Elias
Elias 4 is game audio middleware and a sound engine for interactive soundscapes and adaptive music.
What Elias is
Elias 4 is game audio middleware and a sound engine for interactive soundscapes and adaptive music. Elias Studio lets composers and sound designers build sample-perfect audio graphs visually, combining logic, game parameters, playback, and digital signal processing. Its music system can use instrument and track rules, motifs, stingers, automatic loops, random segments, and musical transitions. Spatialized 3D audio and effects such as filters, compressors, and reverbs are included. Developers can edit patches, replace sound files, and mix while a game is running without rebuilding or using sound banks. Unity and Godot integrations are provided, and other engines can be integrated. Listed build targets include PC, Mac, consoles, iOS, and Android. Elias is written in C and C++, supports Python tooling, and offers source code access at higher license tiers. Pricing is per game: Explorer Standard costs €5,850, paid once, while Colonizer Premium costs €15,000, paid once. A free evaluation version is available by request.
Good
- Visual scripting for sample-perfect audio graphs
- Edit and mix during gameplay without rebuilds
- Adaptive music includes motifs and transitions
- Unity and Godot integrations provided
- Spatialized 3D audio and DSP effects
Watch out
- Free evaluation version requires a request
- Licenses are charged per game
- Console releases cost extra per platform
Who it suits
Elias suits composers and sound designers creating adaptive game audio, as well as programmers building tools and workflows through its APIs and wrappers. It is aimed at game projects that need interactive sound and music across supported build targets.
Verdict
Elias combines audio authoring, adaptive music, and runtime editing for game projects. Its per-game licensing and additional console fees are important to account for when evaluating a release.
Plans and prices
From Elias's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer Standard | €5,850, paid once | Production budget between €300k and €1.5M · PC/Mac and mobile included · console license €5000 per platform · 1 year standard support · source code available by separate agreement · €5850 per game |
| Colonizer Premium | €15,000, paid once | Production budget over €1.5M · PC/Mac and mobile included · console license €15000 per platform · 2 years standard support · source code available by separate agreement · €15000 per game |
| Scout Basic | — | Production budget below €300k · PC/Mac and mobile included · no console license · standard support not included · source code not included · €0 to €1500 per game |
The facts
Each one read from Elias's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Adaptive music
- Its music system supports instrument and track rules, motifs, stingers, automatic loops, random segments and musical transitions.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Audio processing
- The feature list includes spatialized 3D audio and DSP such as filters, compressors and reverbs.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Authoring
- Elias Studio provides visual scripting for sample-perfect audio graphs that combine logic, game parameters, playback and DSP.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Build targets
- The product page lists PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, iOS and Android as build targets.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Evaluation
- A free evaluation version is available by request, and the request form asks for project and contact details.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Extensibility
- Elias is written in C and C++, supports Python tooling and automations, and offers source code access at higher license tiers.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- The maker says Unity and Godot integrations are provided out of the box and that custom or other engines can be integrated.checked 3 Oct 2001
- License limits
- The pricing page says licenses are per game, console releases cost extra per platform, and DLC is covered when released for the same game.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Live editing
- Users can edit patches, swap sound files and mix while a game is running without sound banks or rebuilds.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Product
- Elias 4 is game audio middleware and a sound engine for interactive soundscapes and adaptive music.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Security and compliance
- The maker's privacy policy says the website collects device information including browser, IP address, time zone and cookies.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Support
- Support options include an online manual, tutorials, Discord, email, video calls, shared chat rooms and on-site visits.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Who it is for
- The maker says Elias Studio is designed for composers and sound designers, while APIs and wrappers support programmer-built tools and workflows.checked 3 Oct 2001
The company
- Headquarters
- Värmdö, Swedenchecked 28 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Studio platforms
- Elias Studio is available for Windows x64, Mac ARM and Mac Intel.checked 3 Oct 2001
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