Audio Middleware for Game Development
Implementing sound in games can be challenging, and developers have various tools to help them. While native game engine audio managers like Unity or Unreal Engine’s Blueprint can be useful, there are several reasons to choose audio middleware like WWISE or FMOD instead.
While game engines can be useful if you are a really skilled game programmer, there are several reasons why game developers should use a middleware such as WWISE or FMOD to implement sound.
Let me show you five reasons why game developers should avoid the engine audio manager for implementing sound
Specialized tools:
Unity or Unreal Engine, have many of the easy to use GUI tools designed for creating 3D graphics and gameplay mechanics. Although, you can create your own audio manager, it may lack specialized tools for interactive integration as smooth as audio middleware such as WWISE and FMOD
Optimization and Porting:
Engines often have limited audio capabilities compared to dedicated audio middleware when you need to work with multiple platforms. For example, it can be really time consuming to perform advanced audio optimization features and polish the results when working directly on the engine.
Mixing the Game:
Game engines may not be designed for mixing large amounts of audio files, and profiling them to compare one to the other can result in a complex task for the development team, which can lead to performance issues such as different volumes throughout the game or poor integration system.
Variation:
Game engines may not offer the same level of flexibility as dedicated audio middleware when it comes to create and vary sound for a better immersive result. For example, it may be difficult to create filters that interact with the mechanics, create unique ambience or to build footsteps variation for each character of the game.
Audio scripting:
For a professional result you may need to have an experienced developer on the team dealing with the game engine’s audio scripting, demanding from the developer a lot of time to build a complex and dynamic audio system.
In conclusion, while game engines can be a useful tool for implementing sound in games, they have several limitations that may make them less suitable for certain tasks.
Dedicated audio middleware, such as WWISE and FMOD, can offer more specialized tools, greater audio capabilities, better integration with external software, and more flexibility and scripting options for implementing sound. Game developers should carefully consider their needs and choose the tools that best suit their project.
And if you still think that a good implementation with these programs won’t make that much difference. Our latest article Make your education game more interactive and immersive with sound effects! speaks volumes about how a quality audio implementation makes all the difference in your projects. Check it out!
