Surface Setup

How the foley system detects surfaces and how to configure per-surface audio and VFX.

How Surface Detection Works

On each foot contact, UAgenticFoleyComponent traces downward from the foot socket. The trace hits geometry, reads the PhysicalMaterial->SurfaceType, and looks up that surface in the active UAgenticFoleyDataAsset.

AnimNotify fires (foot_l plants)
  → TraceFeetResolved(foot_l)
    → Line trace downward from foot_l socket
    → Hit result → PhysicalMaterial → EPhysicalSurface
    → FoleyData->ResolveSurfaceEffect(Surface, EventTag)
    → Returns: AudioBank + VFX + NoiseLevel + StampIntensity
  → DispatchFoleyResolved(result)

If the trace hits geometry with no physical material, it falls back to SurfaceType_Default (usually concrete).

Shipped Physical Materials

The plugin ships 13 pre-configured PM_* assets:

Assign these to your level meshes via Details > Physics > Phys Material Override.

Per-Surface VFX Overrides

Inside each FAgenticFoleySurface entry in the DataAsset, the Effects array lets you assign different Niagara systems per event tag:

Events not in the Effects array fall back to DefaultVFX for that surface.

Per-Surface Volume Tuning

When one surface's WAVs are mastered quieter or louder than the others in the same pack, set VolumeMultiplier on the FAgenticFoleySurface entry (clamped to 0.1-5.0, default 1.0). The value is multiplied into the final audio volume alongside the per-call volume and the DataAsset's GlobalVolumeMultiplier:

final_volume = per-call Volume × surface VolumeMultiplier × DA GlobalVolumeMultiplier

Typical use: a marketplace pack ships its Concrete WAVs at -12 dB RMS and its Dirt WAVs at -6 dB — set VolumeMultiplier = 3.5 on the Concrete row to bring both surfaces to parity without re-authoring the wavs or the MetaSound presets.

Applies to both PlayMetaSoundFoley (the managed AudioComponent path) and PlayFoleyAtOwner (the BP one-shot path). Equipment SlotBank layers compose their own per-event VolumeMultiplier on top, so armor/gear mixes are unaffected by surface-level tuning.

Adding a Custom Surface

1. Register the surface in Config/DefaultEngine.ini:

   +PhysicalSurfaces=(Type=14,Name="Carpet")

2. Create a PM_Carpet Physical Material asset, set Surface Type = Carpet

3. In your UAgenticFoleyDataAsset, add a new entry to SurfaceEffects:

   • SurfaceType = Carpet
   • DefaultVFX = your carpet Niagara system (or None for no VFX)
   • AudioBank = your carpet AudioBank DataAsset
   • NoiseLevel = 0.1 (carpet is quiet)

4. Assign PM_Carpet to carpet meshes in your level

The Shipped Config

The plugin ships exactly one config out of the box: DA_FoleyConfig_Simple (concrete-only, routes GASP's built-in sneaker wavs). For more surfaces, author your own UAgenticFoleyDataAsset pointing at any Fab audio pack you own — see Compatible Audio Packs.

A fully-populated config has one SurfaceEffects entry per physical surface, each pointing to an AudioBank and optional per-event VFX overrides:

See Compatible Audio Packs for details on each marketplace integration.