Audio Effects

Audio effects include reverb presets for spatial acoustics and EQ presets for frequency filtering. These effects are applied based on environment and player location.

Asset Location

• DirectoryAssets/Server/Audio/

  • DirectoryReverb/

    • Rev_Default.json
    • Rev_Cave.json
    • Rev_Forest.json
    • Rev_Plains.json
    • Rev_Temple.json
    • …
  • DirectoryEQ/

    • EQ_Default.json
    • EQ_Underwater.json

Reverb Presets

Reverb simulates how sound reflects in different environments. Hytale includes 21 reverb presets.

Reverb Schema

Field	Type	Range	Description
DryGain	float	-100 to 0	Direct sound level (dB)
Gain	float	-100 to 0	Overall reverb level (dB)
ModalDensity	float	0 to 1	Echo density
Diffusion	float	0 to 1	Diffusion amount
DecayTime	float	0.1 to 20	Reverb tail length (seconds)
HighFrequencyGain	float	-100 to 0	High frequency attenuation (dB)
HighFrequencyDecayRatio	float	0.1 to 2	HF decay relative to LF
ReflectionGain	float	-100 to 10	Early reflections level (dB)
ReflectionDelay	float	0 to 0.3	Early reflection delay (seconds)
LateReverbGain	float	-100 to 20	Late reverb level (dB)
LateReverbDelay	float	0 to 0.1	Late reverb delay (seconds)
RoomRolloffFactor	float	0 to 10	Distance attenuation factor
AirAbsorbptionHighFrequencyGain	float	-100 to 0	Air absorption (dB)
LimitDecayHighFrequency	bool	-	Limit HF decay to LF

Available Presets

Outdoor Presets

Preset	Decay Time	Character
Rev_Plains	Short	Open, minimal reflection
Rev_Plains_Desert	Short	Dry, sparse
Rev_Plains_Fog	Short	Muffled
Rev_Plains_Snow	Short	Crisp, dampened
Rev_Forest	Medium	Natural, diffuse
Rev_Forest_Desert	Medium	Sparse canopy
Rev_Forest_Fog	Medium	Dense, atmospheric
Rev_Forest_Snow	Medium	Muted, cold
Rev_Mountain	Long	Open, echoing
Rev_Mountain_Fog	Long	Atmospheric
Rev_Mountain_Snow	Long	Cold, distant
Rev_Swamp	Medium	Wet, dense
Rev_Swamp_Foggy	Medium	Heavy atmosphere

Interior Presets

Preset	Decay Time	Character
Rev_Cave	Long (~11s)	Cavernous, deep echoes
Rev_Mineshaft	Medium	Enclosed, metallic
Rev_Temple	Medium	Stone, reverent
Rev_Temple_Grand	Long	Large hall, majestic
Rev_Mage_Tower	Medium	Magical resonance
Rev_Village	Short	Populated, domestic
Rev_Reflective_Slap	Short	Hard surfaces

Example: Cave Reverb

Rev_Cave.json

{
  "DryGain": 0,
  "ModalDensity": 1,
  "Diffusion": 1,
  "Gain": -15,
  "HighFrequencyGain": -39,
  "DecayTime": 11,
  "HighFrequencyDecayRatio": 1.3,
  "ReflectionGain": -10.4,
  "ReflectionDelay": 0.2,
  "LateReverbGain": 0,
  "LateReverbDelay": 0.02,
  "RoomRolloffFactor": 0,
  "AirAbsorbptionHighFrequencyGain": -0.05,
  "LimitDecayHighFrequency": false
}

Key characteristics:

• Long decay (11s) - Creates deep cave echo
• High diffusion (1.0) - Smooth reverb tail
• High frequency attenuation (-39 dB) - Muffled, distant sound
• Delayed reflections (0.2s) - Simulates large space

Example: Plains Reverb

Rev_Plains.json

{
  "DryGain": 0,
  "ModalDensity": 0.3,
  "Diffusion": 0.8,
  "Gain": -25,
  "HighFrequencyGain": -5,
  "DecayTime": 1.5,
  "HighFrequencyDecayRatio": 0.8,
  "ReflectionGain": -20,
  "ReflectionDelay": 0.01,
  "LateReverbGain": -15,
  "LateReverbDelay": 0.01,
  "RoomRolloffFactor": 0,
  "AirAbsorbptionHighFrequencyGain": -0.02,
  "LimitDecayHighFrequency": true
}

Key characteristics:

• Short decay (1.5s) - Open air, minimal reflection
• Low density (0.3) - Sparse environment
• Quiet reverb (-25 dB) - Natural outdoor feel

EQ Presets

EQ (equalization) adjusts frequency balance for special audio conditions.

EQ Schema

Field	Type	Description
LowGain	float	Bass frequency gain (dB)
LowCutOff	float	Low band frequency (Hz)
LowMidGain	float	Low-mid frequency gain (dB)
LowMidCenter	float	Low-mid center frequency (Hz)
LowMidWidth	float	Low-mid bandwidth
HighMidGain	float	High-mid frequency gain (dB)
HighMidCenter	float	High-mid center frequency (Hz)
HighMidWidth	float	High-mid bandwidth
HighGain	float	Treble frequency gain (dB)
HighCutOff	float	High band frequency (Hz)

Available Presets

Preset	Description
EQ_Default	No frequency adjustment
EQ_Underwater	Muffled, filtered sound

Example: Underwater EQ

EQ_Underwater.json

{
  "LowGain": 0,
  "LowCutOff": 300,
  "LowMidGain": -17.19,
  "LowMidCenter": 1000,
  "LowMidWidth": 1,
  "HighMidGain": -17.9,
  "HighMidCenter": 1500,
  "HighMidWidth": 1,
  "HighGain": -17.9,
  "HighCutOff": 4000
}

Key characteristics:

• Bass preserved (0 dB) - Low frequencies travel well underwater
• Mid frequencies cut (~-17 dB) - Muffled speech and effects
• High frequencies cut (~-18 dB) - Water absorbs high frequencies

Environment Application

Effects are applied based on environment configuration:

Environment reference example

{
  "ReverbPresetId": "Rev_Cave",
  "EQPresetId": "EQ_Default"
}

Transition Blending

When moving between environments, effects crossfade:

• Reverb parameters interpolate smoothly
• EQ settings blend over transition duration
• Player position determines active environment

Creating Custom Effects

Custom Reverb

MyPlugin_Rev_CustomDungeon.json

{
  "DryGain": 0,
  "ModalDensity": 0.7,
  "Diffusion": 0.9,
  "Gain": -18,
  "HighFrequencyGain": -25,
  "DecayTime": 4.5,
  "HighFrequencyDecayRatio": 1.0,
  "ReflectionGain": -8,
  "ReflectionDelay": 0.08,
  "LateReverbGain": -5,
  "LateReverbDelay": 0.03,
  "RoomRolloffFactor": 0,
  "AirAbsorbptionHighFrequencyGain": -0.03,
  "LimitDecayHighFrequency": true
}

Custom EQ

MyPlugin_EQ_Magical.json

{
  "LowGain": 3,
  "LowCutOff": 200,
  "LowMidGain": 0,
  "LowMidCenter": 800,
  "LowMidWidth": 1,
  "HighMidGain": 2,
  "HighMidCenter": 3000,
  "HighMidWidth": 0.8,
  "HighGain": 4,
  "HighCutOff": 8000
}

Reverb Design Guidelines

Small Spaces

Parameter	Value	Reason
DecayTime	0.5-2s	Quick reflections
ReflectionDelay	0.01-0.05s	Close walls
Gain	-20 to -10	Moderate effect

Large Spaces

Parameter	Value	Reason
DecayTime	3-8s	Long echoes
ReflectionDelay	0.1-0.3s	Distant walls
Gain	-15 to -5	Prominent effect

Outdoor

Parameter	Value	Reason
DecayTime	0.5-2s	Minimal reflection
ModalDensity	0.2-0.5	Sparse echoes
Gain	-30 to -20	Subtle effect

Related

• Audio Overview - Audio system overview
• Sound Events - Sound event definitions
• Environments - Environment configuration