---
title: "Emulator audio crackling, stuttering or popping: fix guide (RetroArch, PPSSPP, Dolphin, PCSX2)"
canonical_url: https://emudesk.com/issues/emulator-audio-crackling-stuttering-popping-fix
content_locale: en
source_locale: en
entity_type: issue
index_status: index
published_at: 2026-08-31T18:22:23.000Z
updated_at: 2026-09-01T00:45:02.444Z
freshness_status: fresh
---

# Emulator audio crackling, stuttering or popping: fix guide (RetroArch, PPSSPP, Dolphin, PCSX2)

Your emulator is running and producing audio, but the sound is crackling, stuttering, popping, or cutting in and out. This is distinct from complete silence — the audio driver is working, but it is delivering distorted or interrupted output. The most common causes are an audio buffer set too small, a sample rate mismatch between the emulator and your audio hardware, or another application holding exclusive audio access.