MOST Audio Manager

A persistent audio settings controller that maps 0–1 sliders and mute toggles to a Unity AudioMixer via exposed parameter names, with JSON save/load.

You can use Universal Game Manager to automatically set/control the audio manager

• Safe-by-default: If no Mixer or parameter name is set, Apply() is a no‑op (no errors).

• Four Ready-To-Go logical channels: Master, Music, SFX, UI.

• Persistence: Optional auto‑load on Play; auto‑save on change and/or on inspector edits.

• Mixer routing hints: Optional AudioMixerGroup references for Master/Music/SFX/UI to route AudioSource.outputAudioMixerGroup in your playback code.

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Quick Start

1. Create an Audio Mixer Project → Create → Audio Mixer and one or more child groups (Master/Music/SFX/UI) as you prefer.

2. Expose the group Volume parameters:

   • In the Mixer window, right‑click a group’s Volume → Expose.

   • In the Exposed Parameters list, give each a clear name (e.g., MasterVolume, MusicVolume, SFXVolume, UIVolume).

3. Create the asset: Project → Create → MOST → Audio Manager → name it M_AudioManager.

4. In the asset inspector:

   • Assign Mixer to your Audio Mixer.

   • (Optional) Assign MasterGroup / MusicGroup / SFXGroup / UIGroup.

   • Ensure the Exposed Parameter Names match your Mixer’s names.

5. Call once on boot (e.g., from a bootstrap component): audioManager.ApplyAll(); (or rely on auto‑load).

6. Bind UI to SetVolume(channel, value) and SetEnabled(channel, on). Leave ranges at [0..1].

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Persistence Settings

autoLoadOnEnable: On Play, load from file if present, else keep inspector defaults and save.

autoSaveOnChange: Save after any SetVolume / SetEnabled (Toggle) / Apply

autoSaveInEditor: Mirror AudioManager inspector edits in Edit Mode (apply + save). (All audio controls will be visible on enable).

databaseKey: By default, "audio_state.json"... refers to the file name under Application.persistentDataPath.

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API

// Audio Channels (Enums)
public enum Channel { Master, Music, SFX, UI }

// MOST_AudioManager.Master > from anywhere
// MOST_AudioManager.Music
// MOST_AudioManager.SFX
// MOST_AudioManager.UI

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// Sets the 0..1 volume for a channel (clamped)
// applies to mixer immediately, and saves if autoSaveOnChange.
void SetVolume(MOST_AudioManager.Channel ch, float slider01)

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// Mutes/unmutes a channel
// applies to mixer immediately, and saves if autoSaveOnChange.
void SetEnabled(MOST_AudioManager.Channel ch, bool on)

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// Pushes all 4 channels to the mixer. 
// Safe no‑op if Mixer is null or param names are empty.
void ApplyAll()

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// Pushes a single channel to the mixer.
// Safe no‑op if Mixer/param is unset.
void Apply(MOST_AudioManager.Channel ch)

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// Returns the configured mixer group (may be null).
// Useful for wiring AudioSource.outputAudioMixerGroup.
AudioMixerGroup GetGroup(MOST_AudioManager.Channel ch)

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// Serializes current volumes/mutes to JSON.
//Path: If null, uses persistentDataPath/databaseKey.
// Returns true on success.
bool SaveToFile(string path = null)

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// Loads JSON if present and (optionally) applies values to the mixer.
// Returns true if a file existed and was parsed.
bool LoadFromFile(string path = null, bool applyNow = true)

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// Returns a compact JSON string of volumes/mutes (no UnityEngine.Object references).
string Serialize()

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// Loads from JSON text, clamping to 0..1; optionally applies to the mixer.
// Returns true on success.
bool Deserialize(string json, bool applyNow = true)

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// Conversions between 0..1 linear scale and dB (0 → −80 dB, 1 → 0 dB).
MOST_AudioManager float LinearToDb(float v)
MOST_AudioManager float DbToLinear(float db)

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Bind to UI

//
public MOST_AudioManager AudioMgr;

// Initialize at Startup
void Start()
{
    if (!audioMgr.LoadFromFile(applyNow:true))
    {
        AudioMgr.ApplyAll();
        AudioMgr.SaveToFile();
    }
}

// Slider callbacks (0..1)
// bind each function to a UI slider
public void OnMasterSlider(float v) => AudioMgr.SetVolume(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.Master, v);
public void OnMusicSlider(float v) => AudioMgr.SetVolume(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.Music, v);
public void OnSFXSlider(float v) => AudioMgr.SetVolume(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.SFX, v);
public void OnUISlider(float v) => AudioMgr.SetVolume(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.UI, v);


// Toggle callbacks (mute)
// bind each function to a UI toggle
public void OnMasterToggle(bool on) => AudioMgr.SetEnabled(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.Master, on);
public void OnMusicToggle(bool on) => AudioMgr.SetEnabled(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.Music, on);
public void OnSFXToggle(bool on) => AudioMgr.SetEnabled(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.SFX, on);
public void OnUIToggle(bool on) => AudioMgr.SetEnabled(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.UI, on);

// Route Sources to Groups
// After assigning groups on the asset
source.outputAudioMixerGroup = AudioMgr.GetGroup(MOST_AudioManager.Channel.SFX);