Product icon Help book icon Video Mill : User's Guide

Adhoc Audio

About Adhoc Audio

Adhoc Audio provides a quick and simple utility to play frequently used sound effects (ex. buzzers, chimes, canned applause etc.) or common announcements or theme music -- Really any audio files that you commonly use. It has only basic playback controls play/stop/pause/resume via the Adhoc Audio toolbar (Figure 1). If you need more advanced control over the audio, it is best to create a Media Item for the audio. Adhoc Audio file names are not saved as Media Items. They are saved with the Program Options and so are available regardless of which Media List is currently loaded. Adhoc Audio is played on the Default Playback Device selected in the Windows Control Panel > Sound applet. Most common audio formats are supported (mp3, wav, etc) as well as a some video formats. Only the audio portion of a video file is played.

Adhoc Audio toolbar

The only way to control Adhoc Audio is with the Adhoc Audio toolbar. The Play Controls panel buttons do NOT affect Adhoc Audio playback.


Toolbar buttons
  • Play Adhoc Audio - Starts the audio playback from the beginning position of the audio (position 0:00). This is a pull-down menu that allows selection of the audio to play. If another Adhoc Audio file is currently playing, it is stopped. This will not play two audio files simultaneously.
  • Stop Audio
  • Pause Audio - Pauses playback.
  • Resume Audio - Resumes from the paused playback position.
  • Audio Status - Shows a message on the status bar with: current playing file name; volume; and playback position / full audio duration.
    Example Status message: "Adhoc Audio: Sea Of Tears.mp3; Volume=100%; Position :16 / 02:43"
  • Manage Adhoc Audio - Provides management functions: Add, Delete, Edit, Reposition in the list of Adhoc Audio files.
  • Set Audio Position - Sets the audio time position for playback. You are prompted to enter the new position.
    • If the audio is playing, playback jumps to the new time.
    • If the audio is stopped, you can set the position then click the Resume button to make playback begin at the new time.
    • If the new time is past the end of the audio, the audio will stop.
  • Mute Audio Toggle - Toggles the Adhoc Audio volume between Mute and Un-Muted.
  • Audio Volume Change - Pops up a dialog to change the Adhoc Audio volume (Figure 2).

Adhoc Audio toolbar
  • Buttons (Figure 1, from left to right): Play Adhoc Audio, Stop Audio, Pause Audio, Resume Audio, Audio Status, Manage Adhoc Audio, Set Audio Position, Mute Audio Toggle, Audio Volume Change
Figure 1. Adhoc Audio toolbar
Figure 1. Adhoc Audio toolbar

About Adhoc Audio Volume

Volume is a percent of the Windows Master Volume. Adhoc Audio Volume adjustments are controlled ONLY via the Adhoc Audio toolbar buttons. The Volume Slider panel does NOT affect Adhoc Audio volume. In Figure 2, the black double arrow buttons bump the volume 10% with each click.

Figure 2. Adhoc Audio Volume
Figure 2. Adhoc Audio Volume