How to Create Personalized Sounds on Your Computer

"What the heck was that?"
"Oh, sorry. I just got an email."

This is a common problem. I forget to turn down my computer's speakers during a conference call. Whenever I get a new email my computer can be heard saying, "Supercompter!" This is not a digitized voice but rather the voice of my oldest son.

This can be a fun way to show your kids a little bit more about computers. Not only that but it can make your computer even more personalized.

As most moderately computer savvy people know, a computer's desktop can be personalized visually in many ways. On a Windows XP system, virtually any picture found on the internet can be right-clicked on and made the background picture on a desktop. Right click the computer desk top and the visual settings can be further customized in the properties settings. But the computer's sounds can also be customized.

Whenever the computer starts up and you hear the sound of Windows XP opening know that sound can be any sound you want it to be. Make an error? Any sound notification you want can be played. Get a new email? The computer can make any sound you like to notify you. Why not personalize this too?

I had a lot of fun putting the voices of my kids on the computer. To get a sound clip (usually a wav file) of your kids' voice you'll need a few inexpensive items.

1. A microphone. I went to the GoodWill computer store and found a microphone still in the original package, for $3.
2. Computer sound recording software. Use any kind you like. I used a freeware program called pocket voice recorder.
3. Willing children.

I set the microphone up and started the voice recorder. You can either have your kids say something specific ("Say, 'BEEP!'") or let them roll with it (my youngest sang, "Amazing Grace"). Once you have the clip you want, stop the recording. Then tell pocket voice recorder to save it wherever you want (I created a "Sounds" folder under "My Documents") as a wav file.

Now it's time to set the computer sound as you like. In Windows XP go to Start>Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices.

Once this is open, click on the "Sounds" tab. This is a list of all the sounds your computer makes. Pick an event you want at the bottom. Once selected this shows what the sound clip is and even gives you the option to play the sound by clicking a little play-arrow button. Click browse to search for the sound that you want to be heard for this event.

Now find the sound clip you saved. Click on it and select it, OK. Click OK for your new sound event(s) then close it out.

By the way, this can be done for any sound that can be found on the internet or is otherwise on your computer. Want to hear "the singing bush" from The Three Amigos movie when you start Windows? What about the "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" when your system shuts down? Any sound you want you can put on your computer.

Sight and sound is now customized on your computer. It is now truly your personal computer set to your unique specifications. Enjoy!