How do I programmatically play an MP3 on an iPhone?

Question

I'd like to include an MP3 with my app and play it on demand. Unfortunately I am not sure how to get started. I keep reading about .caf files, but I am not sure what those are.

I am looking for a step by step, if possible.

Answer 1

Here is what I am doing to play mp3 in xCode 4.2:

1) Import AVFoundation.framework framework into your project

2) Adding: #import "AVFoundation/AVAudioPlayer.h" into your project ViewController.h file:

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
#import "AVFoundation/AVAudioPlayer.h"

@interface ViewController : UIViewController

@end

3) Drag and drop your mp3 file yoursoundfile.mp3 into your root project explorer

4) Modify -(void)viewDidLoadin ViewController.m:

- (void)viewDidLoad{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    NSURL *url = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:[[NSBundle mainBundle]
                                         pathForResource:@"yoursoundfile"
                                         ofType:@"mp3"]];
    AVAudioPlayer *audioPlayer = [[AVAudioPlayer alloc]
                                  initWithContentsOfURL:url
                                  error:nil];
    [audioPlayer play];
}

As soon as you start your program, it will play the sound. You can customize to fit your app by changing volume, or when to play, stop...

Answer 2

You could also try the AVAudioPlayer utility Framework.

Answer 3

Use afconvert in Terminal to convert your MP3 to a .caf. man afconvert will tell you more.

Then

NSString *soundFilePath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource: name ofType: @"caf"];

NSURL *fileURL = [[NSURL alloc] initFileURLWithPath: soundFilePath];

AVAudioPlayer *player = [super initWithContentsOfURL: fileURL error: nil];
[fileURL release];
[player play];