11. Spicing Things Up with Sounds

Many different types of applications, especially computer games, rely on sound as a means of conveying meaning and excitement. Through the addition of background music and sound effects, applications can really come alive, providing users with a deeper and more meaningful experience. In Scratch, sound effects and music are integrated into applications using sound blocks. This chapter will teach you how to work with all of Scratch’s sound blocks and demonstrate how to incorporate audio files, drum notes, and musical notes into your applications. On top of all this, you will learn how to create a new application called the Family Picture Movie, which demonstrates how to create a slideshow complete with accompanying background music.

The major topics covered in this chapter include learning how to

• Control the playback of audio files

• Play drum beats and pause drum play

• Set and control the volume at which audio files, notes, and musical instruments are played

• Set and change the tempo of drum and note play