FAudio
What it is
FAudio is an open-platform reimplementation of XAudio, created for the FNA project with a focus on matching XAudio behavior. It implements DirectX Audio runtime libraries including XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO, and XACT3, and FNA applications access it through FAudio# for the Audio and Media namespaces. The project depends on SDL 3.2.0 or newer and says it does not explicitly use the C runtime. Build guidance covers Unix-like systems, Windows, Xbox GDK, iOS, tvOS, and macOS universal binaries, with directions to CMake, Visual Studio project folders, or Xcode depending on platform. Unit tests are included to check XAudio2 behavior, but are not built by default. FAudio is free under the zlib license, which allows commercial use subject to its conditions. The project lists Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, and iOS/tvOS as host platforms and directs users to GitHub Issues to report problems or patches.
For and against
For
- Implements XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO, and XACT3.
- Free under the zlib license.
- Build guidance covers Windows, Apple, Unix-like systems, and Xbox GDK.
- Includes XAudio2 behavior compatibility tests.
Against
- Requires SDL 3.2.0 or newer.
- Compatibility tests are not built by default.
The verdict
FAudio provides a free implementation of several DirectX Audio runtime libraries for the FNA project. Developers should account for its SDL requirement and the fact that compatibility tests are not built by default.
Who it suits
FAudio suits developers working with FNA’s Audio and Media namespaces who need XAudio-compatible audio libraries on supported platforms. Its zlib license permits commercial use subject to its conditions.
Plans and prices
FAudio
zlib-licensed · commercial use permitted · SDL 3.2.0 or newer required
Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Audience
- The project describes itself as an audio reimplementation for the FNA project.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Audio APIs
- Its runtime covers XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO and XACT3 functionality.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build platforms
- The project gives build instructions for Unix-like systems, Windows, Xbox GDK, iOS, tvOS, and macOS universal binaries.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Build systems
- Unix-like systems use CMake, Windows uses the visualc directory, Xbox GDK uses visualc-gdk, and Apple targets use Xcode.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build tools
- The README directs Unix-like builds to CMake, Windows builds to the visualc directory, Xbox GDK builds to visualc-gdk, and Apple builds to Xcode.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- CMake requirements
- Its CMake configuration requires CMake 3.10 or newer and identifies the project version as 0.26.10.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Commercial use
- The license permits commercial use, modification and redistribution.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility tests
- FAudio includes unit tests intended to check that its XAudio2 behavior matches XAudio2, and the tests are not built by default.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- C# wrapper
- The repository includes FAudio#, a C# interop wrapper for the native library.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Debian packaging
- Debian builds libfaudio-dev development files and libfaudio0 runtime packages from its faudio source package.packages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Dependency
- The project states that SDL 3.2.0 or newer is its sole dependency and that it does not explicitly use the C runtime.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- FNA documentation provides a stepwise guide for bringing existing or new games onto FNA, including optimization, debugging and contribution sections.fna-xna.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Effects headers
- The public headers include F3DAudio, FACT, FACT3D, FAPO, FAPOFX and FAudioFX interfaces.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Fedora packaging
- Fedora publishes libFAudio plus development and MinGW variants, with zlib recorded as the package license.packages.fedoraproject.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- FNA integration
- FAudio supplies the audio and media functionality used by the FNA project.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Homebrew availability
- Homebrew provides a faudio formula installable with brew install faudio, with stable version 26.10.formulae.brew.sh · read 15 Oct 2026
- Homebrew platforms
- Homebrew lists binary bottles for Apple Silicon macOS and Linux ARM64 and x86_64.formulae.brew.sh · read 15 Oct 2026
- Homebrew usage
- Homebrew reports 3,338 installs over the preceding year and zero build errors.formulae.brew.sh · read 15 Oct 2026
