wav files that don't play

I have a presentation concerning human hearing that involves playing many
short .wav files.

After playing 5 or 6 sounds, PowerPoint fails to respond when clicking on
the loudspeaker icon. If I try to play the wav files while editing the
presentation, I get the message:

'All wave devices that can play files in the current format are in use.
Wait until a wave device is free, and then try again'

Later (much later) the sound can be played, suggesting that the message is
telling the truth. Unfortunately the delay is too slow to allow the lecture
to continue.

Is there anything I can do?

I have restarted my computer and can confirm that the same effect is seen
when PowerPoint is the only application.

Ray Meddis, Uni Essex, UK

Ray,

My guess...and it's purely a guess.

Powerpoint (or the system) is saying the device that plays your sounds is busy.

Could it be that one (or more) of you wav sound files contain "silence" at the end of the sound file.

So if you play sound (A)....it plays, but contains 3 seconds of silence at the end.
You go to play sound (B)...the computer reports back...sorry I'm busy still playing the last sound.

Try loading your waves into a sound editor...like www.audacity.net?

The ability to play 2 sounds at the same time, appears to be down to certain graphics cards and their drivers.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

I have a presentation concerning human hearing that involves playing many short .wav files.

After playing 5 or 6 sounds, PowerPoint fails to respond when clicking on the loudspeaker icon. If I try to play the
wav files while editing the presentation, I get the message:

'All wave devices that can play files in the current format are in use. Wait until a wave device is free, and then try
again'

Later (much later) the sound can be played, suggesting that the message is telling the truth. Unfortunately the delay
is too slow to allow the lecture to continue.

Is there anything I can do?

I have restarted my computer and can confirm that the same effect is seen when PowerPoint is the only application.

Ray Meddis, Uni Essex, UK