Sound Reference - Basics

<warning>
	This page is a work in progress
</warning>

<title>Sound Reference - Basics</title>

# Sound Reference

Other pages on the topic of audio and sound are:

* **Basics**
* <page text="Creating Looping Sounds">Creating_Looping_Sounds</page>

# File Formats and Frequencies

Garry's Mod can load audio files in the following formats:
* `.mp3`
* `.wav`

Regardless of audio file format, all audio **must** use one of the following sample rates in order to be played:
* `11025 hz`
* `22050 hz`
* `44100 hz`

If an audio file does not use a valid sample rate, it will not play and will produce console errors such as:  
* `Unsupported 32-bit wave file <File Name>.wav`  
* `Invalid sample rate (<Audio File Same Rate>) for sound '<File Name>'`

# Folder Structure

When the game attempts to load sound files, it looks for them in the following locations and order:
1. `garrysmod/sound/`
2. `garrysmod/addons/<Addon Name>/sound/`
3. `garrysmod/gamemodes/<Gamemode Name>/content/sound/`

When searching for an audio file, Garry's Mod will use the first matching file it finds.

<note>
	Unlike other asset folders (`materials/`, `models/`, etc.) the `sound` folder's name is singular (`sound`) rather than plural (`sounds`) and does **not** end with an "`s`".
</note>

<example name="File/Folder Paths">
	<description>
		Suppose you have an audio file you want to play called `weapon_reload.mp3` that is intended for use as part of a <page text="Scripted Weapon (SWEP)">Structures/SWEP</page> called `rocket_launcher`.

		There are 3 locations where you might place `weapon_reload.mp3`:

		1. During the early proof-of-concept development of your weapon, you might add files to the game's basic folder structure.  
		In this case, you might use the path: `garrysmod/sound/weapons/rocket_launcher/weapon_reload.mp3`

		2. Suppose that this `rocket_launcher` weapon is part of an <page text="Addon">Addons</page> called `weapon_pack`.  
		Here you would use a folder structure like: `garrysmod/addons/weapon_pack/sound/weapons/rocket_launcher/weapon_reload.mp3`

		3. If this `rocket_launcher` is part of a larger <page text="Gamemode">Gamemode_Creation</page> called `rocket_deathmatch`, you would instead put this audio file within the gamemode's folder structure.  
		The folder structure here might look like: `garrysmod/gamemodes/rocket_deathmatch/content/sound/weapons/rocket_launcher/weapon_reload.mp3`

		In all 3 cases, the file path used to load and play the file from your Lua script(s) is: `weapons/rocket_launcher/weapon_reload.mp3`
	</description>
</example>

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