Hi Ken, Technically OpenAL and XAudio2 are called audio APIs not audio engines. In the future you might want to refer to them as APIs or libraries when speaking to other developers. :D
Anyway, in terms of audio libraries I would strongly recommend OpenAL over XAudio2. The reason is that XAudio2 has a few bugs in it, and by using OpenAL with VB .NET you can actually develop cross-platform games using the Mono Framework for Mac and Linux if you choose to take that route. OpenAL-Soft also has some advanced hardware processing which is reasonably good on Creative Labs sound cards. There are a couple of different OpenAL .NET wrappers, I haven't tried either, but I think OpenAL.NET probably is your best bet. As far as XAudio2 goes it comes with the DirectX SDK, and is shipped by default with Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. If you want to develop games using XAudio2 and VB .Net you need to download SlimDX which is a .NET wrapper for Microsoft DirectX. HTH On 10/12/13, Ken Downey <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm looking to find a freeware audio engine for vb.net. Would you recommend > OpenAl or XAudio2? Also, I can't seem to find a download location for > XAudio2. thoughts? > Check out my games at > www.ThePionEar.net > and my music, and that of my band, at > www.ThePionEar.net/BlindLabyrinth.html . > Also, check out, "The Believer and Skeptic Show," at iTunes! > If you want to reach me, you can call 419-744-0517, friend me on Facebook, > (KenWDowney,) or write me at [email protected] . > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
