Repository navigation
Spatial audio for Halo: Combat Evolved (PC).
Replaces the game's 2001 era hardware audio path with a modern spatial
engine: HRTF binaural rendering, reflections and occlusion traced against
the level's real geometry, convolution reverb per room, near-field
presence, and physical width for large sources. Optional controller
haptics with DualSense rumble, adaptive triggers and light bar.
The haptics are a mix of original authored Bungie values that were found
to be stored in the PC game's map file, just sectioned off by Gearbox. It includes extra
features like vehicle engine rumble and wheel/suspension/gravity so you can feel every
jump. Haptics simulate the ground path, so an explosion has less effect if you are
far away, and especially not connected to the ground. Xbox controllers have Bungie
authored values only, as they are less complex in the quality of haptics it can render.
Steam Controller specific haptics are in development.
0.9.99yr Release Notes:
-Fixed convolution reverb volume being set too high by default, now dialogue doesn't echo as prominently as prior versions from nearby walls
Install
Copy the contents of the zip into the folder containing halo.exe
Run HathorSpatialLauncher.exe it will need to be started as admin to function, Pick headphones or speakers, press Launch
In the game — Settings → Audio: Sound Quality High, Hardware
Acceleration on, EAX on
The game will need to be restarted after selecting the new settings.
Step 3 is not optional. Those switches are what make Halo place its sounds
in 3D and describe each room as it goes. With them off you get a flat stereo
mix and HathorSpatial has nothing to work with it will load and sound
almost exactly like the stock game. If no HathorSpatial hsbsp files are detected the
system will default to live raycasts instead of baked. Hsbsp node files have been baked
at extremely high settings, which is why the download is large. Performance and tuning
are being worked on but for the initial release I wanted a full quality bake to see how far
it can be pushed
Headphones are what the engine is built around. Speakers get a panned
surround mix following your Windows speaker layout.
To uninstall, delete dsound.dll and replace with your existing .dll
Known issues
Being worked on:
Controller features and haptics not compatible with Custom Edition — Haptics and controller support are still being worked on, audio works correctly now in Custom Edition
Reload and weapon-swap rumble is inconsistent and passengers in the warthog/scorpion get engine rumble even with no driver
— the pulse doesn't always fire, and timing varies between weapons, that along with engine rumble is actively being worked on
Multiplayer rumble is inconsistent/broken — you may feel events that aren't yours, or lose your own for a while. Single-player is unaffected
No MCC compatibility — Halo: CE in MCC uses Fmod for it's audio processing, a future fork may be possible
but as of right now HathorSpatial can only function with the original V1.10 Retail version of Halo: CE
Licence
Proprietary: see LICENSE in the zip. Includes Steam Audio (phonon.dll),
© Valve Corporation, redistributed unmodified under Apache 2.0.
Unofficial and not affiliated with Microsoft, Bungie, 343 Industries, Halo
Studios, or Valve. Requires a legally obtained copy of the original retail game.