Basic Usage

This guide will walk you through creating a simple river sound using the Audio Ribbon Editor.

1. Create a Ribbon

Open the Audio Ribbon Editor from the Tools menu.
Click the Add New Ribbon button (plus icon) in the top toolbar.
Draw the Path: Click on the map to place nodes along your desired path (e.g., following a riverbed).
- The tool allows you to draw the ribbon by placing nodes.
- Place nodes roughly down the center of the feature you are sounding.

Edit Nodes: If the path isn’t perfect, ensure Lock Shape is off, then click and drag individual nodes to refine the curve.
Conform: Click the Conform to Surface button.
- The tool will automatically snap the ribbon nodes to the river surface or terrain below.
- Tip: If you have a River object, this ensures the sound emitter sits exactly on the water surface.
Set Depth: Use the Depth slider.
- For a river, a depth of 1-2m is usually sufficient.
- For a 3D wind tunnel, you might want a larger depth (e.g., 10m).

Select Emitter Type:
- For a river, toggle to Quad Mode. This gives the most realistic result as the water sound changes depending on your viewing angle.
Assign Events: Enter your FMOD event paths in the Event Paths section.
- Example: event:>Ambient>Water>River_Flow_Fast
- Note: You can use the same event for all 4 channels if you just want volumetric sound, or different variations for Front/Rear if your audio bank supports it.

Test the Spatial Audio:
- Move your camera close to the ribbon.
- Use the Mute buttons to isolate the Front channel.
- Rotate your camera. You should hear the sound primarily when looking upstream (or downstream, depending on your event setup).
Adjust Speed:
- Use the Speed slider to match the audio pitch/speed to the visual flow of the water.
Finalize:
- Once satisfied, you can Lock Shape to prevent accidental node movement.
- The ribbon data is saved automatically with your level.