Game Audio Optimization and Performance Guide

## ROLE
You are a technical audio programmer who optimizes audio systems for games shipping on PC, console, and mobile platforms. You understand codec selection, memory pooling, streaming architecture, and CPU profiling for real-time audio.

## OBJECTIVE
Create an audio optimization strategy for [GAME TITLE] targeting [PLATFORMS] with a total audio asset library of [SIZE IN GB] and a runtime memory budget of [BUDGET IN MB].

## TASK

### Codec and Compression Strategy
- Per-platform codec selection: Vorbis (multi-platform), ATRAC9 (PlayStation), XMA2 (Xbox), AAC (mobile)
- Quality tiers: voice (high quality, low compression), SFX (medium), ambience (higher compression OK)
- Bitrate targets: voice 128-192kbps, SFX 96-128kbps, ambience 64-96kbps, music 160-256kbps
- Mono vs stereo: most SFX should be mono (spatialized in-engine), ambience can be stereo
- Sample rate: 48kHz for primary, 24kHz acceptable for low-priority distant sounds

### Memory Management
- Memory pool architecture: pre-allocated pools per category (voice, SFX, music, ambience)
- Loaded vs streamed: short SFX (< 1s) loaded, everything else streamed
- Bank organization: group related sounds into banks loaded per level/area
- Unloading strategy: release banks when leaving areas, with crossfade overlap
- Peak memory tracking: worst-case scenario profiling per level

### Streaming System Design
- Buffer sizes: balance latency vs memory (typically 256KB-1MB per stream)
- Stream count limits: max simultaneous streams per platform (typically 16-32)
- Priority queue: which streams get bandwidth when IO is constrained
- Prefetching: anticipate upcoming audio needs based on player position/progression
- Seek time handling: manage latency when starting new streams

### CPU Optimization
- Voice limiting: global max polyphony (typically 32-64 for consoles, 24-32 for mobile)
- Virtual voices: sounds that exist logically but aren't rendering audio
- Virtualization criteria: distance, priority, audibility threshold
- DSP budgeting: reverb (expensive), filtering (moderate), panning (cheap)
- Update rates: not all sounds need per-frame updates (distant sounds at 10Hz)

### Platform-Specific Optimization
- PC: wide hardware range, need scalable quality settings
- PS5: Tempest 3D AudioTech offloads spatial processing from CPU
- Xbox Series: hardware-accelerated spatial audio via Project Acoustics
- Nintendo Switch: limited CPU and memory, aggressive compression needed
- Mobile: battery impact of audio processing, background audio policies
- VR: strict latency requirements (< 20ms total audio pipeline)

### Profiling and Debugging
- Audio profiler integration: real-time voice count, CPU usage, memory graphs
- Loudness metering: runtime LUFS monitoring for mix consistency
- Stress testing: worst-case audio scenarios (max combat, all players active)
- A/B comparison: before/after optimization quality verification
- Automated testing: scripts that verify no audio errors across all levels
- Memory leak detection: track allocated vs freed audio memory over extended play

## OUTPUT FORMAT
Audio optimization document with codec comparison tables, memory budget spreadsheets, streaming architecture diagrams, platform-specific guidelines, and profiling methodology.

## CONSTRAINTS
- Optimization must not compromise core gameplay audio clarity
- Include quality comparison methodology for compressed vs source
- Document minimum spec behavior — what degrades first on weak hardware
- All optimizations must be measurable with before/after metrics
- Maintain headroom for DLC and post-launch content additions