View source for Soundboard (computer program)

{{Short description|Collection of audio clips of a person's words}}
{{Other uses|Soundboard (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2014}}
A '''soundboard''' is a computer program, Web application, or device, formerly created in [[Adobe Flash]], that catalogues and plays many audio clips. Soundboards are self-contained, requiring no outside media player. In recent years soundboards have been made available in the form of [[mobile apps]] available on [[App Store (iOS)|iPhone App Store]] and [[Google Play]]. Since Adobe and web browser developers deprecated support for Flash, [[HTML5]]-based soundboards have gained popularity in recent years.

==Prank calling==
Traditionally, builders take sound clips said by celebrities and combine them into one software program. They are most often used in [[prank call]]s, when the caller uses the soundboard to imitate a celebrity or other well-known person. The individual on the other end of the call is usually deceived into thinking that they are actually talking to a real person. In some cases, the victim associated with the prank call has no idea who the person from the soundboard is, with one famous example being [[Mitt Romney]]'s son, Matt Romney, pranking his father by using a [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] soundboard.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/22/AR2008012204073.html Pranks a Lot, Dad: Mitt Romney Calls on the Governator]</ref><ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/romney-sons-conan-mitt-snl-schwarzenegger-340670 Romney Sons on 'Conan': Mitt Loves 'SNL,' Falls For Schwarzenegger Prank]</ref> Recordings of soundboard prank calls are popular on the web, especially on video sharing sites such as [[YouTube]]. Soundboard prank-calling is often done with [[caller ID]] [[caller ID spoofing|spoofing]] or masking, to provide a high level of anonymity or impersonation. The goal is often to create confusion or test how long the victim(s) will remain on the phone. Most soundboard pranksters do not hang up the phone first, rather see how long it takes for the victim to hang up first.

==Other uses==
The soundboard is also used to facilitate humor, highlighting some of celebrities' more unusual utterances, or allowing for juxtaposition or even "composition" of quotes and sounds that would otherwise not go together.
<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roberts, L |first1=Jeff |title=Telefonansagen |url=https://www.telefonansagen.ai |access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>
The soundboard has also been used as a promotional tool for films, television shows, radio, products and more.

Call Centers are adopting soundboard technology.<ref>{{cite news | last=Madrigal | first=Alexis| url= http://m.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/12/almost-human-the-surreal-cyborg-future-of-telemarketing/282537/| title= Almost Human: The Surreal Cyborg Future of Telemarketing | work= The Atlantic |date= December 2013}}</ref> Though more limited in its scope and applications, soundboards are one type of [[agent-assisted automation]], a specialized [[call center]] technology which improve productivity. For example, soundboards seem to be primarily used for outbound [[telemarketing]]. Because the technology effectively eliminates agent accents, the telemarketing work can be done by lower cost agents in offshore locations.<ref>{{cite news | last=Schelmetic | first=Tracey| url= http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/predictive-dialer/articles/365304-automated-outbound-sales-go-high-tech.htm| title= Automated Outbound Sales Go High-Tech | work= tmcnet.com |date= January 2014}}</ref>

==Soundboard software for online games==
Thanks to the popularization of online videogames and communication tools through the Internet, different soundboard software has appeared. Note the following developments: EXP Soundboard (open source and compatible with [[WAV]] and [[MP3]] audio files) Soundpad, or with more features Noise-o-matic, Resanance or Voicemod (combining a voice changer, a voice generator and a soundboard in the same app.)

==List of Software Soundboard==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Incomplete list of software soundboard
|-
! Application !! License !! Platform !! Soundboard !! Voice Changer !! Recorder !! TTS !! MIDI !! Price !! Free/Trial edition
|-
| Soundpad || {{Proprietary}} || [[Microsoft Windows]] || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{cite web |url=https://www.leppsoft.com/soundpad/en/ |title=$4.99}} || {{Yes}}, demo
|-
| Soundux || {{Open_source}}|| [[Microsoft Windows]],[[Linux]]|| {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{ No }} ||{{cite web |url=https://github.com/Soundux/Soundux |title=Free}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| Noise-o-Matic || {{Proprietary}} || [[Microsoft Windows]]|| {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2479000/Noiseomatic/ |title=$7.99}} || {{Yes}}, demo
|-
| Resanance || {{Proprietary}} || [[Microsoft Windows]]|| {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || {{cite web |url=https://resanance.com/ |title=Free}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| Voicemod || {{Proprietary}} || [[Microsoft Windows]]|| {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{ No }} || Subscription-based || {{Yes}}, free edition
|}

== See also ==
* [[Cyberstalking]]
*
* [[Internet troll]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soundboard (Computer Program)}}
[[Category:Prank calling]]