At the moment I playing with the playsound api, and I'm trying to download the dx7 128 meg file, although my isp shuts me down if i let my machine idle for more than a few minutes, even while downloading, and as a result I'm going to be coddling my system for the next 8 hours. I'd love to say that directsound is the answer for me, but if this puppy craps out one more time, ... I'd rather run the game minus sound, its just not that vital to my happiness.