How do I play an MP3 file with miniaudio?

Use the high-level engine API: initialize ma_engine with ma_engine_init, then call ma_engine_play_sound with the file path. The built-in MP3 decoder handles it, but ensure the library is compiled with MP3 support enabled.

miniaudio vs SDL_mixer which is better for game audio?

miniaudio is lighter and dependency-free, ideal for minimal C/C++ projects or cross-platform builds. SDL_mixer integrates easily with SDL but adds more overhead; choose miniaudio for resource-constrained environments or when avoiding external libraries.

Does miniaudio support audio recording on Android?

Yes, miniaudio supports Android audio capture via AAudio and OpenSL|ES backends, as listed in the supported platforms. Configure ma_device for capture type and use callbacks to handle input data.

How to implement custom audio effects in miniaudio?

Utilize the node graph system to create custom processing nodes or extend the low-level API with data callbacks. Examples in the README show how to hook into audio streams for real-time effects.

Is miniaudio good for real-time audio processing?

Yes, the low-level API provides direct access to audio data with minimal latency, suitable for real-time applications. However, performance depends on backend selection and system configuration, so test on target platforms.

What platforms does miniaudio work on besides desktop?

miniaudio supports iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi, and WebAssembly via Emscripten, making it versatile for mobile, embedded, and web applications, as detailed in the README's platform list.

Open-Awesome

Miniaudio

NOASSERTIONC0.11.25

A single-file C audio library for playback, capture, and processing with no external dependencies.

Visit Website GitHub

6.9k stars567 forks0 contributors

What is Miniaudio?

miniaudio is a lightweight, portable audio library written in C that provides both low-level and high-level APIs for audio playback, capture, and processing. It is designed as a single source file with no external dependencies, making it easy to integrate into any project. The library supports a wide range of audio formats, platforms, and backends, offering features like decoding, encoding, resampling, and effects.

Target Audience

C and C++ developers who need a simple, dependency-free audio solution for applications like games, media players, or embedded systems. It is also suitable for developers targeting multiple platforms who want a unified audio API.

Value Proposition

Developers choose miniaudio for its extreme simplicity and portability—it's a single-file library with no dependencies that works everywhere. It offers both low-level control and high-level convenience without the bloat of larger audio frameworks.

Overview

Audio playback and capture library written in C, in a single source file.

Use Cases

Best For

Integrating audio playback into C/C++ games without heavy dependencies
Building cross-platform media players or audio tools
Embedded systems or resource-constrained environments needing audio
Educational projects to learn audio programming in C
Prototyping audio features quickly with minimal setup
Replacing platform-specific audio code with a unified API

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring extensive built-in support for modern audio codecs like Opus, AAC, or OGG Vorbis
Teams that rely on high-level audio frameworks with GUI tools, extensive plugins, or large communities
Applications needing guaranteed ABI stability for dynamic library updates or binary distribution
Developers looking for out-of-the-box solutions for advanced audio synthesis, MIDI handling, or professional DAW features

Pros & Cons

Pros

Single-File Simplicity

The entire library is contained in miniaudio.c and miniaudio.h, enabling drag-and-drop integration without complex build systems, as emphasized in the README.

Zero Dependencies

Only requires the standard C library, compiling on all major compilers without external packages, ensuring portability and easy setup across platforms.

Dual API Flexibility

Offers both low-level access for custom audio data handling and high-level APIs for sound management, mixing, and effects, providing versatility for different use cases.

Broad Platform Support

Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and WebAssembly via Emscripten, with multiple backend APIs like WASAPI and ALSA, ensuring wide compatibility.

Cons

Limited Built-in Codecs

Only includes decoders for WAV, FLAC, and MP3, lacking support for common formats like Opus or AAC without implementing custom decoders, which adds development overhead.

ABI Compatibility Risks

The README explicitly warns that ABI compatibility is not guaranteed between versions, complicating dynamic linking and library updates in production environments.

Sparse High-Level Features

Missing advanced tooling such as MIDI support, comprehensive spatial audio, or GUI-based editors, requiring more manual work compared to full audio frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

C/C++

A curated list of awesome C++ (or C) frameworks, libraries, resources, and shiny things. Inspired by awesome-... stuff.

Stars71,654

Forks8,303

Last commit8 days ago

ProtoBuf

Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format

Stars71,328

Forks16,151

Last commit21 hours ago

ASP.NET Core is a cross-platform .NET framework for building modern cloud-based web applications on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Stars38,012

Forks10,688

Last commit20 hours ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub