A different approach to improving sound.

display.py

@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ def initialize_gui(gameTitle):
 
     # Initialize audio system if not already done
     if not pygame.mixer.get_init():
-        pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 4096)
+        pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 4096, allowedchanges=0)
         pygame.mixer.init()
         pygame.mixer.set_num_channels(32)
-        pygame.mixer.set_reserved(0)  # Reserve channel for cut scenes
+        pygame.mixer.set_reserved(1)  # Reserve channel 0 for cutscenes
 
     # Enable key repeat for volume controls
     pygame.key.set_repeat(500, 100)

sound.py

@@ -33,25 +33,22 @@ def find_silent_channels():
     return silent_channels
 
 def find_available_channel():
-    """Find an available channel, prioritizing silent channels over stopping active ones."""
-    # Try to find an idle channel first
-    for n in range(pygame.mixer.get_num_channels()):
-        channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(n)
-        if not channel.get_busy():
+    """Find an available channel using pygame's built-in method."""
+    # Try to find an idle channel first, or force stop the longest running sound
+    channel = pygame.mixer.find_channel(True)
+
+    # If channel 0 was selected and it's reserved for cutscenes, try to use another
+    if channel and channel == pygame.mixer.Channel(0):
+        # Check if there's another available channel
+        alt_channel = pygame.mixer.find_channel(False)  # Don't force
+        if alt_channel:
+            return alt_channel
+        # If no alternative and we need to force, check if channel 1+ exists
+        if pygame.mixer.get_num_channels() > 1:
+            channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(1)
+            channel.stop()
             return channel
 
-    # If no idle channels, look for silent ones to reclaim
-    silent_channels = find_silent_channels()
-    if silent_channels:
-        # Stop the first silent channel and return it
-        channel = silent_channels[0]
-        channel.stop()
-        return channel
-
-    # If no silent channels, stop channel 1 as last resort (avoid channel 0 - reserved for cutscenes)
-    # This ensures sounds always play rather than being silently dropped
-    channel = pygame.mixer.Channel(1)
-    channel.stop()
     return channel
 
 def play_sound_with_retry(sound, loop=False, max_retries=3):
@@ -116,7 +113,7 @@ class Sound:
         self.volumeService = volumeService or VolumeService.get_instance()
 
         if not pygame.mixer.get_init():
-            pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 4096)
+            pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 4096, allowedchanges=0)
             pygame.mixer.init()
             pygame.mixer.set_num_channels(32)
             pygame.mixer.set_reserved(1)  # Reserve channel 0 for cutscenes

utils.py

@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class Game:
         pygame.display.set_caption(self.title)
 
         # Set up audio system
-        pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 1024)
+        pygame.mixer.pre_init(44100, -16, 2, 1024, allowedchanges=0)
         pygame.mixer.init()
         pygame.mixer.set_num_channels(32)
         pygame.mixer.set_reserved(0)  # Reserve channel for cut scenes