OpenSoundboard plays sound files when the user presses hotkeys. Files and hotkeys can be freely assigned. This project was inspired by "GIGA F-Tasten" that only supported 34 keys without modifiers and was therefore interfering with normal programs´ shortcuts.
You will need the Java 7 Runtime Environment (JRE) and the JavaFX Runtime. The latter should be bundled with the first, but this wasn´t the case for the Java 7u2 release. So, if OpenSoundboard is complaining about not being able to load JavaFX simply download and install it.
When you first start OpenSoundboard, it creates a file named "mapping.properties" in it´s application data folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\OpenSoundboard (Win XP)C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\OpenSoundboard (Windows Vista, etc.)OpenSoundboard will automatically reload the file if it has changed. You can also reload it by using the appropriate entry from the tray icon´s context menu.
You have to open the mapping file in a text editor and configure mappings from a shortcut to a filename. You can do this from the tray icon´s context menu. When specifying a hotkey use "+" as a separator, e.g. "Ctrl+Alt+S". The file contains some example mappings. For more detailed information on the available hotkeys please have a look at the code in function getKey2KeycodeMapping() from JIntellitype. If you specify a hotkey multiple times, only the last one will be used. As the Java VM uses the system´s encoding, make sure to save the file with that encoding. It won´t work when the file has UTF-8 encoding, but your OS doesn´t.
You can also specify special functions by using the following (including the asterisk) as a mapping:
*StopAll: stops all sounds currently being played*OpenMapping: opens the mapping file*ReloadMapping: reloads the mapping file*ExitProgram: closes the program*EnableDisableHotkeys: enables or disables the hotkeysThe configuration file "OpenSoundboard.properties" offers the possibility to override the default values. It is created at startup in the application data folder if it doesn´t exist and filled with some example data. Most of the options that can be set via command line options can also be set via the config file. See the config file itself for details.
You can use command line options to override the values from the config file or the default values.
-h, --hideicon: Hide the system tray icon-s, --showicon: Show the system tray icon-m <filename>, --mapping=<filename>: The mapping file to use-c <filename>, --config=<filename>: The config file to use-i <filename>, --icon=<filename>: The icon file to use (GIF, JPEG or PNG)-l <language>, --language=<language>: The language to use (ISO 639)-v <volume level>, --volume=<volume level>: The volume to use specified from 0.0 (muted) to 1.0 (full volume)With a 64-bit JVM if the mapping file´s extension is not already associated to a program, it´s not possible to open the mapping file from the context menu. This is due to a 64-bit version of JDIC not being available.
Some hotkey combinations don´t work as they are reserved by Windows (see Microsoft Knowledgebase). Some common hotkeys known not to work are:
F12Win+F1Ctrl+Alt+DeleteWin+D (Desktop), Win+E (Explorer), Win+F (Find), Win+L (Lock), Win+R (Run), Win+U (Utility-Manager)OpenSoundboard supports the audio formats that are supported by JavaFX, i.d. MP3 and WAV.
You can find some sound files at:
You could also play videos from e.g. YouTube and use Audacity to record and edit sounds.
Your feedback on OpenSoundboard is very welcome. In case you want to submit a bug report or request a new feature please create a ticket. There is also a forum.