---
name: "Mailsound"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "rplay-contrib"
version: "3.3.2-20"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Mailsound"
---

# Mailsound(1)

Play sounds when mail arrives

## NAME

Mailsound - Play sounds when mail arrives

## SYNOPSIS

**Mailsound \[options\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Mailsound is an rplay utility used to play sounds when mail arrives. Different sounds can be played depending on the contents of mail message headers.  Mailsound configuration is stored in the file **~/.Mailsounds.** Each line in this file contains a perl5 regular expression followed by rplay attributes.  See the EXAMPLE section below.

Mailsound needs to be invoked upon mail arrival.  This can be done in many ways, but most users will probably use either a *.forward* or *.procmailrc* file.  With a *.forward* file, use something like:

```
    \yourusername, |"/usr/local/bin/Mailsound -h soundhostname"
```

For *.procmailrc* use:

```
    :0 ic
    | /usr/local/bin/Mailsound -h doctor:doit
```

## OPTIONS

- *--host=hostname\[:hostname ...\]*

  Play sounds on the specified host(s).

- *--file=filename*

  Specify an alternate configuration file.

- *--volume=NUMBER*

  Default volume for all sounds.

- *--priority=NUMBER*

  Default priority for all sounds.

## EXAMPLE

```
 ## Mailing lists
 ^(To|Cc):.*ding.*               sound=ding.au volume=50
 ^(To|Cc):.*xpilot.*             sound=wheres_the_kaboom.au
 ^(To|Cc):.*gopher.*             sound=monkey-3.au
 ^(To|Cc):.*fvwm.*               sound=ploop.au
 ^From root@?.*                  sound=bogus.au priority=255
 ^From news@?.*                  sound=beep.au
 ## Everything else...
 .*                              sound=Thank_you_very_much.au
```

## FILES

**~/.Mailsounds**