Sound Utilities

Amber provides utilities for playing sounds to players, managing sound events, and creating audio feedback. These utilities help simplify common sound tasks and provide consistent behavior across platforms.

Deprecated

The SoundHelper class is deprecated and will be removed in Amber 10.0.

For player-directed sounds, use com.iamkaf.amber.api.functions.v1.PlayerFunctions.playSound()
For position-based sounds, use com.iamkaf.amber.api.functions.v1.WorldFunctions.playSoundAt()

See Functions API → PlayerFunctions or Functions API → WorldFunctions for the new API.

SoundHelper

The SoundHelper class provides methods for playing sounds to players.

Basic Sound Playback

Play sounds to players:

java

import com.iamkaf.amber.api.sound.SoundHelper;

public class SoundEffects {
    // Play success sound
    public static void playSuccessSound(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.UI_TOAST_CHALLENGE_COMPLETE);
    }
    
    // Play error sound
    public static void playErrorSound(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.UI_BUTTON_CLICK);
    }
    
    // Play level up sound
    public static void playLevelUpSound(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.PLAYER_LEVELUP, SoundSource.MASTER, 1.0f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    // Play custom sound with parameters
    public static void playCustomSound(Player player, SoundEvent sound, float volume, float pitch) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, volume, pitch);
    }
    
    // Play ambient sound
    public static void playAmbientSound(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.AMBIENT_CAVE, SoundSource.AMBIENT, 0.5f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    // Play note block sound
    public static void playNoteSound(Player player, NoteBlockInstrument instrument, int note) {
        // Calculate pitch from note
        float pitch = (float) Math.pow(2.0, (note - 12) / 12.0);
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, 
            SoundEvents.NOTE_BLOCK_HARP.get(), 
            SoundSource.RECORDS, 
            1.0f, 
            pitch);
    }
}

Advanced Sound Control

Control sound playback with more options:

java

public class AdvancedSoundEffects {
    // Play sound with distance attenuation
    public static void playPositionalSound(Player player, Vec3 position, SoundEvent sound, float maxDistance) {
        // Calculate volume based on distance
        double distance = player.position().distanceTo(position);
        float volume = (float) Math.max(0, 1.0 - (distance / maxDistance));
        
        if (volume > 0) {
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, volume, 1.0f);
        }
    }
    
    // Play sound with random pitch variation
    public static void playVariablePitchSound(Player player, SoundEvent sound, float basePitch, float variation) {
        Random random = new Random();
        float pitch = basePitch + (random.nextFloat() - 0.5f) * variation;
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, pitch);
    }
    
    // Play sound with fade in/out
    public static void playFadingSound(ServerPlayer player, SoundEvent sound, int fadeInTicks, int durationTicks, int fadeOutTicks) {
        // Initial volume (silently)
        float initialVolume = 0.0f;
        
        // Play initial sound
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, initialVolume, 1.0f);
        
        // Schedule fade in
        if (fadeInTicks > 0) {
            scheduleFade(player, sound, initialVolume, 1.0f, fadeInTicks);
        }
        
        // Schedule fade out
        if (fadeOutTicks > 0) {
            scheduleFade(player, sound, 1.0f, 0.0f, durationTicks + fadeOutTicks);
        }
    }
    
    private static void scheduleFade(ServerPlayer player, SoundEvent sound, float startVolume, float endVolume, int duration) {
        if (player.level() instanceof ServerLevel serverLevel) {
            // This would require a more complex implementation with custom packets
            // For now, we'll just play the sound at the end volume
            serverLevel.getServer().schedule(() -> {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, endVolume, 1.0f);
            }, duration);
        }
    }
    
    // Play sound sequence
    public static void playSoundSequence(Player player, List<SoundEvent> sounds, int intervalTicks) {
        for (int i = 0; i < sounds.size(); i++) {
            final int index = i;
            
            if (player.level() instanceof ServerLevel serverLevel) {
                serverLevel.getServer().schedule(() -> {
                    SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sounds.get(index), SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
                }, i * intervalTicks);
            }
        }
    }
}

Sound Management

Sound Categories

Organize sounds by category:

java

public class SoundCategories {
    // UI sounds
    public static void playUISound(Player player, UISoundType type) {
        SoundEvent sound = switch (type) {
            case SUCCESS -> SoundEvents.UI_TOAST_CHALLENGE_COMPLETE;
            case ERROR -> SoundEvents.UI_BUTTON_CLICK;
            case WARNING -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_NOTE_BLOCK_BIT.get();
            case INFO -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_NOTE_BLOCK_HAT.get();
        };
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.UI, 0.5f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    public enum UISoundType {
        SUCCESS, ERROR, WARNING, INFO
    }
    
    // Ambient sounds
    public static void playAmbientSound(Player player, AmbientSoundType type) {
        SoundEvent sound = switch (type) {
            case CAVE -> SoundEvents.AMBIENT_CAVE;
            case UNDERWATER -> SoundEvents.AMBIENT_UNDERWATER_LOOP;
            case NETHER -> SoundEvents.AMBIENT_CRIMSON_FOREST_LOOP;
            case END -> SoundEvents.AMBIENT_THE_END_LOOP;
        };
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.AMBIENT, 0.3f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    public enum AmbientSoundType {
        CAVE, UNDERWATER, NETHER, END
    }
    
    // Action sounds
    public static void playActionSound(Player player, ActionSoundType type) {
        SoundEvent sound = switch (type) {
            case PICKUP -> SoundEvents.ITEM_PICKUP;
            case PLACE -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_STONE_PLACE;
            case BREAK -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_STONE_BREAK;
            case HIT -> SoundEvents.ENTITY_PLAYER_HURT;
        };
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 0.7f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    public enum ActionSoundType {
        PICKUP, PLACE, BREAK, HIT
    }
}

Sound Events

Create and manage custom sound events:

java

public class CustomSoundEvents {
    // Register custom sound events
    public static final RegistrySupplier<SoundEvent> MAGIC_CAST = 
        DeferredRegister.create("mymod", Registries.SOUND_EVENT)
            .register("magic_cast", () -> SoundEvent.createVariableRangeEvent(
                ResourceLocation.fromNamespaceAndPath("mymod", "magic_cast")));
    
    public static final RegistrySupplier<SoundEvent> MAGIC_EXPLOSION = 
        DeferredRegister.create("mymod", Registries.SOUND_EVENT)
            .register("magic_explosion", () -> SoundEvent.createVariableRangeEvent(
                ResourceLocation.fromNamespaceAndPath("mymod", "magic_explosion")));
    
    public static final RegistrySupplier<SoundEvent> LEVEL_UP_FANFARE = 
        DeferredRegister.create("mymod", Registries.SOUND_EVENT)
            .register("level_up_fanfare", () -> SoundEvent.createVariableRangeEvent(
                ResourceLocation.fromNamespaceAndPath("mymod", "level_up_fanfare")));
    
    // Play custom sounds
    public static void playMagicCast(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, MAGIC_CAST.get(), SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    public static void playMagicExplosion(Player player, Vec3 position) {
        // Play at specific position (requires custom implementation)
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, MAGIC_EXPLOSION.get(), SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    public static void playLevelUpFanfare(Player player) {
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, LEVEL_UP_FANFARE.get(), SoundSource.MASTER, 0.8f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    // Play sound with random selection
    public static void playRandomMagicSound(Player player) {
        List<SoundEvent> magicSounds = Arrays.asList(
            MAGIC_CAST.get(),
            SoundEvents.ENTITY_EVOKER_CAST_SPELL,
            SoundEvents.ENTITY_ILLUSIONER_CAST_SPELL
        );
        
        SoundEvent sound = magicSounds.get(player.getRandom().nextInt(magicSounds.size()));
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
    }
}

Sound Feedback Systems

Interactive Sound Feedback

Create sound feedback for player interactions:

java

public class SoundFeedback {
    // Play sound based on interaction result
    public static void playInteractionSound(Player player, InteractionResult result) {
        SoundEvent sound = switch (result) {
            case SUCCESS -> SoundEvents.UI_BUTTON_CLICK;
            case CONSUME -> SoundEvents.ITEM_PICKUP;
            case FAIL -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_NOTE_BLOCK_BASS.get();
            case PASS -> SoundEvents.BLOCK_NOTE_BLOCK_SNARE.get();
            default -> SoundEvents.UI_BUTTON_CLICK;
        };
        
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.UI, 0.5f, 1.0f);
    }
    
    // Play sound for tool durability
    public static void playToolDurabilitySound(Player player, ItemStack tool) {
        float damage = (float) tool.getDamageValue() / tool.getMaxDamage();
        
        if (damage > 0.8f) {
            // Tool almost broken
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.ENTITY_ITEM_BREAK, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
        } else if (damage > 0.5f) {
            // Tool damaged
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.BLOCK_STONE_HIT, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 0.5f, 1.0f);
        }
    }
    
    // Play sound for player health
    public static void playHealthSound(Player player) {
        float healthPercentage = player.getHealth() / player.getMaxHealth();
        
        if (healthPercentage < 0.2f) {
            // Critical health
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.ENTITY_PLAYER_HURT, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 0.8f);
        } else if (healthPercentage < 0.5f) {
            // Low health
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.BLOCK_NOTE_BLOCK_BIT.get(), SoundSource.PLAYERS, 0.3f, 1.0f);
        }
    }
    
    // Play sound for experience gain
    public static void playExperienceSound(Player player, int experience) {
        if (experience >= 100) {
            // Large amount of experience
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.ENTITY_PLAYER_LEVELUP, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, 1.0f);
        } else if (experience >= 10) {
            // Medium amount of experience
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.EXPERIENCE_ORB_PICKUP, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 0.8f, 1.2f);
        } else {
            // Small amount of experience
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.EXPERIENCE_ORB_PICKUP, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 0.5f, 1.0f);
        }
    }
}

Environmental Sounds

Create dynamic environmental sound effects:

java

public class EnvironmentalSounds {
    // Play biome-specific ambient sounds
    public static void playBiomeAmbientSound(Player player) {
        Level level = player.level();
        BlockPos pos = player.blockPosition();
        
        Biome biome = level.getBiome(pos).value();
        
        if (biome.getBiomeCategory() == Biome.BiomeCategory.NETHER) {
            // Nether sounds
            if (player.getRandom().nextFloat() < 0.1f) {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.AMBIENT_NETHER_WASTES_LOOP, 
                    SoundSource.AMBIENT, 0.2f, 1.0f);
            }
        } else if (biome.getBiomeCategory() == Biome.BiomeCategory.THEEND) {
            // End sounds
            if (player.getRandom().nextFloat() < 0.1f) {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.AMBIENT_THE_END_LOOP, 
                    SoundSource.AMBIENT, 0.2f, 1.0f);
            }
        }
    }
    
    // Play weather sounds
    public static void playWeatherSound(Player player) {
        Level level = player.level();
        
        if (level.isRaining()) {
            // Rain sounds
            if (player.getRandom().nextFloat() < 0.05f) {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.WEATHER_RAIN, 
                    SoundSource.WEATHER, 0.1f, 1.0f);
            }
        }
        
        if (level.isThundering()) {
            // Thunder sounds
            if (player.getRandom().nextFloat() < 0.02f) {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.WEATHER_RAIN_ABOVE, 
                    SoundSource.WEATHER, 0.3f, 1.0f);
            }
        }
    }
    
    // Play time-based sounds
    public static void playTimeBasedSound(Player player) {
        Level level = player.level();
        long dayTime = level.getDayTime() % 24000;
        
        // Night sounds
        if (dayTime >= 13000 && dayTime <= 23000) {
            if (player.getRandom().nextFloat() < 0.02f) {
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, SoundEvents.AMBIENT_CAVE, 
                    SoundSource.AMBIENT, 0.1f, 1.0f);
            }
        }
    }
}

Best Practices

1. Volume Control

Use appropriate volume levels:

java

public static void playAppropriateVolumeSound(Player player, SoundEvent sound, SoundSource source) {
    float volume = switch (source) {
        case MASTER -> 1.0f;
        case MUSIC -> 0.7f;
        case RECORDS -> 0.8f;
        case WEATHER -> 0.6f;
        case BLOCKS -> 0.5f;
        case HOSTILE -> 0.7f;
        case NEUTRAL -> 0.6f;
        case PLAYERS -> 0.8f;
        case AMBIENT -> 0.3f;
        case VOICE -> 1.0f;
    };
    
    SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, source, volume, 1.0f);
}

2. Pitch Variation

Add slight pitch variation for more natural sounds:

java

public static void playNaturalSound(Player player, SoundEvent sound) {
    Random random = new Random();
    float pitch = 0.9f + random.nextFloat() * 0.2f; // 0.9 to 1.1
    
    SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0f, pitch);
}

3. Side Safety

Check which side you're on:

java

public static void safeSoundPlay(Player player, SoundEvent sound) {
    if (player.level().isClientSide()) {
        // Client-side - play directly
        SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound);
    } else {
        // Server-side - only play to ServerPlayer
        if (player instanceof ServerPlayer) {
            SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound);
        }
    }
}

4. Performance

Consider performance when playing many sounds:

java

public static void playSoundToNearbyPlayers(Level level, Vec3 position, SoundEvent sound, double radius) {
    level.getNearbyPlayers(null, new AABB(position).inflate(radius), null)
        .forEach(player -> {
            // Calculate volume based on distance
            double distance = player.position().distanceTo(position);
            float volume = (float) Math.max(0, 1.0 - (distance / radius));
            
            if (volume > 0.1f) { // Only play if audible
                SoundHelper.sendClientSound(player, sound, SoundSource.PLAYERS, volume, 1.0f);
            }
        });
}

These sound utilities provide helpful shortcuts for common audio operations while maintaining cross-platform compatibility.

Sound Utilities ​

SoundHelper ​

Basic Sound Playback ​

Advanced Sound Control ​

Sound Management ​

Sound Categories ​

Sound Events ​

Sound Feedback Systems ​

Interactive Sound Feedback ​

Environmental Sounds ​

Best Practices ​

1. Volume Control ​

2. Pitch Variation ​

3. Side Safety ​

4. Performance ​

Sound Utilities

SoundHelper

Basic Sound Playback

Advanced Sound Control

Sound Management

Sound Categories

Sound Events

Sound Feedback Systems

Interactive Sound Feedback

Environmental Sounds

Best Practices

1. Volume Control

2. Pitch Variation

3. Side Safety

4. Performance