I want to develop a VB6 app that can play a .wav file through the
computer's built-in sound system. The files it plays will not be music
- they will be pre-recorded voice messages.

I downloaded and tested the ShellExecute program from Randy Birch's
site. It plays the .wav file alright but it invokes Windows Media
Player to do the actual playing. I would like to have the file play
without anything visible happening on the screen. IOW, I would like to
be able to click on a button and have the sound file play.

Is there any way this can be done?

Also, is it possible that I could provide the ability to CREATE the
sound files from within my VB program?

Thanks.

How can I play a .wav file from my VB6 app?

I want to develop a VB6 app that can play a .wav file through the
computer's built-in sound system. The files it plays will not be music
- they will be pre-recorded voice messages.

I downloaded and tested the ShellExecute program from Randy Birch's
site. It plays the .wav file alright but it invokes Windows Media
Player to do the actual playing. I would like to have the file play
without anything visible happening on the screen. IOW, I would like to
be able to click on a button and have the sound file play.

Is there any way this can be done?

Also, is it possible that I could provide the ability to CREATE the
sound files from within my VB program?

There are several methods you can use to play a .wav file. One is to use the sndPlaySound API
function call:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/86281

With respect to creating the sound file you probably need to provide a little more info as to how
you plan to generate these files.

Paul
~~~~
Microsoft MVP (Visual Basic)

Yes you can do both; however, I have found that sndPlaySound is not very
reliable especially on Vista.  Sometimes nothing happens, sometimes if
sounds like a needle being dragged over a record and most times it works.
Anyone know a better method?

As far as recording, you can use the PC microphone to record mono or stereo.
See planet source code vb for examples.
http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb/default.asp?lngWId=1

Search for Audio Record
Search for Play Wave

Question?  Has anyone figured out the alternatives to DirectX with VB6 in
Vista?

LFS

The sndPlaySound API seems to do what I want (at least on my WinXPPro
development machine).

http://www.vb-helper.com/howto_play_mp3.html

Works with MP3s and WAVs, at least the ones I tested :-) Functionality
is integrated, i.e. does not open any external player. HTH Regards Saga

Option Explicit
Private player1 As Object

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Set player1 = New FilgraphManager
player1.RenderFile "c:\temp\orbison.mp3"
player1.Run
End Sub

Mike

This app will be used in an industrial situation. It will, in effect,
be giving a voice to a machine. When the machine encounters an error
condition or if an operator's attention is needed, it will send a code
number to this app which will, in turn, play the selected,
pre-recorded message out to a loud speaker.