Download the MooSB Sound Pack SDK (revision 1.0)
(If you know nothing about programming, try out MooSB Sound Packer instead!)

Background
Beginning with version 2.0, MooSB has implemented a plugin architecture that allows individuals to create their own Sound Packs. Additionally, the latest version of MooSB has a built in Sound Pack locator that allows users to see what Sound Packs are available (that they have not installed yet).

What is entailed?
You need to be familiar with objective-c, as well as the Cocoa APIs. A plugin is a Cocoa bundle whose NSPrincipalClass conforms to a specific protocol (currently SoundPackProtocol100). The creation of a Sound Pack is rather easy, and even someone with very limited programming experience should be able to create one (or more, hopefully). You must have Apple's Mac OS X Developer Tools installed, to create Sound Packs.

The SDK
The MooSB Sound Pack SDK includes the complete source to the Standard Sound Pack (which is included with MooSB). You should be able to simply modify this example, but creating your own project from scratch is okay, of course.

What is a Sound Pack, really?
Inside a Sound Pack, in Contents/Resources/, are the sound files that will be played by MooSB. The Sound Pack architecture was designed to prevent a compiled Sound Pack from being altered. Therefore, all audio files must be checksummed. At load time, MooSB compares the expected checksum with the actual checksum, and loads the Sound Pack accordingly.

Getting started
At this point, you should haved downloaded the SDK and taken a look at it. Try to follow the example that is given. I will list some key points below.

- Audio files must be sound which NSSound can play. NSSound supports 16-bit, mono and stereo, 44.1KHz and 22.05KHz data.Sounds must be in .aif or .wav format.
- Make sure your NSPrincipalClass implements the SoundPackProtocol!
- Each time you modify your audio files, their checksum will change. So get them squared away before coding.
- Please adjust the volume of your audio files, so that they are approximately the same volume as other MooSB sounds
- Audio files are intended to be quite short. There is no enforced limit on sound length. But its an important consideration. For example, the Mac OS will wait a maximum of 15 seconds between when a user selects sleep, and sleep occurs. If your audio file is too long, it will be cut short in mid playback
- Keep file sizes small. 22.05KHz mono playback is usually adequate.These are just alert sounds. Larger sounds occupy more memory, take longer to load, and will make MooSB less responsive.
- Make your Sound Pack names unique! MooSB will not load two Sound Packs with the same name.
- Make your NSPrincipleClass unique! MooSB will not load two Sound Packs that are of the same class.
- Make sure you correctly populate the Info.plist of your Sound Pack

Finally, join the moosb-dev mailing list. Do so by sending email to majordomo@nimatoad.com. In the body of the email, include the text subscribe moosb-dev. You can unsubscribe by sending 'unsubscribe moosb-dev' to the same address. All messages to the list must be sent to moosb-dev@nimatoad.com.

If you are looking for a good source of sounds for your Sound Pack, I recommend Soundrangers.They have many sounds, and all of them are reasonably priced.

How do I get added to the built-in Sound Pack locator?
There are two types of listings in the built-in locator. The built-in locator will indicate what type of listing a Sound Pack is, allowing the user to make an informed download decision.

Verified Sound Packs
These Sound Packs are stored on our server. In order for your Sound Pack to be verified, you must submit the source to us for review. We will compile a copy of your Sound Pack ourselves and host it free of charge, if we deem your Sound Pack to be of a reasonable quality. Users can thus be assured that they are getting Sound Packs that are not trojaned, and are of reasonable quality. We will not release your source to anyone, and you will retain all rights. Also note that NO copyrighted or unlicensed sources of ANY kind will be accepted for verification.

Unverified Sound Packs
These Sound Packs are stored on your server. We request that you submit source to us for review. If the Sound Pack is of reasonable quality, we will list it. It will be presented to the user as an unverified listing.

About MooSB
View other software created by Nimatoad
Please email software@nimatoad.com with any general questions or comments. Contact the moosb-dev list with specific questions.