What is Adaptive Audio?

Video games offer unique challenges to crafting sounds and music, because timing them is dependent on a player's actions. In this collaboration with FMOD, I'll show you what it means to craft a soundtrack that adapts to the variable pace of a video game! Thanks to the team at Firelight Technologies for helping create this!
Visit fmod.com/ to learn more about using FMOD for your adaptive audio projects.
You can also follow me on Twitter: / scruffy_tweets
And hear more of my music on SoundCloud! / scruffysounds

[@BryceD515]

I’ve never heard someone drop an ad read and stay so relevant to the topic of the video, this was wonderful

[@kid0rchid]

Yes I was thinking that too

[@idk-ve9ss]

he totally made content out of the ad, i almost didn’t notice

[@ZikolvinesGames]

The whole video's point is to get to the fmod ad. So the whole video is an ad, that's why it stays very relevant to the topic, the whole video was built around it.

[@redsisco_]

you could say the ad was AD-aptive to the type of video he was making

[@WuchtaArt]

That wasnt even an ad read, it was just a part of the video

[@juang.1947]

Bro wtf stop making such professional level content you're bringing my expectations of other youtubers to professional standards

[@sheeloesreallycool]

The church of yee ikr

[@randohelicopter8760]

i think my favorite kind of adaptive audio is an easter egg in pokemon b/w(?) when the player walks, little drums play in the background alongside whatever is playing, its heccin wholesome and cute.

[@ambergris5705]

Great sound design for this video. No one has picked on that, but the sounds were really soothing and satisfying.

[@madi6880]

The ad for Fmod at the end is the only KZbinr ad I've ever actually enjoyed listening to!

[@ImNotGam]

I never expected FMOD to sponsor a video... I have used FMOD to implement audio in multiple things, but didnt really think of it as something youd see as a sponsor.

[@t-m0917]

Typically if players are to collect multiple items with a sound effect, they would just change the pitch by a half tone and even sometimes add a tiny jingle if you collect everything (like red coins in Mario)

[@JohnnoNonno]

Mr. Scruffy, I've never seen a video so seamlessly transition from a very interesting topic to a sponsorship. Good job.

[@DrewDoesThings]

This was basically an ad for fmod - A very good one. :) You explained it really well and made it interesting to watch as well. I'll definitely keep fmod in mind for the future if I want to make games.

[@randomfips8320]

This the first video I've seen where the sponsor makes sense and actually fits well into the video.

[@kotoriminami8296]

My god, the production value in this video is so high. No joke

[@callmeobsequious]

Actually relevant ad placement...bless you, Scruffy.

[@llammp]

The ironic thing is, is that the music and sounds in the video is fire. Really cool video!

[@hareldor9948]

Lovely and informative as always! Seeing your videos in my inbox is always a treat.

[@DarthClam]

The visual details in this video are incredible

[@paneonsweirdtomfoolery4056]

I’ve had a concept for a racing game where your vehicle has no windows, so you have to use sound effects to gauge the locations of you, your enemies, and what you want

[@jedrzejwilinski8148]

Aside from the informative side, I just sooooo much love all the sounds you put in your videos. That adaptive audio level up sound was so smooth! So much quality!

[@estlin2001]

Holy shit a sponsor that actually naturally flows into the video!?

[@2eAsyf0rm3]

3:30 "That sound gets old fast." Mario, Sonic, Donkey Kong and Crash Bandicoot using the same collecting sound effect for each game: 😳

[@Halefall]

Your videos are always such a treat, and this time it's on one of my favorite topics!

[@Nieton]

This? This is how you do an ad. Keep it intresting and relevant.

[@Sp3ctralI]

Im going have a a lot of fun with adaptive audio and music, especially with one segment of my future game, which is heavily based around music

[@wjzav1971]

I have to think of the Sly Cooper games where the general level theme would get naturally more aggressive and energetic whenever the protagonist got into a fight with an enemy. Or C&C Red Alert 3 where the combat music would get more intense and epic the more fighting was going on.

[@amandamakin1542]

There's adaptive music in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet; the overworld music is remixed when in a battle. Check it out, it's pretty impressive.

[@XenoTracker]

This is just one long ad for fmod And boy is it convincing

[@FrappeChan]

the animation is blowing my mind in this one!! I love your content

[@smonkk8556]

FMOD is an amazing sound system

[@carpydiem]

That bird is a very cute player character.

[@GodLandon]

You are so talented at video creation

[@takemetoyonk]

Man this is exciting and intimidating as a starting video game composer!

[@Ausholliday15]

This is really an informative and elaborate advertisement

[@IsaiahSugar]

like, look, i really appreciate your videos, and i found this very instructional and interesting, but you really do talk about how easy fmod is to use, and how great the ui is, without even once showing me what it looks like. As a viewer, I don't have any reason to believe that you've ever touched this piece of software, even though you try (successfully) to make the ad very much a part of your video. But, I mean, maybe there's something I don't know. Maybe fmod looked at a cut of this video and said "make up look better!" and that's why it sounds the way it does. idk man, it doesn't totally ruin the rest of the good video for me, I still like your explanations of things, and I still like your channel. keep up the good work!

[@koopa1018]

In collaboration with FMOD, eh? Not bad. You've come that far, eh? (I guess I'm just pleasantly surprised to see these two things in the same place~)

[@MegaTheman25]

Doesnt splatoon 2 have adaptive audio when marie and pearl annonouce the stages?

[@SSJDuBois]

I'm a huge fan of your videos! i have really appreciated games differently thanks to your videos! Have you considered doing a video on Bill Wurtz?

[@SNESpaghetti]

i would buy footsteps when it releases

[@Mr.Ltastic]

Damn this channel has really grown i remember you being at like 5k subs

[@octowave6791]

I love your editing style so much, what do you edit on?

[@supremechaosbeing2696]

I can't believe my dummy little game builder garage platformer that plays brass when you run has Adaptive Audio™️

[@supremechaosbeing2696]

Constant ----- (Play) BGM 1.00 Button --------- (Volume) BGM ZR When you don't hold the button, the volume is 0

[@artificialidiot1654]

I didn't know I was watching an ad when he started advertising it

[@fabiofsimoes]

Great vid!!!

[@gatlina6019]

Yo, who else remembered a different game for each example? *Kirby* *Mario Kart* *Zelda* *Super Cat Tales*

[@4rumani]

i also thought about super cat tales

[@karmaneversgone]

Hope he makes a hifi rush video

[@TheTheisson]

the part with the cat bell i would do something different. changing the pitch and sound could lose the association with that sound. i would change the sound entirely to make it more subtle. an example would be the mario coins that went from an ear piercing 8 bit sound to a quiet "pling" in newer games or dk country bananas are also pretty good

[@GabrielsLogic]

0:55 all blender users know this scene🤣

[@ConvenientlyShapedUsername]

0:11 Oh I thought that was the castle from undertale for a second-

[@zitronekoma30]

1:43, hardly anyone does that though, it's generally not fit to the timing of the animation like this. Usually it just goes along the lines of: if ( animation.isPlaying == true) { sound.play(); } obviously not a real programming language but you get the idea (well it is valid in C# syntax wise but whatever)

[@Takon_pilot]

so thats what fmod is

[@anzack2551]

Contrary to the channel's name, your voice is definitely not scruffy. It's very calm and soothing, and it's what I love about your content!

[@victor_creator]

Hmmm... I might play an adventure game called "The Threshold." That sounds interesting...

[@BudderBoyz]

Waiting for Jingle Cat in Smash

[@Dittachu]

Honestly I'm just here for the hello

[@cameron4622]

Amazing

[@intraum]

i would die for jingle cat

[@LucarioredLR]

I wonder what are the chances of you making a Skullgirls or TF2 video, their OST are amazing.

[@MathiGabriel]

I thought I had ad block on

[@loafusloaufusboboafus8971]

[[I aint ‘fraid of no]] STRINGS

[@GoldenGrenadier]

It always bothers me that games almost never implement engine sounds correctly. Mario Kart DS is the only non-simulator style racing game where the engine RPM actually matches the Kart's speed. Sadly the karts apparently only have 1 gear.

[@dimitreze]

LucasArts made a new system in Monkey Island 2 that made the musics change gradually when the character entered a new enviroment, but with no fade. The music would change a few bars later, mute a inatrument, bring a new instrument in. Very elegant.

[@DogeCharger]

SCUMM was an amazing system and so ahead of its time helping redefine adventure games tbh

[@wjzav1971]

Ah, I remember Woodtick on Scabb Island in Monkey Island 2. The entire town played the same theme, but depending on which shop you entered, the instruments would change.

[@superfalconpunch2]

For the record, everyone: This is why you hear boss music.

[@Oretal]

superfalconpunch2 this is a great comment. Thank you

[@yarde.n]

This is wonderful

[@jjay109]

Amazing

[@jcrimson.]

yes

[@butters8832]

ESPECIALLY Pikmin boss music

[@nootaboot7042]

I’d love to see a game by scruffy where he narrates the entire thing Edit: name suggestion: Adventures with scruffy and it’s a game about him making the game while narrating it

[@jlag191]

Nootaboot Bastion X Scruffy collaboration coming

[@fafafafafafafa]

Oh my god, I'm so down for this. I could be playing Sonic 06 and Scruffy's voice would make it an A+ experience!

[@yeetmeintotheabyss2893]

Just talking about how he made the game

[@ariastroke9692]

That should be a real thing

[@parknplay8328]

Scruffy's ''The Stanley Parable' By 'Scruffy' as narrated by 'Scruffy'

[@EchoTheWorld03]

Scruffy *secretly teaching you how to make your own video game*

[@dylanhinkel3548]

EchoTheWorld he’s like extra credits, but not complete shit

[@TapDat52K]

Extra credits has in the past made some incredible things. It is hard tough, to always be pumping out useful content week to week.

[@joychapman9228]

@TuxKat why are you hating on extra credits?

[@chilledge7637]

There you are watching an awesome Scruffy video when all of a sudden you're a Game Creator. You didn't ask for this. You didn't choose this. And yet, there it is.

[@ramonnapolano6308]

ChillEdge 7 you don't need to be a creator. Be a sound artist instead :D

[@Gtcarroll96]

The quality of your visuals and animations are insane. It makes such complex ideas so easy to understand.

[@11equalsfish]

Its really the best of its kind!

[@comradebusman3]

Why does that intro always make me happy and relaxed

[@Ky-Nas]

Because it's happy and relaxing? c:

[@comradebusman3]

@@Ky-Nas that's a good answer. I am happier now.

[@Lamineth]

What does the intro say? I can't seem to place it

[@comradebusman3]

@@Lamineth "Floo fluh duh! Hello, I'm scruffy, and today..."

[@Lamineth]

@@comradebusman3 huh. Well, now I know? Lol

[@spectralid]

I never thought an ad would ever be so interesting to hear about.

[@jimmykemmis9648]

When he first said fmod, I paused the video to start up a game (Terratech) and then the title screen said “This game is made with unity and *_fmod_* ” and i kinda freaked out

[@isweartofuckinggod]

Haha! Fmod is actually an extremely common tool in the world of game development. If you start paying attention, you'll see it everywhere!

[@DexieTheSheep]

Fall Guys has fmod in huge text in the loading screen

[@AttractorsAltAccount]

Along with Cadence of Hyrule having it too

[@diegopugaquintanilla4344]

What a wonderful game that is

[@1e1001]

And also Celeste I guess

[@exceptjerr6409]

The only teacher anyone needs is this fine LAD

[@jeremyaster7470]

*music theory teacher

[@Rygulas]

For those that aren’t aware, LAD stands for Lovable Audio Dude

[@gothicspoon]

I was blown away when I realized that in Mario Maker 2, the sound effect when placing an object changes pitch to follow the music track's (inaudible) "foreground", while a quiet "background" instrumental is always playing. Basically, spamming items in the editor makes a complete instrumental track. It's real neat.

[@amandamakin1542]

Super Mario Odyssey does this too with certain things: - The Green Broodal hat has a noise that spins to the boss music - The electric wires buzzing matches the music, even in Bowser Kingdom, where it's a Koto

[@duane6386]

@@amandamakin1542the power line sound also changes chords when the music does

[@suprltve]

i’d love to see one of your videos turned into a rhythm game chart

[@moth.monster]

If I had the patience to spend the time to make a ten minute stepmania chart i'd do it

[@2burgers2go81]

Scruffy is the only person I know who can seamlessly transition to a sponsor while at the same time getting me excited to hear about them

[@GetMadz]

Love these videos so much :)

[@foxkid2738]

Who doesnt?

[@rachelfajardo9640]

I would die if I could hear scruffy’s intro on repeat forever in heaven

[@Lord_Unchemael]

You would *love* his song titled "What I Love" Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6CsmIh6d62Vo5o

[@11equalsfish]

No you won't, you'll get bored of the few seconds

[@totallyrealcia]

Andy Ren Woah really, who could've guessed?

[@jacobviser9235]

Use me as a scruffy knows his stuffy button.

[@projectasteria]

_click_

[@tekayo63]

No stop like begging

[@theblitz1070]

It's amazing how when Scruffy does ads they're actually fitting for both his channel and the video topic and aren't Raid Shadow Legends shoved into a video that has nothing to do with video games.

[@amandamakin1542]

It's seemless & related to the topic, not obnoxious & intrusive (sick of Nord VPN sponsors on music channel videos, or Raid Shadow Legends during Pokémon videos) The only other seemless one I've seen is a guy with a G-Fuel sponsor during a Pokémon video, where he drinks it & it heals his HP bar & they're usually video game themed versions of their drinks. Pretty clever.

[@AshnSilvercorp]

now this is how a sponsorship should work. The basic education of how you can do it yourself is there, but the service adds a reason and ease in upgrading without sounding like a requirement unless you need the higher levels. And yea, as a one man game dev, I'm probably going to use this. _Even then, how many of you indie developers have a budget above $500,000?_

[@MarlowPreston]

Pretty cool that you seem to have almost gotten a sponsor with fmod. I'm not sure if you got paid directly by them, but their help with bumping up the production quality on this video seems pretty cool, I'm assuming they made some quick black and white 3D games to help get live footage with.

[@ScruffyMusic]

Actually, I created these "games" on my own from scratch, either in Blender or by animating in After Effects. I'm glad they make convincing live footage!

[@MarlowPreston]

@@ScruffyMusic - Ah, I kind of just figured that you would have used FMOD itself in the 3d game audio demonstrations. I already though the 2D games were mock ups since you do a lot of drawings and animations on the channel, but you doing the 3D stuff also is pretty cool. I forgot if you did anything with Blender before this video, but that makes sense since you've also talked about Pikmin models before.

[@ninjoewd4900]

the most collaborative sponsorship i’ve ever seen

[@Gestersmek]

3:29 So many Sonic fangames have this issue.

[@MTB396]

This is A pretty high quality good lesson channel about audio effects for games

[@zh-r4442]

By the end I was like "Wait a sec...did Scruffy get a sponsor? This is so well made I might not have noticed!" Honestly! I want to experiment with Fmod after seeing this groovetastic showcase!

[@Griff-co]

These videos are so cool, how they integrate both music and videogame design in one!

[@tbtb66]

Damn, you really upped to production value Loving it

[@DuskHeart13]

The threshold scenario kind of reminds me of Fire Emblem, where upon entering a battle animation sequence the music changes to become more intense and then reverts back to a more calm and relaxed variant on the overhead view.

[@loogi4062]

Me: sad Scruffy: Hello! Me: Happy

[@dylanhinkel3548]

i can’t stop replaying your intro, it’s so cute uwu

[@greenetomphson6164]

uwu

[@enzoh7151]

uwu

[@dispect7300]

Personally I think of DOOM when I hear this explanation because of how the gameplay and music work together to make the experience never be the same as another time you play.

[@329link]

I really love this video and the insight it provides! Though, I'd disagree on the solution to that fourth game. We have plenty of games to refer to with basic collectibles that you pick up in droves, but only play one sound every time. Mario, for example, has it's coins. Even in the very first game, most people find the sound of getting a coin satisfying, especially in large numbers. I think this is because the first portion of the sound (before it fades away) chains perfectly into itself, creating what almost seems like a new sound altogether when you collect a lot in a row. If the pitch of that sound was constantly changing, it'd be more likely to come off as annoying. Sorry if I'm explaining this poorly, I'm not well versed in the terminology of this topic. I hope I added something to the conversation, though!

[@dantesdiscoinfernolol]

Me: [Wants to make a game] Scruffy: [covers how to make adaptive game music + a tool for that] Me: *:)*

[@dontlookfo2763]

one of my favorite examples of adaptive audio is splatoon 1 splatfests! when you walked around the plaza, depending on which squid sister you were closer to, her vocal track would play louder while the volume of the other squid sister's vocal track would decrease

[@JhoTerra]

THE THRESHOLD This was a pretty neat and digestible tutorial, thanks!

[@drippylad3973]

The hold

[@atcbordercollie8583]

Nice job integrating the ad in a way that's still relevant to the video and not nearly as distracting to the viewer as most sponsors are. It's a refreshing change. Glad you got a sponsor!

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

I've always wondered how Scruffy manages to create such unique, high quality content. His videos are really unique on KZbin.

[@Joeyy1024]

It would be cool if he talked about the music in Persona 5.

[@cirlu_bd]

you'll never see it coming

[@Multi-Waves_Music]

Damn! The effort put into this is amazing

[@CalaCrisp88]

Fascinating video! On a similar note, would you consider doing an analysis of the sound/music design in Untitled Goose Game?

[@troyjohnson2137]

words cannot describe how viscerally uncomfortable i got when the racecar entered the tunnel and the sound did not change

[@WGSen]

You had us at "hello!"

[@faik...]

when this is a 10 minute ad and I enjoyed it

[@lrgogo1517]

You know you have a good relations with your audience when they applaud you for making a video about a sponsor.

[@KKRB3]

Your videos always feel like the same emotion you get from watching something like "how it's made" at 2am on a weekend night - calming, educational, engaging, and overall just very soft and awesome all at once! Love your work :D 💕