my program may seem to play your selections in reverse order. You can play them in the order you want by selecting them from the one you want played last, first down to the one you want played first, last. (*sigh* Annoying, yes I know).
Finally, the last thing to be aware of is that while a list of sounds are playing, you cannot press any buttons in the ConWave control area!! (*big sigh*). So keep in mind you should likely keep these lists restricted to smaller files unless you want your computer to sit around playing sounds until the Earth blows up. (Mind you, Windows itself doesn't lock up or anything - you can still do other stuff - it's just that ConWave won't accept commands).
I'm aware of the problems here and I wish I could have been able to solve them in order to produce a superior wave player (well, I still think it's pretty good!) However, I spent many hours working before I discovered a fundamental flaw in the earliest designs of ConWave which utterly prevents me from playing multiple-selection lists of wave files. What this means is that when I'm able, I'll be delivering a newer version of ConWave that relieves these problems - and heck, who knows? Maybe we'll see some stellar features added!!
Like always, if you've got suggestions or feedback, then gimme a shout!