Practical answers for game masters who want better sound at the table. Each article answers one question directly, then explains the detail.
Comparisons and recommendations
- What’s the best audio app for tabletop RPG players?: Summoning Stone, Pocket Bard, Syrinscape, Tabletop Audio and Audio Forge compared by how you play.
- Summoning Stone vs Pocket Bard: adaptive ready-made scenes against building your own.
- Summoning Stone vs Syrinscape: a head-to-head on library, platforms and custom audio.
- Syrinscape alternatives for game masters: the main options compared by what each is best for.
- Pocket Bard alternatives for game masters: the main options compared by what each is best for.
- Is there a cheaper alternative to Pocket Bard?: what you get for the money, and what’s free.
- Is there an app better than Pocket Bard?: customization, features and streaming compared.
- Summoning Stone vs Tabletop Audio: a browser library of ambience against an app for building scenes.
- Summoning Stone vs Audio Forge: your own audio files and Home Assistant against built-in audio and a TV display.
- Is there a D&D audio app for Android?: where Summoning Stone runs today and what’s next.
Music and licensing
- Can I use my own music, like Apple Music, in my D&D game?: what works, what doesn’t, and the streaming catch.
- Is there stream-safe music for D&D on Twitch and YouTube?: what’s cleared for commercial use and how to credit it.
- Can I play music and sound effects together over AirPlay or Bluetooth?: which setups work with which music source.
About Summoning Stone
- What is Summoning Stone?: platforms, features, what’s free and what it doesn’t do.
How to use audio at your table
- How to use music in D&D without it getting in the way: mood, volume and scene changes.
- How to set the mood in D&D with sound: ambience, music, effects, reverb and silence.
- How to add ambience and sound effects to a D&D session: a step-by-step process.
- How to build a D&D scene soundtrack: tavern, dungeon, boss fight and storm recipes.
- How to prep D&D audio in 15 minutes: a quick workflow.
- How loud should background music be in D&D?: a simple test.
- Should DMs use music in D&D?: when it helps and when to skip it.
- How to stream D&D with music and sound effects: licensing, credit and balance.
- How to play D&D music and sound effects over Discord: screen share a Mac with audio on.
- How to run audio for multiple D&D groups: for professional game masters.
- Best audio app for new DMs: the easiest way to start.
Adventures
- Death House (Curse of Strahd) music and sound effects: a community campaign you can run today.
By device
- Best D&D audio apps for Mac: what runs on Mac, and why a laptop suits the game master.
- Best D&D audio apps for iPhone (iOS): your phone as a one-tap remote.
- Best D&D audio apps for iPad: a console for building and running scenes.
Free music, ambience and sound effects
- Is Summoning Stone free?: what you get without paying, and what needs a subscription.
- Free D&D music for game masters: free built-in tracks and how to build a scene with them.
- Free tabletop RPG music and sounds: fantasy, modern, sci-fi and horror.
- Free D&D ambience: taverns, dungeons, forests, the sea and more.
- Free D&D sound effects: spells, combat, doors and creatures.
- Free D&D spell sound effects: Fireball, Lightning, Heal and more.
- Free D&D combat sound effects: swords, bows, hits and roars.
- Free sci-fi sounds for tabletop RPGs: lasers, ship hum and alarms.
- Free horror sounds for tabletop RPGs: stings, tension and creepy ambience.
Setting the scene
- How do I show maps and artwork to my D&D players on a TV?: screen mirroring with rain, snow, fog, smoke and magic effects.
- Can I control my D&D soundboard with Siri or a Stream Deck?: hands-free scenes and effects.
- Are there D&D apps that can change the lights?: what works today, from built-in smart home hooks to Siri Shortcuts and Stream Deck.
Looking for the app itself? Summoning Stone for iPhone, iPad and Mac.