Plays through your mic
AudioPad routes audio into your microphone input so other people hear it as if it came from you in calls, streams, or games.
AudioPad
AudioPad is a free, open-source soundboard that plays audio through your microphone for Discord, Zoom, Teams, OBS, games, and similar apps. It supports global hotkeys, low-latency playback, and local-only operation on Windows and Linux.
What AudioPad is
AudioPad is a free, open-source soundboard that plays audio through your microphone. It is designed for quick sound playback with global hotkeys and low latency, so clips can be triggered during calls, streams, or games without interrupting your voice input.
The product is positioned as a lightweight alternative to paid soundboard apps. The site says it works with common microphone-based apps such as Discord, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio, Steam, and Slack, and that it runs locally on Windows and Linux.
Everything a soundboard should be
Bring your own audio
Use MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and M4A files without converting them first. The site says files are read directly.
Global hotkeys
Assign global hotkeys so you can trigger sounds from anywhere, including while a game or app is active.
Low latency
The site describes playback as sub-20ms, which is meant to keep sounds aligned with the key press.
Lightweight app
AudioPad is described as under 15 MB and light on memory usage at rest, with a focus on staying out of the way during games and calls.
Private by design
The product runs on your machine and is described as having no telemetry, no accounts, and no cloud services.
Common ways to use AudioPad
Voice chat and social calls
Trigger meme sounds, sound effects, or short clips during Discord or Zoom conversations while your microphone continues to carry your voice.
Live gaming sessions
Map clips to hotkeys so you can fire them during games without switching windows or navigating menus.
Streaming and recording
Send cues into OBS or another microphone-aware workflow when you need quick audio playback during a stream or recording.
Work calls and meetings
Use it with Teams, Slack, or similar apps when you need a simple way to play brief audio through the same mic input everyone else hears.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free to download, use, and fork, with no paid tier or upsells.
- Supports common audio formats without re-encoding.
- Global hotkeys and low-latency playback suit live use in games and calls.
- Runs locally with no telemetry, accounts, or cloud services.
- Works with a range of microphone-based apps, including Discord, Zoom, Teams, OBS, Steam, and Slack.
Cons
- The first install needs admin rights to register the virtual audio device.
- The site does not provide a mobile version or support for platforms beyond Windows and Linux.
- Advanced setup details are limited on the site, so users who want a highly configurable routing tool may need to review the source or documentation.
FAQ
Is AudioPad really free?
Yes. The site states that AudioPad is free to download, free to use, and free to fork, with no paid tier or premium sounds.
What platforms does AudioPad support?
AudioPad is available for Windows 10/11 and Linux. The download page lists Windows and Linux builds, and the site mentions deb, rpm, and AppImage packages for Linux.
Can I keep talking while playing sounds?
Yes. AudioPad mixes sounds on top of your real microphone input, so your voice still comes through unless you switch to sound-only mode.
What audio formats can I use?
AudioPad supports MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and M4A files out of the box. The site says files are read directly, without re-encoding.
Does AudioPad phone home or collect telemetry?
AudioPad runs locally on your machine and the site says it does not send analytics, telemetry, or crash reports unless you explicitly opt in.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Soundboard
- Platforms
- Windows 10/11, Linux
- License
- MIT
- Pricing
- Free forever
- Audio formats
- MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A
- Website
- audiopad.vercel.app
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