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

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Audio Support

Ryujinx audio features:

Audio Output

Fully SupportedComplete audio output emulation with multiple backend options.

Audio Input

Not SupportedMicrophone input is not currently implemented.

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Audio Backend Selection

Ryujinx supports three audio backends with automatic fallback support:
Default and RecommendedAdvantages:
  • Best cross-platform compatibility
  • Modern and actively maintained
  • Low latency
  • Wide hardware support
Platform Support:
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • macOS
"AudioBackend": "SDL3"

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Changing Audio Backend

1

Open Audio Settings

Navigate to File > Settings > Audio
2

Select Backend

Choose from available backends:
  • SDL3 (recommended)
  • OpenAL (if available on your platform)
  • libsoundio (if available)
Backend availability is detected automatically. Unsupported backends will be greyed out.
3

Apply Changes

Click Save to apply the new audio backend
Audio backend changes may require restarting the currently running game for full effect.

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Volume Control

Adjust audio output volume:

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Global Volume

Set the master audio volume for Ryujinx: 
"AudioVolume": 1.0
1

Access Volume Control

In Settings > Audio, find the Volume slider
2

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.
3

Real-time Adjustment

Volume changes apply immediately without restarting the game

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Hotkey Volume Control

Adjust volume quickly during gameplay:
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:
"VolumeUp": "PageUp",
"VolumeDown": "PageDown"

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Mute Toggle

Quickly mute/unmute audio:
  • Default Hotkey: F2
  • Configurable: Settings > Hotkeys > Toggle Mute
"ToggleMute": "F2"

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Audio Configuration Details

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OpenAL Configuration (Windows)

Ryujinx includes an alsoft.ini configuration file for OpenAL Soft on Windows: Location: 
<RyujinxInstallDirectory>/alsoft.ini
Default Settings:
  • Sample rate: 48000 Hz (native Switch sample rate)
  • Channels: Stereo output
  • Latency: Optimized for gaming
Advanced users can modify alsoft.ini to adjust OpenAL behavior, but this is rarely necessary.

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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.

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Audio Backend Availability

Ryujinx automatically detects which audio backends are available:
Available Backends:
  • ✅ SDL3 (default)
  • ✅ OpenAL (bundled with Ryujinx)
  • ✅ libsoundio
All three backends are fully supported on Windows.

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Audio Performance Optimization

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Reducing Audio Latency

For the lowest possible audio latency:
1

Use SDL3 Backend

SDL3 provides the lowest latency in most scenarios
2

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 changesLinux:
  • Use ALSA directly if possible
  • Minimize PulseAudio/PipeWire buffering
3

Close Other Audio Applications

Exclusive audio applications can interfere with Ryujinx’s audio output

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Audio Stuttering Solutions

If experiencing audio crackling or stuttering:
Switch audio backends to find the most stable:
  1. SDL3 (try first)
  2. OpenAL (if SDL3 stutters)
  3. libsoundio (if both above have issues)
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
Audio stuttering often indicates CPU bottleneck:
  • Close background applications
  • Lower graphics settings
  • Disable unnecessary system services
  • Monitor CPU usage during gameplay

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Troubleshooting Audio Issues

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
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
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
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
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
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

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Platform-Specific Audio Notes

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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

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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): 
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install libopenal1

# Fedora
sudo dnf install openal-soft

# Arch
sudo pacman -S openal

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macOS Audio

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

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Advanced Audio Configuration

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Audio Logging

Enable audio-related logging for debugging: 
"LoggingEnableDebug": true,
"LoggingEnableTrace": false
Verbose logging can impact performance. Only enable when troubleshooting specific audio issues.

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Audio Focus Behavior

Control audio when Ryujinx loses focus: 
"FocusLostActionType": "DoNothing"
Options:
  • DoNothing - Audio continues playing
  • PauseEmulation - Pauses game and audio
  • MuteAudio - Mutes audio but continues emulation

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Next Steps

Graphics Settings

Configure graphics backend and visual enhancements

Configuration

Adjust system and emulator settings

Input Configuration

Set up controllers and keyboard input

Troubleshooting

Diagnose and fix common issues

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