How To Play Sound Files In Flash Using ActionScript 3.0

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In this article, I will cover the process of playing sound files using ActionScript 3.0 within Adobe's popular multimedia platform: Flash.

Step One - Import The External Library

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Firstly, you'll need to import the external library 'flash.media' into your project. To do so:

1) Open up Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) Go to File > ActionScript Setup...

3) Ensure that 'Use Beta Features' is checked at the bottom of this dialog box

4) Click on 'External Libraries'

5) Search for 'flash.media'

6) Double-click on the result

Step Two - Import The Sound File

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Now you'll need to import your sound file into Flash. To do so:

1) Go back to your main workspace in Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) Click on 'File' > 'Import...' at the top of this dialog box

3) Select 'Export to Library' from the drop-down menu and click 'OK'

4) Browse for your sound file (.mp3, .wav etc.)

5) Double-click on the result

Step Three - Create A New Instance Of The Sound Object

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Now that you have imported both your external library and sound file into Flash CS5 (or later version), it's time to create a new instance of the `Sound` object. To do so:

1) Go back to your main workspace in Flash CSNAutopilot 3.0

Step Four - Use The Sound Object's Play() Method

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Now that you have created an instance of the `Sound` object, it is time to use its play method to actually make some noise! To do so:

1) Double-click on your newly imported sound file in Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) This should automatically create a new movie clip called 'Instance 1' containing all necessary code for playing the sound

3) Right click anywhere within this movie clip and select 'Insert > Action' from the context menu

Step Five - Add The Following Code Inside The Newly Created Movie Clip's (Or Symbol's) Timeline Using ActionScript 2.0

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```actionscript

import flash.media.*;

var mySound:Sound = new Sound();

mySound.loadURL('path_to_your_sound_file_here', null);

trace(mySound);

function onReady():void {

trace('The sound is now ready to play');

}

addEventListener(Event.REQUIRED, onRequiredHandler);

function onRequireementalChange(event:Event):void {

trace('An event has occurred: ' + event.type);

}

function onPlayCompleteEvent(e:Event):Void

{

trace('Sound played through flash');

}

var myChannel:URLRequest = new URLRequest('/path/to/your/sound/file.mp3?_dc=1464347890&_=14744012345678');

mySound.addEventListener(Event.REQUIRED, onReady);

// Play the sound

mySound.play();

function onRequiredHandler(event:Event):void {

trace('The required event has been dispatched');

}

```

Step Six - Add The Following Code Inside The Movie Clip's (Or Symbol's) Timeline Using ActionScript 3.0

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```actionscript

import flash.media.*;

var mySound:Sound = new Sound();

mySound.load URLRequest('path_to_your_sound_file_here'), null, false, 0x00000000;

trace(mySound);

// Add an event listener for the sound's 'complete' event.

// When this is triggered it means that all frames in your SWF have been played through Flash

mySound.addEventListener(SoundEvent.SOUND_COMPLETE, onSoundComplete);

}

* This function will be called when a movie has finished playing back.

public function onSoundComplete(e:flash.events.Event):void {

trace('The sound is now done playing');

}

private var _soundClip: Sound;

public function get sound():Object { return _soundClip; }

```

Step Seven - Add A Simple Button To Play The Sound

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Finally, you'll need to add a simple button that will play your sound when clicked. To do so:

1) Click on 'Window' > 'Library' at the top of Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) Right click within this panel and select 'New Symbol...' from the context menu

3) Select 'Movie Clip' as the type for this new symbol, give it a name such as `playSoundButton` and double-click OK

Step Eight - Add The Following ActionScript Inside Your New MovieClip's (Or Symbol's) Timeline Using ActionPress Shift+Enter To Run This Code In Flash CS5

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```actionscript

import flash.events.*;

public class playSound extends Sprite {

public function playSound() {

// You can add your own initialization code here if needed.

var soundClip: Sound = new Sound();

addChild(soundClip);

soundClip.addEventListener(Event.REQUIRED, onRequiredHandler);

var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest('path_to_your_sound_file_here.mp3?_dc=1464347890&_=14744012345678');

soundClip.load(req);

}

```

Step Nine - Add An Event Listener To Your Sound Object's 'complete' Event

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To play your sound when the button is clicked, you'll need to add an event listener for its `SoundEvent.SOUND_COMPLETE` event. To do so:

1) Double-click on any empty area within this new movie clip symbol in Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) Inside the newly created frame of this timeline, type out the following code and press Enter:

```actionscript

soundClip.addEventListener(SoundEvent.SOUND_complete, playSound);

```

Step Ten - Add The Following ActionScript To Play Your Sound When The Button Is Clicked

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Finally, you'll need to add a single line of ActionScript inside your button's click event handler to actually play the sound. To do so:

1) Double-click on any empty area within this new movie clip symbol in Flash CS5 (or later version)

2) Inside the newly created frame of this timeline, type out the following code and press Enter:

```actionscript

trace('The button has been clicked');

soundClip.play();

```

Step Eleven - Test Your Project In Flash's Debugging Environment Before Exporting It To SWF Format

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To test your project in Flash CS5 (or later version), simply click on the 'Ctrl+Enter' keys or select 'Run > Run Movie...' from the top menu bar. If everything has been set up correctly, you should now see a small play button appear at the bottom left corner of this new window.

Step Twelve - Export Your SWF File To Test It In Any Web Browser

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Finally, once your project is working as expected in Flash CS5's (or later version) Debugging Environment, it's time to export it into an SWF file that can be played back by anyone with Adobe Flash Player installed on their computer or mobile device. To do so:

1) Save all changes made since the last save

2) Go to File > Publish Settings... from within Flash CS5 (or later version)

3. In this new dialog box, ensure that 'SWF' is selected under 'Publish' in the left-hand navigation panel.

4. Click on the Browse button next to where it says 'Root Directory'

5. Choose a location for your published SWF file

6. Make sure both checkboxes are checked under the 'Flash (and later)' and 'Macromedia Flash Player 9.x compatible' options near the bottom of this dialog box.

7. Click on Publish

Step Thirteen - Test Your Published SWC File In Any Web Browser To Play Back The Sound

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Once your project has been successfully published as an SWF file, you can now test it in any web browser that supports Flash Player 9.x or later versions (such as Internet Explorer 8.0+ and above). Simply double-click on the newly created `yourfile.swf` file within Windows Vista/7 or right click anywhere within this same folder and select 'Open With' > Adobe Flash Player from the context menu.

Step Fourteen - Troubleshooting Common Issues

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If you encounter any issues while following these instructions, please refer to Adobe's official ActionScript 3.0 documentation for further assistance: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flash/actionscript/index.html?main=actionscript_3_overview.htm

Flash actionscript 3.0 play sound