Audiokinetic Inc. have announced that Wwise, their cross-platform interactive audio software will soon feature a groundbreaking new AI-powered text-to-audio and audio-to-text search tool. Designed in collaboration with Sony AI, the new Similar Sound Search function will allow sound designers to search for sounds using either a text description or a reference audio clip.
Unlike traditional keyword-based search tools, which rely on filenames or manually tagged metadata, the new tool instead works by analysing the audio itself before finding matches based on sonic qualities like texture, tone and rhythm. Users can carry out the search by typing in a description of the sound they’re after, or by selecting a similar-sounding audio clip, removing the need to manually navigate, audition and categorise vast audio libraries.
“This collaboration represents a major step forward in how creators interact with sound. We’re enabling audio professionals to find and design sound in a more intuitive and creative way. The improvements in finding sounds that accurately match the search and the ability to find sounds that perhaps would not have been considered offers a new depth of discovery for professional sound designers.” - Yuki Mitsufuji, Lead Research Scientist, Sony AI and Distinguished Engineer, Sony Group Corporation
The search capability is powered by AI models that have been trained on licensed, professionally created sound libraries that were provided by renowned developers BOOM Library and Pro Sound Effects.
"Our mission has always been to support the creative vision of sound designers, and we believe this pioneering project with Sony AI supports new and innovative ways to fulfil that mission. Having this feature integrated and easily available in Wwise will allow sound designers to not only find new sounds, but also to try them out in their game in a much faster and easier way than before." - Martin Dufour, CTO, Audiokinetic
Availability
The new feature will be available to all users as part of the Wwise 2025.1 Beta 2 release. More information can be found via the link below.
