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Placing Sound Effects in a Map

A quick guide to placing sound effects in a map.

Point Speakers​

Point Speakers are 3D points in the game world from which audio can emit.

Place a Point Speaker​

  1. With a map open in World Editor, Right Click → New Entity → Sound → Soundentity
    place a point speaker step 1
  2. Select the new sound entity and press the W key to bring up the position manipulation widget. Place the point speaker where you want the sound to play from.
    place a point speaker step 2
  3. With the sound entity selected, open Entity Inspector. Add Start or Stop Events to the sound entity, or start the sound by default.
    place a point speaker step 3
  4. In the Entity Inspector you can:
    • Start When Spawned – turns the speaker on when the map is loaded.
    • + button (next to Start/Stop Events) – allows you to connect a sound event.
    • :arrow_forward: button – allows you to preview the selected sound event.

Beam Speakers​

Beam Speakers are speakers that slide across a fixed axis.

  • Useful for things like:
    • Distant objects outside of the playable game area the we want to hear from multiple locations
    • Walls of fire
    • Waterfalls
    • Electrical hazards

Place a Beam Speaker​

  1. With a map open in World Editor, Right-click → New Entity → Sound → Soundbeamentity
    place a beam speaker step 1
  2. Select the new sound beam entity and press the W key to bring up the position manipulation widget. Place the beam speaker on one end of the axis you wish to create.
  3. With the beam speaker selected, open Entity Inspector. Use the Offset value to set the opposing endpoint of the beam along its axis.
    place a beam speaker step 3
    Offset values
info

In the reference image below:

  • Green vertical line – the axis that the speaker is constrained to
  • Pink square – axis endpoint

The speaker will always try to be as close to the player as possible along its axis.

place a beam speaker step 3a
Speaker following an axis aligned with the chain

Box Speakers​

Box Speakers are speakers that are confined to a predetermined “box” and can play anywhere within it.

  • Useful for things like:
    • Faking 2d sound beds by having a very long thin box above the players head
    • Pools of water/gore
    • Hazards
    • Large scale ambiance

Place a Box Speaker​

  1. With a map open in World Editor, Right-click → New Entity → Sound → Soundboxentity
    place a box speaker step 1
  2. Select the new sound box entity and press the W key to bring up the position manipulation widget. Place the box speaker in the center of the zone you wish to create.
  3. With the beam speaker selected, open Entity Inspector. Use the Extents value to create the dimensions of the box.
    place a box speaker step 3
info

In the reference image below:

  • Orange lines - represent the dimensions of the box

The speaker will always attempt to be as close to the player as possible, within the confines of the box.

place a box speaker step 3a
Speaker confined to a predetermined “box”