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# listener

A node used to determine the position of the listener for positional audio in the scene.

```
weak var listener: SKNode? { get set }
```

## Discussion

The default value is `nil`, which means that the scene’s origin is used as the listener position for audio effects played by [`SKAudioNode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAudioNode) objects in the scene. If a non-`nil` value is specified, it must be a node in the scene.

Typically, you want the [`camera`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKScene/camera) to be the listener so that audio nodes which are on screen are louder than off screen ones. In a game, the node that defines the player would likely be set as the `listener`.

---

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