Multiple sounds at the same time?

[jfrog]

I'm experimenting with the the waveform audio stuff using the waveOut functions.

How are multiple sounds usually handled, for example like in games? Are sounds always mixed in software, or are multiple hardware channels accessed somehow?

I want to create my own simple sound engine as a hobby project, and wondered if I should just start trying to mix things realtime, or if there is a better way to play simultaneous sounds.

Thanks

[_Superman_]

You can use the PlaySound API with the SND_NOSTOP flag.

[jfrog]

Do you know if playsound does mixing or if it utilizes hardware channels? I don't really want to use playsound, I want to set up my own stuff built from a lower level than playsound. I'm just wondering if software mixing is the way to go, or if I can access a certain number of hardware channels before I must use mixing.

Thanks.