QEMU/Devices/Sound cards

Revision as of 15:39, 31 August 2024 by Re9177 (talk | contribs)

Sound cards can be added easily to QEMU virtual machines easily through using -audio or the removed since QEMU 7.0 -soundhw argument.

How to add a sound card

QEMU 7 and above:

You can add a card with the following:

qemu-system-(arch) -audio driver={output_driver},model={sound_card_model},id={id}

output_driver and id are the same as -audiodev {output_driver},{id} in older versions with their respective arguments.

QEMU versions before 7.0:

You can add a card with the following:

qemu-system-(arch) -soundhw (sound_card_model)

Devices

i386/x86-64

Model Name Bus Notes Minimum OS
ac97 Intel(r) 82801AA AC'97 (SigmaTel STAC9750 codec) PCI 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and later require a third-party driver for AC'97 support Windows: For Win9x, use the Realtek AC'97 driver.
Linux: Yes since 2.2.x, for older drivers with sound problems append to the kernel parameters the following:
snd_intel8x0.ac97_clock=48000

DOS: Requires per-application support
adlib Yamaha YM3812/Adlib [OPL2] ISA Low-cost sound chip developed by Yamaha, not useful outside of really old OSes Windows: Windows 3.1
Linux: ?
DOS: Requires per-application support
all All sound cards ISA/PCI Enables every single sound card N/A
cs4321a Crystal CS4321A ISA A Windows Sound System compatible ISA codec. Windows: Windows 3.1/9x
Linux: Yes, since 2.2.x
DOS: ?
es1370 ENSONIQ AudioPCI ES1370 PCI PCI card from 1997, has DirectSound3D support, supports .ecw file format playback Windows: Windows 98
Linux: Mandrake 8.2, maybe others
DOS: ?
gus Gravis Ultrasound GF1 ISA Sound card from 1992, very popular demoscene card Windows: Windows 3.1
Linux: Yes (TODO: workaround for sound issues)
DOS: Requires per-application support
hda Intel HD Audio PCI Supported natively since Windows XP SP3 (can be installed on Windows 2000 with a separate driver). This card is recommended for more modern Windows and Linux hosts, i.e. Windows 7+ or Debian 10+. Windows: Windows 2000
Linux: supported in nearly every modern distro
DOS: Requires per-application support
pcspk PC Speaker None Generic PC speaker, works on everything All
sb16 SoundBlaster 16 ISA Very popular and famous card from the early 1990s - most emulators, including QEMU, support this card. It is recommended for use in older hosts, such as Windows 98, Debian 5, or DOS. OPL3 isn't emulated. PCM only. All