QEMU/Devices/Sound cards
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 |