Sound cues place audio around manuscript structure. Effects define reusable audio processing or generated audio sources.
Keep the first cue small and preview it in context before adding a larger sound design pattern.
Open Project library > Effects in the Explorer, below Images, Audio, and Files. Effect presets belong to the project and are shared by all its books and manuscripts, without book overrides. Choose New effect preset beside Help in the page header. Save changes saves immediately; closing with unsaved edits offers keep or discard. Preset previews use project settings and project voices. Choose Listen, then Play. Closing the editor leaves already playing audio in the floating player.
Expressive directions shape selected prose: select text and use Expressive directions in the selection toolbar. Bold and italics alone do not direct the voice. Vocal cues add a voice performance such as a laugh or pause: place the caret and choose Insert > Vocal Cue in the block actions menu. Select a cue and press Enter or double-click to edit or remove it.
Preview auditions a copied draft without saving annotations or changing the selected voice or payment source. Apply directions or Insert cue saves your choice. Support depends on the narration engine. If support is missing, partial, or unavailable, the preview warns you; annotations are retained and the voice is not switched automatically.
Vocal cues are not uploaded sound effects. Use an audio file for a recorded sound and a silence sound cue for an exact duration; a performed vocal pause is not exact silence.