adaptive-music

Create one AudioStreamPlayer per state on the Music bus, all playing in sync, and tween their volumes on state change. A MusicDirector script switches between calm, tension, and combat states, with combat snapping instantly via the instant_states list.

Keep both tracks playing simultaneously at the same tempo and tween volume_db from -60 dB to 0 dB on the incoming track while fading the outgoing one. Never restart playback mid-state, since restarts break the illusion of continuous music.

Horizontal sequencing crossfades between full tracks, one per state, and suits most indie games. Layered stems keep a base loop playing while drum, string, and brass stems mute or unmute based on intensity, requiring all stems to share BPM, key, and bar length.

Off-beat transitions happen when stems were generated at different BPMs, keys, or bar lengths. Regenerate all stems with identical tempo and bar count so every track stays at the same playhead position during volume-only crossfades.

Connect dialogue start and end signals to a handler that tweens the Music bus volume down by about 6 dB using AudioServer.set_bus_volume_db, then restores it when dialogue ends. Duck to a present bed rather than muting the music entirely.

Skip adaptive wiring when the game needs only a single static loop with no state changes; a plain AudioStreamPlayer is enough. Also generate the stems first with a music generation skill, since this workflow only wires existing tracks.