C# console: Can you locate a .wav file in the same folder as the project

Question

Can you find a .wav file in the 'Debug' folder of the console project?

- What I need to happen -

I am trying to play a looping .wav file in my game (it is a Console project, NOT Forms), and I need to find the .wav file even when the code runs on any computer. For example, if I put my game on a USB and run it on a different computer, the code needs to locate the .wav file in the project folder.

- The problem -

At the moment my code looks like this:

static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var soundPlayer = new System.Media.SoundPlayer();
        soundPlayer.SoundLocation = @"C:\ProjectFolder\song.wav";
        soundPlayer.PlayLooping();
    }

This does play my .wav file but if I take it to another computer, it tries to find the .wav file on my HDD, not on the new computers HDD/ SSD.

- What I have tried -

I have looked and every answer I have found doesn't work. This is one answer that is supposed to work but doesn't:

static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var soundPlayer = new System.Windows.Media.MediaPlayer();
        soundPlayer.Open(new Uri(Application.StartupPath + @"\ProjectFolder\song.wav"));
        soundPlayer.PlayLooping();
    }

In the Visual Studio editor, 'Media' on line 1 is underlined red and so is 'Application' on line 2.

- HELP! -

I hope this is a common problem and all of you that are much better coders than I can find the answer. Please it would be very helpful if you could comment below, even if you know anything related to this or could point me to someone who does know. Thank you for reading.

Does this answer your question? [How to play a WPF Sound File resource](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15145209/how-to-play-a-wpf-sound-file-resource) — Hammas, Jul 17 '20 at 15:18
For "Media" you probably need to reference another library. That "Application" may just need a "using" directive. Put the text cursor on the underlined text and hit Ctrl+period and see what VS suggests — Hans Keﬆing, Jul 17 '20 at 15:46

paulsm4 · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-17T20:19:16.237

You typically:

Go into MSVS Solution Explorer
Add the file to your project root (or a subdirectory like "wav").
Right-click the .wav file > Select "Properties" > Select "Copy to Output Directory" => Copy if Newer

So every time you build your project, the file will automatically be copied to your build directory.
In your code, you can open with a relative path.

EXAMPLE: soundPlayer.Open(new Uri("song.wav"));

NOTE

You also said 'Media' on line 1 is underlined red...

This means that you need to add a reference to "System.Media":

Look at Can't find System.Windows.Media namespace?

I'm not sure what platform you're using, but look here, too: Using the Windows Media Player Control in a .NET Framework Solution

C# console: Can you locate a .wav file in the same folder as the project

1 Answers1