Ring the bells on time without anyone pressing a button
Someone has to start the bell at the top of every period, or the noon chime, or the shift change. When that someone is busy or away, the schedule slips. TimeChimes from NCH Swift Sound hands that job to a PC, which plays a sound at the times you set, on each day of the week.
Quick facts
- Platform: Windows (2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and Windows 7)
- Needs: a sound card
- Sound formats: WAV and MP3, plus 9 built-in bell sounds
- Runs: from the system tray, or as a service
Key features
A separate schedule for every day of the week
You set play times for each day. You can also use a dual week cycle, which suits timetables that alternate between two weeks.
Change today's bells without touching the main schedule
If an assembly or early finish changes one day, you can edit that day's play times without rewriting the whole schedule.
Nine bell sounds included, and your own audio if you prefer
The bell-type sounds are included. You can also load your own WAV or MP3 files, such as a chime, a siren or a recorded announcement.
Starts by itself and stays out of the way
TimeChimes can run on startup or as a service. It sits in the system tray, so the PC doesn't need to be dedicated to it and you can keep using it for other work.
Who it's for
Schools that ring period bells, churches that sound bells or chimes, and factories or offices that signal shift changes and breaks. It also suits anyone who needs a sound at preset times.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Simple purpose and easy day-to-day operation.
- Pro: Weekly and dual-week schedules.
- Pro: Runs as a service, so it can start before anyone logs on.
- Con: Windows only.
- Con: It only plays sounds. It is not a general audio editor or broadcast tool.
- Con: Older Windows 98 and ME systems need a separate download.
FAQs
Does it need a dedicated computer?
No. It runs in the background from the system tray while you use the PC for other tasks.
Can I use my own sounds?
Yes. You can load WAV and MP3 files in addition to the nine included bell sounds.
Can the schedule differ between days?
Yes. Each day of the week has its own play times, and a dual week cycle is available.
Will it run if nobody is logged in?
It can run as a service, which means it starts before logon.
System requirements
- Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 or Windows 7
- A sound card