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SoLoud
What it is
SoLoud is a free, portable C/C++ audio engine for games, with a primary interface built around fire-and-forget playback. Developers can use playback handles to change volume, pan, and relative play speed. Its features include multiple voices, faders, real-time filters, mixing busses, gapless looping, queued sounds, and atomic operations for several sounds. SoLoud supports 3D positional audio and up to eight surround speakers. Supported sources include several WAV variants, Ogg Vorbis, MP3, tracker formats, and emulator sources. The package includes speech synthesis and an Sfxr sound-effects synthesizer. A C API DLL provides access from environments including Python, Ruby, C#, BlitzMax, and GameMaker Studio, and SoLoud works with Emscripten. Available backends include SDL/SDL2, MiniAudio, WinMM, ALSA, JACK, OpenAL, WASAPI, XAudio2, Nosound, and a Null driver. Its ZLib/LibPNG license permits commercial use, alteration, and redistribution subject to attribution and source-notice conditions. The project notes limited engine integration and no artist tools.
For and against
For
- Free, with commercial use permitted under license conditions.
- Supports 3D positional audio and up to eight speakers.
- Includes speech synthesis and an Sfxr synthesizer.
- Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and web.
- Provides a C API DLL for several environments.
Against
- The project says artist tools are absent.
- Engine integration is limited.
- Project support does not match commercial-library support.
- The project says it may not suit multi-million-budget console games.
The verdict
SoLoud offers playback, spatial audio, format support, and multiple backend options for game projects. Its stated limitations include missing artist tools and limited engine integration; commercial use is subject to license conditions.
Who it suits
SoLoud suits game developers seeking a portable C/C++ audio engine with playback controls and multiple audio features. It may fit projects that can work without artist tools or extensive engine integration.
Plans and prices
SoLoud
free and commercial use · modification and redistribution permitted under ZLib/LibPNG license
Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
On the record
- 3D audio
- SoLoud supports 3D positional audio and up to 8 surround speakers.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Audio controls
- Playback handles can be used to change volume, pan and relative play speed.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Backends
- Available backends include SDL/SDL2, MiniAudio, WinMM, ALSA, JACK, OpenAL, WASAPI, XAudio2, Nosound and a Null driver.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Core features
- Features include multiple voices, faders, real-time filters, mixing busses, gapless looping, queued sounds and atomic operations for several sounds.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Formats
- Supported formats include several WAV variants, Ogg Vorbis and MP3, with additional tracker and emulator sources.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Language interfaces
- A C API DLL provides access from environments including Python, Ruby, C#, BlitzMax and GameMaker Studio.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- SoLoud proper is licensed under the ZLib/LibPNG license and permits commercial use, alteration and redistribution subject to attribution and source-notice conditions.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Limitations
- The project states that it lacks artist tools, has limited engine integration and is probably not suited to multi-million-budget console games.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Playback model
- The primary interface is designed for fire-and-forget audio playback.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- SoLoud is an easy-to-use, free, portable C/C++ audio engine for games.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Release
- The latest stable download listed is soloud_20200207.zip at approximately 47 MB, with a lite package of approximately 3 MB.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- The project provides a Google Group, GitHub issue tracker and an IRC channel, while noting that it does not include the support offered by commercial libraries.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Synthesizers
- The package includes speech synthesis and an Sfxr sound-effects synthesizer.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Web support
- SoLoud works with Emscripten.solhsa.com · read 30 Sep 2026
