Sound Deformer
Updated: 3 Feb 2025
Deforms geometry using the waveform from an input audio source
Sound Deformer
Method #
This node deforms a mesh using the waveform of an audio file or a live captured audio input. The waveform is processed using a set of parameters, allowing for greater control over how the sound is applied to the geometry.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Blend Amount Global override for how much the deformer affects the mesh.
Apply Mode Choose whether the deformer applies to the individual vertices or the mesh chunks.
- Vertices : The mesh deformations are applied to the mesh vertices.
- Chunks : The mesh deformations are applied to the separated mesh pieces.
Transform Space Choose which transform space the deformer uses for deformation. Does not affect falloffs.
- Local : Deformations are calculated in the Local Space of the object, so transformations of the parent mesh will not affect the deformation.
- World : Deformations are calculated in the World Space of the scene, so transformations of the parent mesh will apply the deformer differently depending on the mesh position.
Time Mode How the deformer updates with relation to the timecode.
- Locked To Timecode : The deformer deformations are locked to the timecode and the same time will always yield the same deformations.
- Running / Looping : The deformer deformations are disconnected from the timecode and will run seamlessly at the end of the composition.
Sound Sound file used to drive the effect.
Channel Which audio channel is used.
Frequency Band Sets the Band EQ to one of the given presets.
Band EQ Selects and weights the frequency bands to be used from the sound file.
Time Offset Offset the time the clones are modified from the time the waveform is at.
Change Threshold Changes the threshold for what counts toward the effect.
Attack Controls the initial time between the current values to the peak.
Decay Controls the time between the peak to the sustain level.
Min Value Acts as a minimum threshold for extracting a range of values from the waveform.
Max Value Acts as a maximum threshold for extracting a range of values from the waveform.
Max Clamp A maximum value which values will be clamped if they go above.
Spikiness Accentuates peaks in the waveform so they are sharper.
Scale How much the output values are scaled.
Smoothness How much smoothing is applied between differing values.
Mapping type Control how the sound displacement is mapped onto the geometry.
- Planar : The sound is mapped to the surface from the planar y axis.
- Spherical : The sound is mapped to the surface using a spherical projection.
- UV : The sound is mapped to the surfaces UVs, which are then sampled for the mesh deformation.
FFT Sample Scale Scale the size of the waveform as it is applied.
Waveform Visualises the waveform of of the sound.
Displacement Amount How much the deformer displaces the original mesh.
Noise Amount The amount of noise that is applied to the deformer.
Max Displacement Maximum distance the deformer can displace the mesh.
Displacement Direction Change the direction the deformer displaces the mesh.
- Normal : The mesh will be displaced in the direction of the vertex normals.
- Spherical : The mesh will be displaced in a spherical direction from the object’s origin.
- Planar : All vertices are displaced in the same direction, along the planar z axis.
These properties control where the deformer affects the geometry.
Parameter Details Use Falloff Enable falloff from the position of the deformer.
Falloff Shape Select which shape to use to draw falloff from.
- Sphere : How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff.
- Cylinder - X : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the x axis, forming a cylindrical falloff.
- Cylinder - Y : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the y axis, forming a cylindrical falloff.
- Cylinder - Z : Falloff is drawn radially outward from a line along the z axis, forming a cylindrical falloff.
- Plane - X : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the YZ axis.
- Plane - Y : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the XZ axis.
- Plane - Z : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane formed on the XY axis.
Falloff Range Limits the range the deformer is effective at.
Falloff Inner Range The inner range from which the falloff is calculated from.
Falloff Curve Power How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff.
Invert Falloff Invert the direction of the falloff.
Falloff Curve Visualises the falloff curve, from being completely in effect to no longer effective.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Blend Amount | Global override for how much the deformer affects the mesh. |
| Apply Mode | Choose whether the deformer applies to the individual vertices or the mesh chunks.
|
| Transform Space | Choose which transform space the deformer uses for deformation. Does not affect falloffs.
|
| Time Mode | How the deformer updates with relation to the timecode.
|
| Sound | Sound file used to drive the effect. |
| Channel | Which audio channel is used. |
| Frequency Band | Sets the Band EQ to one of the given presets. |
| Band EQ | Selects and weights the frequency bands to be used from the sound file. |
| Time Offset | Offset the time the clones are modified from the time the waveform is at. |
| Change Threshold | Changes the threshold for what counts toward the effect. |
| Attack | Controls the initial time between the current values to the peak. |
| Decay | Controls the time between the peak to the sustain level. |
| Min Value | Acts as a minimum threshold for extracting a range of values from the waveform. |
| Max Value | Acts as a maximum threshold for extracting a range of values from the waveform. |
| Max Clamp | A maximum value which values will be clamped if they go above. |
| Spikiness | Accentuates peaks in the waveform so they are sharper. |
| Scale | How much the output values are scaled. |
| Smoothness | How much smoothing is applied between differing values. |
| Mapping type | Control how the sound displacement is mapped onto the geometry.
|
| FFT Sample Scale | Scale the size of the waveform as it is applied. |
| Waveform | Visualises the waveform of of the sound. |
| Displacement Amount | How much the deformer displaces the original mesh. |
| Noise Amount | The amount of noise that is applied to the deformer. |
| Max Displacement | Maximum distance the deformer can displace the mesh. |
| Displacement Direction | Change the direction the deformer displaces the mesh.
|
These properties control where the deformer affects the geometry.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Use Falloff | Enable falloff from the position of the deformer. |
| Falloff Shape | Select which shape to use to draw falloff from.
|
| Falloff Range | Limits the range the deformer is effective at. |
| Falloff Inner Range | The inner range from which the falloff is calculated from. |
| Falloff Curve Power | How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff. |
| Invert Falloff | Invert the direction of the falloff. |
| Falloff Curve | Visualises the falloff curve, from being completely in effect to no longer effective. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Use the waveform from a given Play Sound or Capture Sound node. | Play Sound |
| Falloff Node | Use an input node to control the transformation values of the falloff. | Null |
| Generated Weightmap | Add a weightmap to vary the strength of the deformer across the surface. | Generate Weightmap |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |
