OpenAL - what is it?
A look at the list of installed software will probably tell you that you have installed software called "OpenAL". You probably haven't done it yourself. Rather, OpenAL was automatically installed when a game or sound card was installed. But what is OpenAL actually?
OpenAL as an audio interface for developers
OpenAL (Open Audio Library) is a library (API) that developers can use for their software to create sound effects. OpenAL was developed by "Creative", the interface is implemented by "Strangesoft". OpenAL is ...
- free and open source, the code of the library is freely accessible on the Strangesoft website;
- platform-independent, the library is available for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux, but also for all other operating systems;
- the interface that Apple uses for audio playback in its Mac OSX;
- in competition with Microsoft's sound library DirectSound. This is included in DirectX and therefore not OpenSource.
- for example part of the UnrealEngine, on the basis of which many popular game titles such as "Batman: Arkham Asylum", "Mass Effect 3" or the "Bioshock" series were created.
You should not uninstall OpenAL
Conclusion: It is important that you can safely leave OpenAL installed and not uninstall it, since the library is probably used by software on your PC. If you have accidentally uninstalled it, you can download OpenAL again from the website of the implementer "Strangesoft".
Version 1.16.0 of OpenAL Soft is currently available.