Comparison of unity and FMOD libraries for spatial audio localization in virtual reality

Leskovec, Gašper (avtor), Gaberšček, Eva (avtor), Sodnik, Jaka (avtor)

Spatial audio is central to immersion and situational awareness in virtual reality (VR), but the performance diferences between diferent audio engines have not been suiciently explored. This study compares Unity’s integrated spatial audio system and the FMOD engine in a controlled VR sound localisation task. Thirty volunteers completed three levels of 16 trials each while wearing a head-mounted display (Oculus Quest). They were randomly assigned to one of the two systems and asked to identify the direction of an active loudspeaker among several virtual sources. We measured localisation accuracy, reaction time, spatial distance error and cumulative head rotation; learning efects were assessed by comparing the irst and third stages. Participants using FMOD achieved slightly higher accuracy (93% vs 87% overall) and turned their heads less, suggesting that FMOD made it easier for users to localise sounds in space, while Unity users showed greater variability and a slightly greater learning gain. About two-thirds of participants improved their accuracy over time, but there were signiicant individual diferences. These results suggest that both engines perform similarly well on basic localisation tasks, although FMOD has slight advantages in spatial accuracy. The work highlights the importance of evaluating spatial audio engines in user-centred studies and emphasises the need to consider personal factors and task complexity in future research.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: virtual reality, spatial audio, sound localization, unity, FMOD, user experience
• Tipologija: 1.08 - Objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci
• Organizacija: FE - Fakulteta za elektrotehniko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 88-96
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179022
• UDK: 004.946
• DOI: 10.26493/978-961-293-559-7.8
• COBISS.SI-ID: 267115011
• Datum objave v RUL: 03.02.2026

Gradivo je del monografije

• Naslov: HCI SI Koper 2025 : proceedings of the 10th Human-Computer Interaction Slovenia Conference
• Kraj izida: Koper
• Založnik: University of Primorska Press
• Leto izida: 2025
• ISBN: 978-961-293-559-7
• COBISS.SI-ID: 266380291
• Prireditelj konference: University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, Koper, Slovenia

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: virtualna resničnost, prostorski zvok, lokalizacija zvoka, Unity, FMOD, uporabniška izkušnja

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P2-0246
• Naslov: ICT4QoL - Informacijsko komunikacijske tehnologije za kakovostno življenje