Choose audio language and sound output

Separate the track from the output

An audio track is the soundtrack contained in a stream: for example, original-language dialogue, a dub or a commentary. The output is the device carrying the sound, such as a television, headphones or a receiver. A problem with either can sound like “the audio is wrong”, but the checks are different.

Odyssey chooses among tracks supplied by your connected source. It does not translate a film or create surround channels that are absent from the source. Track labels and available formats vary with the file.

Change the current soundtrack

1. Start the correct title and reveal its playback controls.
2. Open Audio in the Odyssey player, or the native player's audio-track controls when that engine is in use.
3. Read the available language and track descriptions. Select the desired soundtrack.
4. Listen to a short dialogue scene. Check whether you selected a dub, commentary or descriptive track rather than relying on the language name alone.

On Apple TV, use the remote to focus and select the Audio control. On touch devices, tap the player controls. The choice list depends on the source and player, so an absent second language cannot be enabled by selecting a different app preference.

Set the language for new titles

1. Open Settings → Playback.
2. Set Audio Language to your preferred language. Automatic keeps the source default.
3. If you choose a specific language, set Audio Fallback if useful. It is disabled while Audio Language is Automatic.
4. Open the next title to test the preference with a file that actually contains the requested language.

Audio Fallback is the alternative language to use when your first choice is unavailable. None keeps the source default instead. A manual track choice takes priority; changing the default is not a command to replace every active soundtrack immediately.

Understand Anime Audio

The separate Anime Audio preference applies to titles labelled Anime. Sub prefers Japanese audio with subtitles. Dub uses your audio language with subtitles off.

For Sub, Odyssey uses your subtitle language; if subtitles are None or Automatic, it falls back to your audio language, or English if both are Automatic. This is a selection preference for the next title, not a guarantee that the requested dub or subtitles exist. You can still choose tracks manually.

Choose stereo or supported multichannel sound

Surround Sound in Playback settings allows multichannel audio on supported outputs. Turning it off requests a stereo downmix. The setting applies when opening a title. Live TV has its own sound preference, so a change to film playback need not change live channels.

If you hear effects but dialogue is very quiet, compare a stereo output or another audio track before changing several settings at once. Also check the television or receiver's own selected input and volume. Those controls are outside Odyssey, and their labels depend on the hardware.

Keep original audio with a sensible fallback

You prefer French dialogue but are happy to use English when a French track is absent. Set Audio Language to French and Audio Fallback to English. A file containing French can use it; a file containing only English can use the fallback. A file with neither will not acquire an extra language.

For a one-off family viewing session, select another available track in the player. Afterwards, reopen a new title to check the normal preference rather than assuming the temporary selection changed the whole library.

Common problems and quick answers

No sound at all: check the output volume and connection, try another title, and compare another available track. Note whether the same source plays sound outside Odyssey.

The wrong language returns: confirm the profile, the title's tracks, the preferred language and Anime Audio. “Automatic” intentionally allows the source default.

Can every device play the same sound format? No. The file, playback engine, output route and receiving hardware all matter. Successful local playback does not guarantee an identical result when casting.

How do I undo my defaults? Return Audio Language to Automatic and restore the output preference you used before. For the current video, choose its original track again.