Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

SoLoud

solhsa.com

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidAPI
Visit solhsa.com
Spec score 7.7 #15 of 24 in Game Audio Middleware

What it is

SoLoud is a free, portable C/C++ audio engine for games, built around a fire-and-forget playback interface. Playback handles let developers adjust volume, pan and relative speed. The engine includes multiple voices, faders, real-time filters, mixing busses, gapless looping, queued sounds and atomic operations for several sounds. It 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. SoLoud runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and the web through Emscripten, with backends including SDL/SDL2, MiniAudio, ALSA, JACK, OpenAL and WASAPI. A C API DLL provides access from environments including Python, Ruby, C#, BlitzMax and GameMaker Studio. Its ZLib/LibPNG license permits commercial use, modification and redistribution subject to attribution and source-notice conditions. The project notes limited engine integration and no artist tools.

Spec sheet

Purpose
SoLoud is an easy-to-use, free, portable C/C++ audio engine for games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
License
SoLoud proper is licensed under the ZLib/LibPNG license and permits commercial use, alteration and redistribution subject to attribution and source-notice conditions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
3D audio
SoLoud supports 3D positional audio and up to 8 surround speakers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Audio controls
Playback handles can be used to change volume, pan and relative play speed.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Backends
Available backends include SDL/SDL2, MiniAudio, WinMM, ALSA, JACK, OpenAL, WASAPI, XAudio2, Nosound and a Null driver.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Core features
Features include multiple voices, faders, real-time filters, mixing busses, gapless looping, queued sounds and atomic operations for several sounds.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Formats
Supported formats include several WAV variants, Ogg Vorbis and MP3, with additional tracker and emulator sources.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Language interfaces
A C API DLL provides access from environments including Python, Ruby, C#, BlitzMax and GameMaker Studio.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Limitations
The project states that it lacks artist tools, has limited engine integration and is probably not suited to multi-million-budget console games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Playback model
The primary interface is designed for fire-and-forget audio playback.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Release
The latest stable download listed is soloud_20200207.zip at approximately 47 MB, with a lite package of approximately 3 MB.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Synthesizers
The package includes speech synthesis and an Sfxr sound-effects synthesizer.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com
Web support
SoLoud works with Emscripten.Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com

Plans and prices

SoLoud Free free and commercial use · modification and redistribution permitted under ZLib/LibPNG license Read 30 Sep 2026 · solhsa.com

Every SoLoud plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free for commercial use under the stated license conditions.
  • Supports 3D positional audio and up to eight speakers.
  • Includes real-time filters, faders and gapless looping.
  • Runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and web.
  • Provides speech synthesis and an Sfxr synthesizer.

Limits

  • The project says it lacks artist tools.
  • Engine integration is limited.
  • It does not include commercial-library support.

Who it suits

SoLoud suits game developers seeking a portable C/C++ audio engine with multiple playback controls and support for several runtime platforms. It may be a poor fit for projects that depend on artist tools or extensive engine integration.

Verdict

SoLoud provides a wide range of playback and audio features across several platforms, with a license that permits commercial use subject to conditions. Its stated limits are the lack of artist tools and limited engine integration.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to SoLoudAll alternatives →