# Does loading Streaming Banks load the whole assets into memory?

**URL:** <https://qa.fmod.com/t/does-loading-streaming-banks-load-the-whole-assets-into-memory/21951>\
**Category:** Unity\
**Tags:** ue4\
**Created:** [July 31, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/does-loading-streaming-banks-load-the-whole-assets-into-memory/21951 "2024-07-31T15:24:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jon-nbg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@jon-nbg](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jon-nbg)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/does-loading-streaming-banks-load-the-whole-assets-into-memory/21951/1 "2024-07-31T15:24:54Z")

</div>

When loading separated streaming banks (.stream.bank) at runtime does that load the whole bank into memory? Or does it just load what is needed to stream those assets?

I.e. should i be loading the streaming banks at all, or should i just load the metadata banks (.bank) and the streaming data will be played as needed?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Connor\_FMOD](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/connor_fmod/32/3685_2.png) [@Connor\_FMOD](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Connor_FMOD)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/does-loading-streaming-banks-load-the-whole-assets-into-memory/21951/2 "2024-08-06T00:27:16Z")

</div>

Hi,

> [@jon-nbg](#):
>
> When loading separated streaming banks (.stream.bank) at runtime does that load the whole bank into memory?

It will just load the bank data, unless [Studio::Bank ::loadSampleData](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/studio-api-bank.html#studio_bank_loadsampledata) is called.

> [@jon-nbg](#):
>
> Or does it just load what is needed to stream those assets?

You can specify just loading the required event sample data by calling [Studio::EventDescription::loadSampleData](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/studio-api-eventdescription.html#studio_eventdescription_loadsampledata).

> [@jon-nbg](#):
>
> I.e. should i be loading the streaming banks at all, or should i just load the metadata banks (.bank) and the streaming data will be played as needed?

Loading the streaming data only when needed is a fine workflow, however, you will have to take the loading time into account when wanting to trigger an event. More useful information can be found here:

- [FMOD Engine | Studio API Guide - Bank Loading](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/studio-guide.html#sample-data-loading)
- [FMOD Engine | Studio API Guide - Sample Data Loading](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/studio-guide.html#sample-data-loading)

Hope this helps

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jon-nbg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@jon-nbg](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jon-nbg)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 10:24am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/does-loading-streaming-banks-load-the-whole-assets-into-memory/21951/3 "2024-08-08T10:24:45Z")

</div>

Thats great, thanks for all the info and explanations!