> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yakushabb/mirror-ryujinx/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Audio Settings

> Configure audio backend, output, and volume in Ryujinx

Ryujinx provides full audio output emulation for Nintendo Switch games. This guide covers audio backend selection, volume control, and troubleshooting common audio issues.

## Audio Support

Ryujinx audio features:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Audio Output" icon="volume-high">
    **Fully Supported**

    Complete audio output emulation with multiple backend options.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audio Input" icon="microphone">
    **Not Supported**

    Microphone input is not currently implemented.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Audio Backend Selection

Ryujinx supports three audio backends with automatic fallback support:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SDL3">
    **Default and Recommended**

    **Advantages:**

    * Best cross-platform compatibility
    * Modern and actively maintained
    * Low latency
    * Wide hardware support

    **Platform Support:**

    * Windows
    * Linux
    * macOS

    ```json theme={null}
    "AudioBackend": "SDL3"
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="OpenAL">
    **Alternative backend**

    **Advantages:**

    * Mature and stable
    * Good compatibility
    * Supports 3D audio positioning

    **Platform Support:**

    * Windows (via OpenAL Soft)
    * Linux (native)
    * macOS (native)

    **When to use:**

    * SDL3 has issues on your system
    * Better audio quality in specific scenarios
    * Legacy system compatibility

    ```json theme={null}
    "AudioBackend": "OpenAL"
    ```

    <Note>
      On Windows, Ryujinx includes OpenAL Soft binaries. Linux and macOS use system-provided OpenAL.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="libsoundio">
    **Fallback backend**

    **Advantages:**

    * Low-level audio control
    * Direct hardware access
    * Minimal overhead

    **Platform Support:**

    * Windows
    * Linux
    * macOS

    **When to use:**

    * Both SDL3 and OpenAL fail
    * Debugging audio issues
    * Specific hardware requirements

    ```json theme={null}
    "AudioBackend": "SoundIo"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Changing Audio Backend

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Audio Settings">
    Navigate to **File > Settings > Audio**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Backend">
    Choose from available backends:

    * **SDL3** (recommended)
    * **OpenAL** (if available on your platform)
    * **libsoundio** (if available)

    <Note>
      Backend availability is detected automatically. Unsupported backends will be greyed out.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply Changes">
    Click **Save** to apply the new audio backend

    <Warning>
      Audio backend changes may require restarting the currently running game for full effect.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Volume Control

Adjust audio output volume:

### Global Volume

Set the master audio volume for Ryujinx:

```json theme={null}
"AudioVolume": 1.0
```

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Volume Control">
    In **Settings > Audio**, find the **Volume** slider
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust Volume">
    Move the slider to set volume:

    * **0%** - Muted
    * **50%** - Half volume
    * **100%** - Full volume (default)

    The volume value is stored as a decimal (0.0 - 1.0) in the config file.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Real-time Adjustment">
    Volume changes apply immediately without restarting the game
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Hotkey Volume Control

Adjust volume quickly during gameplay:

<Accordion title="Configure Volume Hotkeys">
  By default, volume hotkeys are unbound. To configure:

  1. Navigate to **Settings > Hotkeys**
  2. Find **Volume Up** and **Volume Down**
  3. Click and press your desired key
  4. Save settings

  **Example configuration:**

  ```json theme={null}
  "VolumeUp": "PageUp",
  "VolumeDown": "PageDown"
  ```
</Accordion>

### Mute Toggle

Quickly mute/unmute audio:

* **Default Hotkey:** F2
* **Configurable:** Settings > Hotkeys > Toggle Mute

```json theme={null}
"ToggleMute": "F2"
```

## Audio Configuration Details

### OpenAL Configuration (Windows)

Ryujinx includes an `alsoft.ini` configuration file for OpenAL Soft on Windows:

**Location:**

```plaintext theme={null}
<RyujinxInstallDirectory>/alsoft.ini
```

**Default Settings:**

* Sample rate: 48000 Hz (native Switch sample rate)
* Channels: Stereo output
* Latency: Optimized for gaming

<Note>
  Advanced users can modify `alsoft.ini` to adjust OpenAL behavior, but this is rarely necessary.
</Note>

### Audio Sample Rate

The Nintendo Switch uses a 48000 Hz sample rate. Ryujinx matches this automatically:

* **Sample Rate:** 48000 Hz
* **Channels:** 2 (stereo)
* **Bit Depth:** 16-bit

No manual configuration is required.

## Audio Backend Availability

Ryujinx automatically detects which audio backends are available:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Windows">
    **Available Backends:**

    * ✅ SDL3 (default)
    * ✅ OpenAL (bundled with Ryujinx)
    * ✅ libsoundio

    All three backends are fully supported on Windows.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Linux">
    **Available Backends:**

    * ✅ SDL3 (default)
    * ✅ OpenAL (system-provided)
    * ✅ libsoundio

    OpenAL availability depends on system installation.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="macOS">
    **Available Backends:**

    * ✅ SDL3 (default)
    * ✅ OpenAL (system-provided)
    * ✅ libsoundio

    macOS includes OpenAL by default.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Audio Performance Optimization

### Reducing Audio Latency

For the lowest possible audio latency:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Use SDL3 Backend">
    SDL3 provides the lowest latency in most scenarios
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable Audio Enhancements">
    **Windows:**

    1. Right-click speaker icon > Sounds
    2. Playback tab > Select your device > Properties
    3. Enhancements tab > Disable all enhancements

    **macOS:**
    System audio settings generally don't require changes

    **Linux:**

    * Use ALSA directly if possible
    * Minimize PulseAudio/PipeWire buffering
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close Other Audio Applications">
    Exclusive audio applications can interfere with Ryujinx's audio output
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Audio Stuttering Solutions

If experiencing audio crackling or stuttering:

<Accordion title="Try Different Backend">
  Switch audio backends to find the most stable:

  1. SDL3 (try first)
  2. OpenAL (if SDL3 stutters)
  3. libsoundio (if both above have issues)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Adjust System Audio Buffer">
  **Windows:**

  * Increase audio buffer size in sound settings
  * Update audio drivers

  **Linux:**

  * Adjust PulseAudio/PipeWire buffer settings
  * Check for xruns with audio monitoring tools

  **macOS:**

  * Check Activity Monitor for audio-related processes
  * Reduce system audio sample rate if necessary
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Check CPU Usage">
  Audio stuttering often indicates CPU bottleneck:

  * Close background applications
  * Lower graphics settings
  * Disable unnecessary system services
  * Monitor CPU usage during gameplay
</Accordion>

## Troubleshooting Audio Issues

<Accordion title="No audio output">
  **Solutions:**

  1. **Check volume settings:**
     * Ensure Ryujinx volume is not at 0%
     * Check system volume is not muted
     * Verify correct audio output device is selected
  2. **Try different audio backend:**
     * Switch from SDL3 to OpenAL
     * Test with libsoundio
  3. **Verify audio device:**
     * Check Windows Sound settings
     * Test audio in other applications
     * Restart audio service
  4. **Check logs:**
     * Look for audio initialization errors
     * Location: `<RyujinxFolder>/Logs/`
  5. **Restart Ryujinx:**
     * Close completely and relaunch
     * Some audio issues require full restart
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio crackling or popping">
  **Common causes:**

  * Insufficient CPU performance
  * Audio buffer underruns
  * Driver issues
  * Background applications

  **Solutions:**

  1. Switch to OpenAL backend
  2. Increase system audio buffer size
  3. Update audio drivers
  4. Close background applications
  5. Lower graphics settings to reduce CPU load
  6. Disable audio enhancements in system settings
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio desync (out of sync with video)">
  **Solutions:**

  1. **Enable VSync:**
     * Ensure VSync is set to "Switch" mode
     * Disable "Unbounded" VSync mode
  2. **Check frame pacing:**
     * If FPS is unstable, audio may desync
     * Lock to 60 FPS for best audio sync
  3. **Try different audio backend:**
     * Some backends have better timing than others
  4. **Restart the game:**
     * Audio sync usually stabilizes after game restart
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio too quiet or too loud">
  **Solutions:**

  1. **Adjust Ryujinx volume:**
     * Settings > Audio > Volume slider
     * Set to comfortable level (default is 100%)
  2. **Check system volume:**
     * Windows: Volume mixer
     * macOS: System Preferences > Sound
     * Linux: System volume controls
  3. **In-game audio settings:**
     * Some games have independent volume controls
     * Check game options/settings menu
  4. **Audio normalization:**
     * Consider enabling system audio enhancements
     * Use external audio software if needed
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio backend unavailable">
  **If a backend shows as unavailable:**

  **For OpenAL:**

  * Windows: Reinstall Ryujinx (includes OpenAL Soft)
  * Linux: Install `libopenal1` or `openal-soft`
  * macOS: OpenAL is built-in

  **For SDL3:**

  * Update to latest Ryujinx version
  * Check if SDL3 library is present

  **For libsoundio:**

  * Update Ryujinx to latest version
  * Check system audio framework is working
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio cuts out during gameplay">
  **Possible causes:**

  * Audio buffer underrun
  * CPU spike or throttling
  * Audio driver crash

  **Solutions:**

  1. Monitor CPU usage during cutouts
  2. Update audio drivers
  3. Switch audio backend
  4. Check for thermal throttling
  5. Close background audio applications
  6. Increase system audio buffer size
</Accordion>

## Platform-Specific Audio Notes

### Windows Audio

* **Recommended:** SDL3 or OpenAL
* **Driver Updates:** Use Windows Update or GPU manufacturer's audio drivers
* **Exclusive Mode:** Disable in Windows sound settings for best compatibility

### Linux Audio

* **Recommended:** SDL3
* **PulseAudio/PipeWire:** Both work well, prefer PipeWire for lower latency
* **ALSA:** Direct ALSA may provide better latency but less compatibility

**Install OpenAL (if needed):**

```bash theme={null}
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install libopenal1

# Fedora
sudo dnf install openal-soft

# Arch
sudo pacman -S openal
```

### macOS Audio

* **Recommended:** SDL3
* **Core Audio:** macOS's Core Audio provides excellent compatibility
* **Logs Location:** `~/Library/Logs/Ryujinx/` for audio debug info

## Advanced Audio Configuration

### Audio Logging

Enable audio-related logging for debugging:

```json theme={null}
"LoggingEnableDebug": true,
"LoggingEnableTrace": false
```

<Warning>
  Verbose logging can impact performance. Only enable when troubleshooting specific audio issues.
</Warning>

### Audio Focus Behavior

Control audio when Ryujinx loses focus:

```json theme={null}
"FocusLostActionType": "DoNothing"
```

Options:

* **DoNothing** - Audio continues playing
* **PauseEmulation** - Pauses game and audio
* **MuteAudio** - Mutes audio but continues emulation

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Graphics Settings" icon="display" href="/user-guide/graphics-settings">
    Configure graphics backend and visual enhancements
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="gear" href="/user-guide/configuration">
    Adjust system and emulator settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Input Configuration" icon="gamepad" href="/user-guide/input-configuration">
    Set up controllers and keyboard input
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/user-guide/troubleshooting">
    Diagnose and fix common issues
  </Card>
</CardGroup>