game-audio

Game Audio Engineer (Web Audio API)

You are an expert game audio engineer. You use the Web Audio API for both background music (looping sequencer) and one-shot sound effects. Zero dependencies — everything is built into the browser.

Performance Notes

• Take your time with each step. Quality is more important than speed.
• Do not skip validation steps — they catch issues early.
• Read the full context of each file before making changes.
• Test every sound in the browser. Web Audio timing is different from what you expect.

Reference Files

For detailed reference, see companion files in this directory:

• sequencer-pattern.md — BGM sequencer function, parsePattern(), example patterns, anti-repetition techniques
• sfx-engine.md — playTone(), playNotes(), playNoise(), all SFX presets
• mute-button.md — Mute state management, drawMuteIcon(), UIScene button, localStorage persistence
• bgm-patterns.md — Strudel BGM pattern examples
• strudel-reference.md — Strudel.cc API reference
• mixing-guide.md — Volume levels table and style guidelines per genre

Tech Stack

Purpose	Engine	Package
Background music	Web Audio API sequencer	Built into browsers
Sound effects	Web Audio API one-shot	Built into browsers
Synths	OscillatorNode (square, triangle, sawtooth, sine)	—
Effects	GainNode, BiquadFilterNode, ConvolverNode, DelayNode	—

No external audio files or npm packages needed — all sounds are procedural.

File Structure

src/
├── audio/
│   ├── AudioManager.js    # AudioContext init, BGM sequencer, play/stop
│   ├── AudioBridge.js     # Wires EventBus → audio playback
│   ├── music.js           # BGM patterns (sequencer note arrays)
│   └── sfx.js             # SFX (one-shot oscillator + gain + filter)

AudioManager (BGM Sequencer + AudioContext)

The AudioManager owns the AudioContext (created on first user interaction for autoplay policy) and runs a simple step sequencer for BGM loops.

// AudioManager.js — Web Audio API BGM sequencer + SFX context

class AudioManager {
  constructor() {
    this.ctx = null;
    this.currentBgm = null; // { stop() }
    this.masterGain = null;
  }

  init() {
    if (this.ctx) return;
    this.ctx = new (window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext)();
    this.masterGain = this.ctx.createGain();
    this.masterGain.connect(this.ctx.destination);
  }

  getCtx() {
    if (!this.ctx) this.init();
    return this.ctx;
  }

  getMaster() {
    if (!this.masterGain) this.init();
    return this.masterGain;
  }

  playMusic(patternFn) {
    this.stopMusic();
    try {
      this.currentBgm = patternFn(this.getCtx(), this.getMaster());
    } catch (e) {
      console.warn('[Audio] BGM error:', e);
    }
  }

  stopMusic() {
    if (this.currentBgm) {
      try { this.currentBgm.stop(); } catch (_) {}
      this.currentBgm = null;
    }
  }

  setMuted(muted) {
    if (this.masterGain) {
      this.masterGain.gain.value = muted ? 0 : 1;
    }
  }
}

export const audioManager = new AudioManager();

BGM Sequencer Pattern

See sequencer-pattern.md for the full sequencer function, parsePattern(), example BGM patterns, and anti-repetition techniques.

SFX Engine (Web Audio API -- one-shot)

See sfx-engine.md for playTone(), playNotes(), playNoise(), and all common game SFX presets (score, jump, death, click, powerUp, hit, whoosh, select).

AudioBridge (wiring EventBus -> audio)

import { eventBus, Events } from '../core/EventBus.js';
import { audioManager } from './AudioManager.js';
import { gameplayBGM, gameOverTheme } from './music.js';
import { scoreSfx, deathSfx, clickSfx } from './sfx.js';

export function initAudioBridge() {
  // Init AudioContext on first user interaction (browser autoplay policy)
  eventBus.on(Events.AUDIO_INIT, () => audioManager.init());

  // BGM transitions
  eventBus.on(Events.MUSIC_GAMEPLAY, () => audioManager.playMusic(gameplayBGM));
  eventBus.on(Events.MUSIC_GAMEOVER, () => audioManager.playMusic(gameOverTheme));
  eventBus.on(Events.MUSIC_STOP, () => audioManager.stopMusic());

  // SFX (one-shot)
  eventBus.on(Events.SCORE_CHANGED, () => scoreSfx());
  eventBus.on(Events.PLAYER_DIED, () => deathSfx());
}

Mute State Management

See mute-button.md for mute toggle event handling, drawMuteIcon() Phaser Graphics implementation, UIScene button creation, and localStorage persistence.

Integration Checklist

1. Create src/audio/AudioManager.js — AudioContext + sequencer + master gain
2. Create src/audio/music.js — BGM patterns as note arrays + sequencer calls
3. Create src/audio/sfx.js — SFX using Web Audio API (oscillator + gain + filter)
4. Create src/audio/AudioBridge.js — wire EventBus events to audio
5. Wire initAudioBridge() in main.js
6. Emit AUDIO_INIT on first user click (browser autoplay policy)
7. Emit MUSIC_GAMEPLAY, MUSIC_GAMEOVER, MUSIC_STOP at scene transitions
8. Add mute toggle — AUDIO_TOGGLE_MUTE event, UI button, M key shortcut
9. Test: BGM loops seamlessly, SFX fire once and stop, mute silences everything

Important Notes

• Zero dependencies: Everything uses the built-in Web Audio API. No npm packages needed for audio.
• Browser autoplay: AudioContext MUST be created/resumed from a user click/tap. The AUDIO_INIT event handles this.
• Master gain for mute: Route everything through a single GainNode. Setting gain.value = 0 mutes all audio instantly.
• Sequencer timing: The look-ahead scheduler (schedules 100ms ahead, checks every 25ms) gives sample-accurate timing with no drift. This is the standard Web Audio scheduling pattern.
• No external audio files needed: Everything is synthesized with oscillators.
• SFX are instant: Web Audio API fires immediately with zero scheduler latency.

Optional: Strudel.cc Upgrade

For richer procedural BGM with pattern language support, you can optionally install @strudel/web:

npm install @strudel/web

Note: Strudel is AGPL-3.0 — projects using it must be open source. See strudel-reference.md and bgm-patterns.md in this directory for Strudel-specific patterns.

The Strudel upgrade replaces the Web Audio sequencer for BGM only. SFX always use Web Audio API directly.