Play mp3 files in AS3

Here is a method that can be called to play a an MP3 file. If there is a current file playing it stops before starting the next one. It should be noted that once you call the play() method on a Sound you cannot load another mp3 into it -- you need to create a new one.

I should probably turn this into a class to make it easier for reuse:

import flash.media.Sound;
import flash.media.SoundChannel;
import flash.media.SoundTransform;
import flash.net.URLRequest;

private var _soundChannel:SoundChannel;
private var _sound:Sound;
     
soundVolume = new SoundTransform();
soundVolume.volume = 1;

public function getVolume():SoundTransform{
   return soundVolume;
}

public function playSound(url:String):void{
   var request:URLRequest = new URLRequest(url);
   if(_soundChannel!=null){
       _soundChannel.stop();
       _sound = null;      
   }      
   _sound = new Sound();
   _sound.load(request);  
   _soundChannel = _sound.play();
   _soundChannel.soundTransform = getVolume();
}

playSound("myfile.mp3");