Sound Blocks
You can use this block to play a sound file or a single tone. To compose a melody of tones, arrange
several sound blocks in a row with each set to play different tones.
If you select “Wait for completion” in the configuration panel, the sound file or tone will finish playing before the program moves on to the next block.
With this item unchecked, the sound file or tone will continue to play while the next block of your program proceeds.
Choosing “Repeat” will cause a sound file to play again and again.
1. This icon shows whether the block will play a sound file or a tone.
2. This icon shows whether the block will start or stop playing a sound.
3. This icon shows the block’s volume. An icon with four orange bars is set to the loudest volume.
4. You can drag data wires from other blocks to this block’s data hub that will affect the Lamp block’s properties.
Configuring the Sound Block
1. The Action property radio buttons let you choose to play a sound file or a tone that you’ll compose.
2. Choose to play or stop playing a sound file or tone.
3. Set the volume using the slider. Use the text field to type in an exact value.
If you choose to play a sound file (as in the first configuration panel above), you’ll be able to set the following additional properties:
4. The Function property will let you set the sound file to repeat so that it plays again and again without stopping.
The “Wait for completion” option will be grayed out and no longer available.
5. The File property will let you choose the sound file by its name. You’ll see an alphabetical list of available sounds.
These are stored in the Sound Files folder of the LEGO MINDSTORMS software on your hard drive.
Click on each name to hear it played.
6. If you check the “Wait for Completion” checkbox, the sound file will play to its end before allowing the program to move on the next block.
With the box unchecked, the sound file will play while the next block in the program proceeds. If the next block is another Sound block,
the first Sound file will stop automatically and the new Sound file will play.
If you choose to play a tone (as in the second configuration panel above), you’ll be able to set the following additional properties:
4. The Node property will allow you to compose a tone to play when the Sound block is activated. The small keyboard represents three
octaves of the musical scale. The text field above the keyboard will display the note that is either pressed on this keyboard with your
mouse or typed in using your computer’s keyboard. The input box next to the stopwatch is for specifying the duration of the note in 1/10s
of a second.
5. If you check the “Wait for Completion” checkbox, your tone will play to its end before allowing your program to move on the next block in
your program. With the box unchecked, your tone will play while the next block of your program proceeds.