Table Of Contents
- About SoundTimer
- System Requirements
- Using SoundTimer
- Frequently Asked Questions
SoundTimer is simple and flexible task scheduling utility. It has many advantages over the standard Windows Task Scheduler, summarized below.
| SoundTimer |
Windows Task Scheduler |
| Can execute tasks every few seconds, minutes, hours, or days |
Maximum scheduling frequency is "daily" |
| Can open, execute, print, queue, or perform other actions on documents or programs |
Can only perform open / execute action |
| Can easily suspend and resume individual queued tasks |
No suspend or resume function |
| Internal sound player, with pre-emptive priority system |
No direct sound support |
SoundTimer is also a unique and innovative sound effect player. With its priority-based queueing functions, SoundTimer can be used to simulate cyclical or randomly occurring background noise.
To run SoundTimer, you will need:
- An IBM-PC or compatible computer, running Windows 95/98/ME/XP/NT/2000/XP;
- DirectX (this is pre-installed on most Windows PCs).
For full sound functionality, a sound card and speakers (or headphones) are also recommended.
To schedule a file activity:
- Drag and drop the file onto the SoundTimer program window.
- SoundTimer features internal support for the .WAV sound file format. If you have dropped a .WAV file onto SoundTimer, the Volume and Priority options will be enabled. Otherwise, skip to step 4.
- Select the desired playback volume and sound priority. When 2 or more sounds are queued to play at overlapping intervals, lower priority sounds will be pre-empted (silenced) by higher priority sounds. Sounds of equal priority may play concurrently.
- A list of possible file actions will be presented (e.g. Open, Print, etc.). Select the desired action.
- Enter a frequency for the desired action. The Randomize feature will change the action frequency after each action, to a new frequency between the specified minimum and maximum values.
- Click the Play button to perform the action once, or click the Add button to add the file to the queue.
To pause, resume, or remove an individual file, or change a sound's volume or priority, right-click on the file in the list.
Minimize to Tray and Always on Top settings may be changed from the system menu. Click on the SoundTimer icon in the top-left corner of the program to access this menu.
Lists of queued files (named with extension .st1) can be loaded from or saved to disk. Double-click on a SoundTimer queue file to open it immediately. You may also copy a queue file, or a shortcut to a queue file, into your Windows Startup folder.
The /min command-line option will cause SoundTimer to minimize itself on startup. When SoundTimer is minimized to the tray, the window may be restored with by double-clicking on the icon.
- What are the differences between demo and registered versions of SoundTimer?
The Save Queue feature is enabled in the registered version only. In other respects, the demo and registered versions are identical.
To register your copy of SoundTimer online, please visit the Sparkleware website at http://www.sparkleware.com.
- How can I determine whether I have DirectX installed on my computer?
DirectX is included in all versions of Windows, except for some earlier versions of Windows 95. To use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to determine the version of DirectX that is installed on your computer:
- Click Start, point to Find (or Search), and then click Files or Folders.
- In the Named box, type dxdiag.exe, and then click Find Now.
- In the list of found files, double-click the Dxdiag.exe file.
- On the System tab, note the version of DirectX displayed on the DirectX Version line.
- To check the version information for each DirectX file, click the DirectX Files tab.
- When you are finished checking file versions, click Exit.
If the Dxdiag.exe file is not listed in the list of found files, DirectX version 3.0 or earlier is installed on your computer. If this is the case, Microsoft recommends that you download and install the current version of DirectX.
- Where can I download the latest version of DirectX, at no charge?
Click here to visit the Microsoft DirectX home page.
- Where can I download some sound effects to use with SoundTimer?
You can also create your own sound effects (with Windows Sound Recorder or other software) for use with SoundTimer.
- Can I use MP3 files with SoundTimer?
Yes. SoundTimer can queue and/or play MP3 files via a helper application. One such free application is WinAmp. Volume and priority controls are not available within SoundTimer for MP3 files.
To use SoundTimer's priority controls with MP3 sound files, they must first be converted to PCM WAVE format. There are many free utilities to assist with sound format conversion, such as WinAmp and Windows Sound Recorder.
- What WAVE (.WAV) formats does SoundTimer support internally?
- PCM 8,000 Hz, 8 or 16 Bit, Mono or Stereo
- PCM 11,025 Hz, 8 or 16 Bit, Mono or Stereo
- PCM 22,050 Hz, 8 or 16 Bit, Mono or Stereo
- PCM 44,100 Hz, 8 or 16 Bit, Mono or Stereo
To convert other WAVE sound files into these formats, or to view the format of a particular WAVE file, use Windows Sound Recorder.
- Can SoundTimer perform complex, multiple-step tasks at a specified interval?
Yes. We recommend you write a MS-DOS batch file to perform the required task, and use SoundTimer's Open action on this batch file.
- How accurate is SoundTimer?
SoundTimer is typically accurate to within 1 second.
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