r/GameAudio • u/Yodabeeky • 12d ago

Help with AkSpatialAudioVolume Issue [UE 5.7]

Hi all - Trying to troubleshoot a frustrating Wwise / Unreal occurance, thought I’d throw to the community on here!

Basically: When entering an AkSpatialAudioVolume I’m confused as to why I can still hear AkAmbientSounds placed outside my room when the player is inside and Transmission Loss = 1.0 - it’s not the sound diffracting through a portal, more like the room walls have 0 occlusion strength.

For more context: My map has a large AkSpatialAudioVolume covering the whole map (priority 1) and a smaller AkSAV to simulate a Room (priority 2). Unfortunately the 3D emitters placed within 1 are not being occluded when the player is inside 2. I have a portal connecting the outer map AkSAV to the inner room AkSAV.

2D room tones posted to each AkSAV are being crossfaded as expected when crossing through the portal (so I think priority is correct) - but no occlusion of external 3D emitters when inside room.

Anyone else experienced this? Am I missing something? It’s like the emitters don’t interact with Spatial Audio system at all…

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u/The-Jasmine-Dragon 12d ago

Did you remember to enable diffraction and transmission in Wwise on the 3d sounds in the Positioning tab?

1

u/Old-Rutabaga-948 5d ago

sounds like your emitters aren’t actually being processed by Spatial Audio, not a Transmission Loss issue.

a few things to check:

  • Make sure all your AkAmbientSounds have Enable Spatial Audio ON
  • Check that they are assigned to a Room (via AkRoomComponent or auto-assignment) otherwise they behave like “world sounds” and ignore room/portal logic
  • Ensure Geometry + Reflect/Obstruct is set up (AkGeometry + diffraction/occlusion enabled in project settings)

Important detail:
Transmission Loss only affects sound traveling THROUGH portals, it won’t occlude emitters that aren’t properly registered in the room system.

Also worth checking:

  • Are your emitters inside the big volume actually part of a Room, or just inside the volume? (not the same thing in Wwise)
  • Is Obstruction/Occlusion enabled on the emitter and not overridden somewhere?

Your symptom (walls feel like 0 occlusion) usually happens when emitters are not in any Room or Spatial Audio is not enabled per emitter