Play Sound
Free
Play Sound overview
Play Sound is a simple, no-fuss sound player that supports QuickTime sound files (for example, AIFF or MP3 files), Classic Mac OS System 7 sound files (files with a file type of 'sfil' that contain 'snd ' resources), or any 'snd ' resources embedded into any file. You can play an unlimited number of sounds concurrently or one at a time. You can loop sounds, repeat sounds, play specified portions of sounds, control the volume of sounds played, pause and continue sound play, and press the Escape or Command-Period keys to abort sound play.
To use Play Sound as a simple sound file player, simply drag and drop the sound file(s) onto the Play Sound icon in the Mac OS Finder. Better yet, you can configure the Mac OS X Finder to automatically open sound files with Play Sound whenever you double-click them (see Using Play Sound As a Sound Player in the documentation for easy instructions showing how to do this).
Play Sound is fully scriptable, allowing AppleScript writers to use simple, easy-to-understand English syntax to play most QuickTime-supported sound files, Classic Mac OS System 7 sound files, and even 'snd ' resources that are embedded directly in script applets. To script Play Sound, you call it from any AppleScript script or application.
What’s new in version 1.6.7
Updated on Oct 27 2007
Version 1.6.7:
- Fixed a bug where Play Sound, on OS X 10.5, was not handling sound file paths sent as Unicode text strings
- Fixed a bug where Play Sound would return a "player status" of "quitting" if you sent a quit command, but sounds were still playing; now, Play Sound will return "playing" until all sounds are done playing, and then return "quitting" just before quit
Information
App requirements
- Intel 32
- PPC 32
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later
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User Ratings
Apr 30 2021
Version: 1.6.7
I too was disappointed when Play Sound did not make the transition to 64-bit. I even tried to offer my help in updating Play Sound to 64-bit, but was unable to get in touch with the author. Had to resort to writing my own app, unimaginatively named Play Sounds. Some of you might find it adequate for your needs; check it out at <https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/63375/play-sounds>.
Nov 15 2020
Version: 1.6.7
Does not work on MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 which is a bummer. :-(
Oct 9 2019
Version: 1.6.7
Can we get a scriptable, 64-bit version, notarized for Catalina? [or, any recommendations for another app?]
Sep 7 2013
Version: 1.6.7
perfect for my needs, i just love the fact of listening music and not waiting several minutes for the audio player to start..
Apr 16 2012
Version: 1.6.7
This is the serious useful, very convenient and very simple tool which thought very well and was made.
I thank to developer.
Could you please develop the version of Play Sound which compatible with10.7?
I am wishing it very strongly.
Nov 21 2008
Version: 1.6.7
Perfect for it's purpose but, the developer should realize that we are not busy playing system sounds 24 hours a day - it still uses about 10M of memory (though 0 CPU) when not being used. I hope the developer will add a small "drag onto" window and an icon in the dock when the application is running - then it will be, definitely, a five star application.
Nov 20 2008
Version: 1.6.7
There is no need for this faceless application to be running continuously in the background, as the developer suggests, as long as you have DragThing. The application will launch when you drop the first sound file onto its icon and will stay open for ever in the background. However, if you have DragThing you can drag the file onto its alias in the DragThing dock and then you can easily quit it in DragThing after you're done with it.
Dec 5 2007
Version: 1.6.7
Since installing Leopard, I'm having trouble using Play Sound in an AppleScript that's called in a Rule for Microsoft Entourage.
The error I receive is "doesn't understand the "
The script:
set cusrPath to (path to "cusr" as string)
set soundAlias to (cusrPath & "Documents:Microsoft User Data:Custom Sounds:Quack.aiff") as alias
tell application "Play Sound"
play (soundAlias as alias)
end tell
I'm also having trouble opening scripts in the Script Editor in Leopard. SE crashes when I try to open a script.
I rely on Play Sound and the ability it has given me to get custom notifications for email. What do I need to do to get it working again?
Jul 30 2007
Version: 1.6.6
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the kind words and suggestions.
Play Sound uses 0.00% CPU and about 1.0 MB of RAM while idle in the background. Therefore leaving Play Sound running in the background when sounds are finished playing is not a big deal. In fact, it's actually less work for the system to leave it running than it would be to launch and quit Play Sound each time you play a sound.
My goal with Play Sound is to offer Mac users a quick, transparent way to play sound files. Unfortunately, adding a user interface to Play Sound would slow startup times even more, making running and quitting it take even longer.
With that said, I do appreciate your input. I've noted your request, and will consider it for future updates. Or perhaps at some point in the future I'll find time to write a companion application with a user interface for those who want such a thing.
Jun 25 2007
Version: 1.6.5
Play Sound does play sounds with a minimum of effort.
And, re stopping it, both Esc and Command-period are kind of mac-universal stop commands always worth a try in any application to stop a process.
And I second the request for a minimal GUI. Something that shows sound being played, pause/play, stop and Quit would be great.
In current form, it is a 'faceless' application that must be controlled by Applescript commands, and either quit by same, or quit using some form of process viewer or Activity monitor. Less than ideal for those of us who don't want stuff running in the background, and don't want to assign all wave or audio files to be controlled by Play Sound.
Otherwise, it does seem to play sounds well.
Mar 8 2006
Version: 1.6.3
I couldn't find a way of stopping a large soundfile from playing. Some kind of minimalistic gui would be appreciated.
May 29 2005
Version: 1.6
I can't download this app.
When clicking the DL link on MU site, first I wait about a minute, then 920 KB download starts with speed of 0,6 KB per second.
Having a broadband connection sometimes doesn't mean high speeds.
Dec 27 2004
Version: 1.5.2
Simple & Plain if your'e working with samples!!!! Extra Great Thank You!!
Sep 27 2004
Version: 1.4.3
Using 1.4.2 with OS X 10.3.5 -- I *love* this little utility...but it doesn't seem to play nice with Unsanity's "Detour" haxie. Not sure whose fault it is, but sound re-routing gets all loused up when the two of them are running.
Sep 24 2004
Version: 1.4.2
Finally, finally... that lost feature in OsX. Works perfectly, absolutely non-intrusive, nothing to think or worry about. This app. does rock.
Jun 10 2004
Version: 1.2.1
I like it! Does everything I need it to do. I keep thinking, "oh but if it did this, or this, or this," but you know, what it does it does well and it's almost like having one of those convenient features of OS 9 back that we lost in OS X: Just the ability to double-click on a snd file to play it.
Don't you miss that?
You don't have to anymore, not with this little gem.
Thanks, author! *muwah!*
Free
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