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OpenAL or SDL sound?

Started by BloodLust666 Dec 5, 2005 at 12:39 PM 7 replies 6.9k views
Original Post
BloodLust666
BloodLust666
I'm switching completely from DirectX to SDL and OGL. I know exactly what i'm going to use for each one except for the sound portion... they both seem pretty good, but what's everyone else's opinion?
-------------------------Unless specified otherwise, my questions pertain:Windows Platform (with the mindset to keep things multi-platform as possible)C++Visual Studio 2008OpenGL with SFML
Simian Man
Simian Man
OpenAL is harder to use but has more features.
SDL_Mixer is easier but not as robust.

FMOD is the best of both worlds.
swiftcoder
swiftcoder
Quote:
Original post by EvilKnuckles666
I'm switching completely from DirectX to SDL and OGL. I know exactly what i'm going to use for each one except for the sound portion... they both seem pretty good, but what's everyone else's opinion?


SDL_sound actually provides very little facility for playing sound, it is primarily a sound file loader, look at SDL_mixer to actually play in-game sound (you can use SDL's own sound system to play the sound, which is what SDL_mixer does, but it is a very low level API with no support for directional sound).
I would lean towards OpenAL, and use an API such as SDL_sound to load the files (OpenAL typically only loads .WAVs), as OpenAL has many more features than SDL_Mixer
Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]
BloodLust666
BloodLust666
wow, i just looked at FMOD and it has a very pleasing argument. Is there anywhere that there is a sample for using FMOD or a tutorial?

edit: i'm using C++ so tutorials for that would help best :-p
-------------------------Unless specified otherwise, my questions pertain:Windows Platform (with the mindset to keep things multi-platform as possible)C++Visual Studio 2008OpenGL with SFML
Drew_Benton
Drew_Benton
GameDev has an article on it. You can google for a lot more that are avaliable too.
swiftcoder
swiftcoder
Quote:
Original post by EvilKnuckles666
wow, i just looked at FMOD and it has a very pleasing argument. Is there anywhere that there is a sample for using FMOD or a tutorial?


FMOD is very impressive, and works very well, but it has one major drawback: expense, FMOD is not free, and licenses are not cheap (at least from an small indie point of view).
Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]
SpreeTree
SpreeTree
There is a bit more information, and links to FMod tutorials on the DevMaster Wiki.

It's a shamless plug, but I hope its useful :)
Spree
Simian Man
Simian Man
FMOD is free to use if you are not charging for your games.
BloodLust666
BloodLust666
that helped alot! thanks :) FMOD is now going to be used in my engine, Wrath2D, for sound ;)
-------------------------Unless specified otherwise, my questions pertain:Windows Platform (with the mindset to keep things multi-platform as possible)C++Visual Studio 2008OpenGL with SFML

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