Unity Audio Import Settings Reference

Long-playing tracks that loop in the background. Typically 2 to 5 minutes, the largest audio files in your project.

Examples: Menu theme, level music, boss fight music, credits

Environmental background sounds that loop seamlessly. Similar to music but often mono or with spatial positioning.

Examples: Forest ambience, rain, wind, underwater hum, city traffic, campfire

Short, triggered sounds. The most common audio type. Must play instantly with no latency.

Examples: Explosion, sword swing, coin pickup, door open, hit impact, magic spell

Interface feedback sounds. Must be extremely responsive with zero perceivable delay.

Examples: Button click, hover, menu open/close, notification, error beep, tab switch, slider tick

Character dialogue, narration, barks. Often large in total volume but played one at a time.

Examples: NPC dialogue, narrator, cutscene speech, player barks, tutorial voice

Very frequent, very short. Played every frame of movement. Must be lightweight and varied.

Examples: Walking on grass/stone/wood/metal/water/gravel, running, landing

Longer one-off sounds that play once and are not tightly latency-sensitive.

Examples: Victory fanfare, death scream, cutscene stinger, level complete jingle, boss roar

Continuous sound effects that loop while active. Between SFX and ambience in character.

Examples: Engine hum, fire burning, electric buzz, waterfall, torch flame, conveyor belt