Instant Sound Hack Example

[saha]

Here is a one page flipchart that instantly plays a sound as an intro to a learning unit.
This hack was first mentioned by Scott here on Planet.
Thanks Scott.
Finally a hack that is useful in the classroom.

Please see attached.

[cwallace]

Too cool! I have got to figure out a way to use this idea in Math.

Cindy

[JanP]

I like that idea!

Janice

[atruger]

I can't seem to get it to work. I am on a Mac does that matter? :(

~Anne T

[gpatrenos]

I too can't get it to work.:( I'm also on a Mac.

[swvalley]

I too can't get it to work.:( I'm also on a Mac.

Don't know if it's true for Mac, but I was not able to open this flipchart by double clicking on the flie.

You have to have Activstudio open, then you can File/Flipchart/Open From/ etc...



It's very cool... the question is HOW did you do it??

[atruger]

I can open the file and see their is an action object but there is no sound :(

~Anne T

[htemske]

It works fine for me (I'm on a PC)

I'm not sure how to recreate it (with the sound starting automatically) but I can hear it. :)

[saha]

Hi Sean and everyone who wants to know how this hack was done:

(1) Insert a flash or video file ( any junk file will do) as a place holder in the flicphart.
(2)Make sure you check the box "play automatically"
(3) Disable actions and then edit this placeholder
(4) Select action "play sound".
(5) The go and make the transparency of the placeholder to 100% ( this makes the video/flash file invisible)

Now activate actions on that page and reload the page.
This will play the file automatically as soon as the page is launched.

[scaulfield]

Gautam,
Thanks for posting the directions. This is a great hack. I hope that automatic sound is in 4.0, or that this hack is still available.

I opened this flipchart on a Mac also, and the gif didn't start, thus no sound. It might be a hack that only works on the PC side. :(

[sharkinthecharco]

I've tried to do this and it works. But how could I play the sound automatically from a mp3 or any other sound file?
Thanks for your help.

[mrjdallen]

Thats simple when you know how - thanks for the tip - that could really engage the students.

Just have to find websites or programs that convert text into speach or even better still in a celeb voice would be excellent
Any body with any ideas?

[saha]

You can use text to speech without the need of using any software using the following link:

http://public.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

The output can be downloaded as .wav files.
There are several free apps that can convert .wav to .mp3

[LisaD]

That is too much fun. My daughter thinks I am crazy because I have tried all of the accents and am laughing out loud!

Lisa

[saha]

Hi Lisa,
Same here :):) My son will have his speaker volume up and instead of speaking he will use text to speech:):)

[LisaD]

Whoa! If you type in French and choose a French speaker, it really sounds like a French person. I think this would be "trop cool" for teaching foreign language!!!!

[clap][clap][clap]

Lisa

[angiemccp]

This is just what I have wanted - however, whenever I make my gif (junkfile) invisible by going into appearance and deselecting the "visible" box to make it invisible, then it wont play. Tried it with the gif visible and it plays. What gives?:confused: Using PC.

[saha]

are you trying to do this with V3 or Inspire?

I have not tried with Inspire, it was for V3 only.

Instead of making the junk file invisible, try to make it invisible by turning up the transparency to 100%

[saha]

This is just what I have wanted - however, whenever I make my gif (junkfile) invisible by going into appearance and deselecting the "visible" box to make it invisible, then it wont play. Tried it with the gif visible and it plays. What gives?:confused: Using PC.


Hi angiemccp,

This instant sound hack does work with Inspire also.

Please see attached.

In Inspire, there seems to be a transparency function but I am not very proficient with it.

What I had to do was to move the dummy file into the "back layer".
Then I moved this under another object. This essentially hides the object.
As you have found before, if you really "hide" the object then you wont hear the instant sound, but if you essentially hide it by putting in a back layer then it all works.

Please see attached version on Inspire.

[mrsb]

Gautam,

You never cease to amaze/impress me with your bright ideas! I think that the students in your classes must REALLY love school because you always come up with such innovative ways to encourage and motivate learners. I'm still trying to figure out how to do this, but making progress. Thanks for sharing on the Planet, as always, and for being so gracious about the questions that members have. Our profession needs more willing, energetic, and creative collaborators like you. [clap][clap][clap]