Tutorial on Using Animator Play Audio State Behavior in VR Chat

Introduction

• Historically, tutorials involving audio sources are avoided due to their performance intensity.
• Over eight audio sources can drop an avatar's performance rank to "very poor."
• There is no way to animate swapping an audio clip in an audio source.
• Requires multiple audio sources for multiple sound effects, which is not ideal.

New Solution: Animator Play Audio State Behavior

• Allows specified audio clip to be played from one audio source when state is transitioned.
• Enables use of multiple audio clips without using dozens of audio sources.
• Not compatible with Quest avatars due to audio sources being disabled on VR chat for Android.

Use Case Example: Alien Shooting Beams

• Add an audio source to the avatar.
• Changes settings on the audio source:
  • Set priority to 1 (not 0), to avoid canceling out other audio.
  • Set spatial blend to 1 for 3D audio effects (left or right ear based on listener's position).
  • Under 3D sound settings, set volume rolloff to linear rolloff.
  • Adjust minimum and maximum distance settings to control audibility range.
  • Add VRC spatial audio source component.
    • Set gain and far values same as min and max distance.
    • Toggle on “use audio source volume curve.”

Animator Configuration

• Two states: beam not firing and beam firing.
• In beam firing state:
  • Add VRC animator play audio behavior.
  • Define root path by dragging the audio source.
  • Add audio clips (example uses 10 clips).
  • Playback order settings:
    • Random: Selects a random clip each time.
    • Unique random: Ensures the same clip isn't played twice in a row.
    • Roundabout: Plays clips in order, looping back to first clip after the last.
    • Parameter: Selects clip based on an INT type Avatar parameter.
• Set up playback order to “unique random.”

Additional Settings in Animator Play Audio

• Apply if stopped: Applies setting unless the audio source is already playing.
• Always apply: Setting is applied even if audio source is playing.
• Never apply: Setting is not used.
• Random volume and pitch: Randomized values applied to given settings within a specified range.
• Loop: Determines if the audio source should loop when transitioning.
• Play settings: Specify when to stop or play the audio source and set delay in seconds.

Conclusion

• Animator play audio makes it easier to add sound to avatars.
• Join Discord for help or subscribe for more tutorials.
• Thanks for watching.