SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder

SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder is a plug-in for Wwise that converts an ambisonic input into speaker feeds for a configurable loudspeaker layout. Choose a decoding method, set the speaker positions, and use RTPCs to control the decoder’s properties. The decoder works only on an Audio Bus with an Ambisonics bus configuration. It can run on that bus without physical loudspeakers connected.

Setup guide

Currently supported Wwise version: 2025.1.11.9262. The screenshots in this walkthrough were captured on Windows. Click any screenshot to open a larger view.

1. Install the plug-in

In the Wwise Launcher, install SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder for the Wwise version you will use to open the project.

Install SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder for the Wwise version used by your project.

2. Create a project and import the presets

Create a new Wwise project. Under Import factory assets to project, select SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder to include the loudspeaker-layout presets.

Import the SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder factory presets when creating a project.

3. Create an ambisonic bus

Under Main Audio Bus, create a child Audio Bus. The example names this bus SFX_SOA.

Create an Audio Bus under Main Audio Bus.

Set its Bus Configuration to the ambisonic order required by your project. The screenshot uses Ambisonics 5th order.

Choose an ambisonic bus configuration. This example uses fifth-order ambisonics.

4. Add SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder

Open the bus’s Effects tab and add SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder.

Add SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder on the bus’s Effects tab.

Open the effect to see its controls. Select a property to read its description in the Contextual Help panel.

Open the decoder interface; select a property to read its Contextual Help.

5. Configure the loudspeaker layout

Choose a preset from the preset menu, or configure the layout using Outputs and each speaker’s Azimuth, Elevation, and Phantom controls. The property reference below explains these settings.

Choose a loudspeaker-layout preset from the preset menu.

6. Create and position a test sound

Create a Sine source under a Contents Work Unit for the playback test.

Create a Sine source for a playback test.

To position the sound relative to the listener in a game, open Positioning, enable Listener Relative Routing, and set 3D Spatialization to Position + Orientation. The example uses Emitter for 3D Position.

Enable Listener Relative Routing and set 3D Spatialization to Position + Orientation.

7. Route the sound to the ambisonic bus

On the sound’s Routing tab, set Output Bus to the ambisonic bus created earlier.

Route the test sound to the ambisonic bus.

8. Monitor the decoded output

Select the ambisonic bus in the Meter view.

Select the ambisonic bus in the Meter view.

Play the test sound and inspect the meters while checking the configured loudspeaker layout.

Play the sound and inspect the decoded output with your configured speaker layout.

9. Configure multichannel hardware output

If you need multichannel hardware output, create a SoundTeG Multichannel Output Audio Device. Follow the SoundTeG Multichannel Output guide to assign it to Main Audio Bus and select the hardware.

Create a SoundTeG Multichannel Output Audio Device when using multichannel hardware.

Plug-in properties

Property	Description
Outputs	The total number of speaker outputs calculated by the decoder. Range: 2–36 outputs. Older tutorial screenshots may show the previous minimum of 4.
Decode Method	The method used to convert the ambisonic input into audio for the selected loudspeaker layout. See the method table below.
Apply MaxRE Weights	Applies energy-vector (max-rE) weighting to the decoding matrix. This is used to improve directional imaging and reduce coloration when the listener is outside the exact sweet spot.

Decode Method

Value	Method
1 — SAD	Sampling Ambisonic Decoder
2 — MMD	Mode Matching Decoder
3 — EPAD	Energy-Preserving Ambisonic Decoder
4 — ALLRAD	All-Round Ambisonic Decoder

CPU usage: ALLRAD may use more CPU, especially with higher ambisonic orders or more output speakers.

Speaker position and phantom channels

The following properties are available for each of the 36 speaker channels.

Property	Description
Azimuth	Defines the horizontal angle of the speaker.
Elevation	Defines the vertical angle of the speaker.
Phantom	Marks the channel as an imaginary loudspeaker. ALLRAD uses its direction to help maintain a stable sound field where real speakers are missing, such as below the listener.

A phantom channel outputs no sound in any decoding method. Enable Phantom for a direction with no real speaker.

RTPC setup

Control properties with Game Parameters

Decoder properties can be controlled through RTPCs. Open the decoder’s RTPC tab to bind a property to a Game Parameter.

Use the RTPC tab to bind decoder properties to Game Parameters.

Optional: create the RTPCs with the helper script

The create_decoder_rtpcs.py helper creates or updates 111 Game Parameters and their bindings for a selected decoder instance. It requires Python 3.9 or later and uses Wwise Authoring’s WAAPI connection. No additional Python packages are required.

Download

create_decoder_rtpcs.py

Keep the Wwise project open and enable WAAPI in Wwise User Preferences. The helper uses the local HTTP port 8090 by default.
Select the bus containing the decoder instance you want to configure. If several instances exist, work on one instance at a time.
Open a command prompt. Replace the example path below with the location where you saved the script.
Run the command, check the reported result, then open the decoder’s RTPC tab and save the Wwise project.

python "path/to/create_decoder_rtpcs.py" --apply

You can type python , drag the script file into the command prompt to insert its path, and append --apply. Running the script without --apply previews the changes.

Run the optional decoder RTPC helper from a command prompt.

The helper reports the created Game Parameters and verified RTPC bindings.

Troubleshooting

The sound becomes silent

If the sound becomes silent, first check the Audio Bus containing SoundTeG Ambisonic Decoder: Bus Configuration must be set to Ambisonics. The decoder works only on an ambisonic bus. If an individual speaker channel is silent, check its Phantom setting; phantom channels are intentionally silent. Also check the sound’s Output Bus, the decoder layout, and the hardware output routing.

The RTPC helper cannot connect

Keep Wwise open, enable WAAPI, and check the HTTP port in User Preferences. If the helper cannot identify a decoder instance, select its bus in Wwise and try again.

For further help, contact Support with your Wwise version, plug-in version, operating system, audio device, speaker layout, and a description of the result.

Demo: My World

My World demonstrates the SoundTeG plug-ins in Unity and Wwise. Visit the Demo page for its setup guide, project repositories, and Windows, macOS, and Android builds.