Playing audio through Alexa/Echo is easy!

alexa-audio-test.js

// This is how I was able to get an mp3 file to play through my Echo Dot.
//
// Most audioPlayer examples seem overcomplicated, but this is essentially
// all I had to do.  I did not test pausing, but you can say "Alexa, stop"
// and the audio will quit.
//
// Thought this would be helpful for those having trouble with this and
// will prove useful for those who just want to play audio clips without
// a complicated "interface".
//
// When you set up this skill in Lambda, set your Alexa app ID as the
// environment variable APP_ID.
//

'use strict';

const Alexa = require('alexa-sdk');

const languageStrings = {
  'en-GB': {
    translation: {
      SKILL_NAME: 'Play Audio',
      PLAY_AUDIO_MESSAGE: "Okay.  Listen to this: ",
      HELP_MESSAGE: 'You can ask me to play audio, or, you can say exit.',
      HELP_REPROMPT: 'What can I help you with?',
      STOP_MESSAGE: 'Cheerio!',
      FAIL_MESSAGE: "There is a problem."
    },
  },
  'en-US': {
    translation: {
      SKILL_NAME: 'Play Audio',
      PLAY_AUDIO_MESSAGE: "Okay.  Listen to this: ",
      HELP_MESSAGE: 'You can ask me to play audio, or, you can say exit.',
      HELP_REPROMPT: 'What can I help you with?',
      STOP_MESSAGE: 'Goodbye!',
      FAIL_MESSAGE: "There is a problem."
    },
  },
  'de-DE': {
    translation: {
      SKILL_NAME: 'Audio abspielen',
      PLAY_AUDIO_MESSAGE: "Okay. Hör zu: ",
      HELP_MESSAGE: 'Sie können mich bitten, Audio zu spielen, oder, können Sie sagen, Ausfahrt.',
      HELP_REPROMPT: 'Womit kann ich dir helfen?',
      STOP_MESSAGE: 'Auf Wiedersehen!',
      FAIL_MESSAGE: "Es gibt ein Problem."
    },
  },
};

const handlers = {
  'LaunchRequest': function () {
    this.emit('PlayAudio');
  },
  'PlayAudioIntent': function () {
    this.emit('PlayAudio');
  },
  'PlayAudio': function () {
    let url = "http://edge6-audio.wnyc.org/radiolab_podcast/radiolab_podcast16bringinggammaback.mp3";
    this.response.speak(this.t('PLAY_AUDIO_MESSAGE'));
    //                        playBehavior, url, enqueueToken, expectedPreviousToken, offsetInMilliseconds
    this.response.audioPlayerPlay('REPLACE_ALL', url, 'radiolab_podcast16bringinggammaback.mp3', null, 0);
    this.emit(':responseReady');
  },
  'AMAZON.HelpIntent': function () {
    const speechOutput = this.t('HELP_MESSAGE');
    const reprompt = this.t('HELP_MESSAGE');
    this.emit(':ask', speechOutput, reprompt);
  },
  'AMAZON.CancelIntent': function () {
    this.emit(':tell', this.t('STOP_MESSAGE'));
  },
  'AMAZON.StopIntent': function () {
    this.emit(':tell', this.t('STOP_MESSAGE'));
  },
  'SessionEndedRequest': function () {
    this.emit(':tell', this.t('STOP_MESSAGE'));
  },
};

exports.handler = (event, context) => {
  const alexa = Alexa.handler(event, context);
  alexa.APP_ID = process.env.APP_ID;
  // To enable string internationalization (i18n) features, set a resources object.
  alexa.resources = languageStrings;
  alexa.registerHandlers(handlers);
  alexa.execute();
};