FAudio

FAudio is a free audio runtime implementation for developers working with FNA. It suits projects that need FNA’s Audio and Media namespaces on several supported hosts; its SDL dependency and focused remit make it a less natural fit for unrelated audio applications.

Overview

FAudio implements XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO and XACT3, and FNA accesses it through FAudio#. That makes it a targeted way to provide familiar DirectX audio runtime behavior in an open-platform FNA project, not a general audio toolkit for every application.

The project’s unit tests are intended to check whether its XAudio2 behavior matches XAudio2. They are not built by default, so teams that want those checks need to incorporate them into their build process. FAudio depends on SDL 3.2.0 or newer, while stating that it never explicitly uses the C runtime; projects unable to accommodate SDL’s version requirement should choose another approach.

Key features

• Four audio runtime APIs: XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO and XACT3 cover multiple parts of the DirectX audio runtime within one FNA-oriented implementation.
• Compatibility tests: The XAudio2 tests provide a route to check behavioral matching, but their non-default build status means they are not an automatic part of every build.
• Multiple build routes: Instructions direct Unix-like builds to CMake, Windows builds to the visualc directory, Xbox GDK builds to visualc-gdk, and Apple builds to Xcode. This gives target-specific entry points, though the build process varies by platform.
• Commercial-use licensing: The zlib license allows use for any purpose, including commercial applications, subject to its conditions.

Pricing

FAudio costs nothing. Its free plan is the project itself under the zlib license, with commercial use permitted subject to the license conditions. There is no free trial because no paid tier is involved; the practical requirements are SDL 3.2.0 or newer and a compatible build setup.

Platforms

FAudio’s host platforms are Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS and iOS/tvOS. The project also provides build instructions for Unix-like systems, Windows, Xbox GDK, iOS, tvOS and macOS universal binaries. That breadth is useful for FNA teams targeting several environments, but platform support does not remove the need to follow the corresponding build path and SDL dependency.

Who it's for

FAudio is best suited to developers building with FNA who need its Audio and Media namespaces backed by XAudio-compatible runtime components across supported platforms. Its free, commercially usable license is also appealing to projects that need to avoid licensing fees. It is a weaker choice for developers seeking a standalone audio framework unrelated to FNA, or for a build that cannot use SDL 3.2.0 or newer.

Pros and cons

• Pro: It brings XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO and XACT3 together for FNA’s audio and media code, matching a clear development use case.
• Pro: The zlib license permits commercial use, making it viable for both personal and commercial projects.
• Pro: Build instructions address desktop, Apple and Xbox GDK targets, giving multi-platform FNA projects concrete platform-specific routes.
• Con: SDL 3.2.0 or newer is required, which can rule it out where that dependency cannot be adopted.
• Con: Compatibility tests are not built by default, so teams that rely on them must add that step themselves.
• Con: The project is purpose-built for FNA’s Audio and Media namespaces; it is not the obvious choice for unrelated audio development.

Alternatives

For related projects, see Game Compatibility Layers.

• cnc-ddraw is a free option for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows, but it requires a game with a DirectDraw (Software) renderer rather than targeting FNA audio namespaces.
• GameHub offers free platform access on Android, iOS and macOS; choose it for cloud gaming and streaming, which require a stable network.
• Bannerlator is a free Android alternative, though compatibility varies with GPU, Android version and game, and it carries no support commitment or guarantee on other devices.
• Box86 is a free Linux and self-hosted option when the requirement is running 32-bit software, provided a 32-bit Linux subsystem and 32-bit libraries are available.
• DXVK is a free Linux and Windows option when Vulkan is available; Linux/Wine use also requires a compatible Vulkan driver.
• PlayOnLinux is free on Linux and macOS, but not all games are supported and performance can occasionally decrease.
• Sober is a free unofficial project for Linux desktop users.
• TDF is free for GNU/Linux on x86_64, with a GPU supporting Vulkan 1.3 or newer required.

Verdict

Choose FAudio for an FNA project that needs XAudio2, X3DAudio, XAPO or XACT3 across its supported host platforms: it is free, commercially usable and built for that specific role. Look elsewhere if SDL 3.2.0 or newer is unsuitable, or if the project needs an audio layer beyond FNA’s intended namespaces.