Why does my Pygame audio sound distorted?

mixer.init frequency must match source file rate. 44100 vs 48000 mismatch causes resampling artifacts. Set init frequency to most-common source rate.

How to detect source rate?

Check the .wav/.ogg file's header. Most assets are 44100 Hz; some are 48000. Standardize before bundling.

pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 512). Smaller buffer = lower latency but risk underrun on slower machines.

Quick answer: pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 512). Match source files' rate. Init before pygame.init().

Sound effects sound chipmunky or muddy. Mixer initialized at 22050 default; sources are 44100. Resampling artifacts.

import pygame
pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 512)
pygame.init()

# Match assets at 44100 Hz, 16-bit signed, stereo, 512-sample buffer

pre_init must run before pygame.init or mixer.init. Match frequency to dominant source files; pre-resample others if needed.

Audio plays cleanly. Latency low (small buffer). Without match: distortion or pitch shift.

“Match freq. Pre-init. Clean audio.”

For mixer Channel reserved, see Channel. For music end event, see end event.

Match freq. Init early.