PS4 Overall Volume (Still) Too LowPS4

[Harry Freq]

Yep - racing titles do seem to just be quieter across the board and at the low end in particular (well apart from TT - that's damn loud).

Here's the video.

All mid is why were not getting in any true engine sounds. The way SMS have it setup wel never hear any deep rumbling growls from the engines or deep notes and pops and bangs from the exhausts.

That 911 RSR 2.8 sounds like its been recorded with some guy humming into a tin of beans then the lows have been removed from his voice.

 

[Scaff]

All mid is why were not getting in any true engine sounds. The way SMS have it setup wel never hear any deep rumbling growls from the engines or deep notes and pops and bangs from the exhausts.

That 911 RSR 2.8 sounds like its been recorded with some guy humming into a tin of beans then the lows have been removed from his voice.

If I get a chance over the weekend I'm going to have a play around with my receiver, as it does allow me to play around with the equalizer and dynamic compression levels.

Shouldn't need to do it, but if it makes a noticeable difference it will support my findings in the video.

 

[Harry Freq]

Check this out Team VVV have just awarded PCARS 2 the best sounding racing title. WTF how is that possible! The 3 of them come to this conclusion Does this show us just how bad racing games sound?

Team VVV Awards 2018 - Best Audio

 

[Georgeagea]

Check this out Team VVV have just awarded PCARS 2 the best sounding racing title from last y! WTF how is that possible! The 3 of them come to thit conclusion Does this show us just how bad racing games sound?

You gotta keep in mind that this is for PC, or not?! Didn't watch it yet but it features Forza and GTS too :S WTF

 

[Chikane_GTR]

I agree with PCs 2 winning the sound award Love the sound of the P1 GTR in this game

 

[Georgeagea]

@Scaff is there is a way to simply measure the amplitude in dB?! I mean I know you measured the dB for each frequency, but is this how we perceive audio actually?! Isn't there is like an envelop?! I mean a simply dB meter.

Besides, as far as I remember, dB is a logarithmic scale so a difference of 10dB between AC and PC2 could mean a sound 1.3times (30% difference) the amplitude of that of PC2 which is a big difference!

Maybe this explains why we (using USB headphones) experience such low volume experience?!

 

[Scaff]

@Scaff is there is a way to simply measure the amplitude in dB?! I mean I know you measured the dB for each frequency, but is this how we perceive audio actually?! Isn't there is like an envelop?! I mean a simply dB meter.

Besides, as far as I remember, dB is a logarithmic scale so a difference of 10dB between AC and PC2 could mean a sound 1.3times (30% difference) the amplitude of that of PC2 which is a big difference!

Maybe this explains why we (using USB headphones) experience such low volume experience?!

The graph on the video does show the db level for the frequency, however it is limited to a dBFS scale, which is quite normal when dealing with audio equipment, for reference the receiver was set to -25dbFS when capturing the PC2 audio (-28 for AC), and the results like this:

I've added the dashed yellow line to show -25 dBFS, which does show how much the 150hz bit can dominate at times, yet at other times its much better balanced.

AC itself threw up an interesting one as well, this is pretty much the norm for AC:

Its similar to the better PC2 one, just louder, however when you compare it to a moment of tyre squeal from AC:

The lower frequencies drop in volume to allow the frequency for the tyre squeal to dominate, rather that the tyre squeal getting louder over the lower frequencies.


In regard to dB being a logarithmic scale you are quite correct, which explains why what seems to be a small drop numerically in dB for the sub 100hZ range is making such a difference, more so when played back on TV's etc.

 

[OdeFinn]

@Scaff is there is a way to simply measure the amplitude in dB?! I mean I know you measured the dB for each frequency, but is this how we perceive audio actually?! Isn't there is like an envelop?! I mean a simply dB meter.

Besides, as far as I remember, dB is a logarithmic scale so a difference of 10dB between AC and PC2 could mean a sound 1.3times (30% difference) the amplitude of that of PC2 which is a big difference!

Maybe this explains why we (using USB headphones) experience such low volume experience?!

You can refresh your memory from those:

Few funny links to this dB discussion

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-levelchange.htm
http://www.audiocheck.net/blindtests_level.php?lvl=1

One dB, three dB, ten dB... Well uhh

 

[yogi bear]

Check this out Team VVV have just awarded PCARS 2 the best sounding racing title. WTF how is that possible! The 3 of them come to this conclusion Does this show us just how bad racing games sound?

Team VVV Awards 2018 - Best Audio

It may be for computer, perhaps we should have always stated pc2 when played on sony in complaints.

 

[Harry Freq]

It may be for computer, perhaps we should have always stated pc2 when played on sony in complaints.

I cannot see SMS having lower end frequencies in one version and not the other tbh.

 

[bleeder]

I've had to go into the audio menu and change a lot of settings from before the latest patch, so they've done something to the levels i'd say.

Had to turn pit guy up loads from where I had it before, and also turned the AI cars down as they seem to have gotten louder. Didn't see any mention of audio levels in the patch notes so might be worth people having a tinker post-patch.

 

[ThaFlash_LA]

@bleeder most of us have been discussing engine noise in the cockpit.

@Scaff are doing any sort of eq or sound format? I have mine intentionally set very flat with no compression.

I like how AC uses low frequency sound to simulate vibration from the engine. They can’t make my couch shake by attaching a V8 to my home, so it makes sense that they’d use low frequency sound. I don’t think PC’s mix is inherently bad, but they’re just not getting the same results. I hear deep and clean sound in the V8’s but the house shaking levels just aren’t there.

I’m also interested to see what happens on the Xbox. I don’t really want to download the demos on both systems to compare, but it might be interesting. My Xbox puts out way more sound at the same amp level.

 

[OdeFinn]

Tested lot of different things and found few different ways to improve a) quality of sound b) loudness of sound.
I'm posting helps to official pcars forum... Ups maybe not, some Ian deleted my account on there, well maybe they figure their fundamental coding asset errors on their self.

 

[Scaff]

Tested lot of different things and found few different ways to improve a) quality of sound b) loudness of sound.
I'm posting helps to official pcars forum... Ups maybe not, some Ian deleted my account on there, well maybe they figure their fundamental coding asset errors on their self.

You got banned from the PC forums.

Somehow I'm really not shocked at all..........

 

[bleeder]

@bleeder most of us have been discussing engine noise in the cockpit.

@Scaff are doing any sort of eq or sound format? I have mine intentionally set very flat with no compression.

I like how AC uses low frequency sound to simulate vibration from the engine. They can’t make my couch shake by attaching a V8 to my home, so it makes sense that they’d use low frequency sound. I don’t think PC’s mix is inherently bad, but they’re just not getting the same results. I hear deep and clean sound in the V8’s but the house shaking levels just aren’t there.

I’m also interested to see what happens on the Xbox. I don’t really want to download the demos on both systems to compare, but it might be interesting. My Xbox puts out way more sound at the same amp level.

Yes I know, and I agree it doesn't sound great. I don't even bother using surround sound on my headphones much as the mix isn't great. Was just pointing out that SMS seem to have altered the levels here and there as some may not have noticed.

 

[OdeFinn]

You got banned from the PC forums.

Somehow I'm really not shocked at all..........

Don't make assumptions which aren't inline of facts, if someone have 0 messages written and junior membership can you tell me how he can get banned? Bit different thing than account got deleted. I had account there from early development state of pcars1.

 

[Bealdor]

Don't make assumptions which aren't inline of facts, if someone have 0 messages written and junior membership can you tell me how he can get banned? Bit different thing than account got deleted. I had account there from early development state of pcars1.

@OdeFinn what was your account name? I can look it up if you want.
0 post accounts don't get banned normally, maybe our anti spam tool flagged your IP.

 

[OdeFinn]

@OdeFinn what was your account name? I can look it up if you want.
0 post accounts don't get banned normally, maybe our anti spam tool flagged your IP.

Same as here, used it successfully during this pcars2 era. Was nice surprise when chrome tried to auto log in and forum said at no such account.

 

[Bealdor]

Same as here, used it successfully during this pcars2 era. Was nice surprise when chrome tried to auto log in and forum said at no such account.

@OdeFinn Your account shows up fine here. Not banned or deleted.

 

[OdeFinn]

@OdeFinn Your account shows up fine here. Not banned or deleted.

LOL

Miracles happen

 

[Scaff]

@OdeFinn Your account shows up fine here. Not banned or deleted.

 

[OdeFinn]

used it successfully during this pcars2 era.

 

[Scaff]

View attachment 722715

You don't get that it could be seen as funny that you accuse someone of deleting your account, and it turns out you seem to have just misplaced it!

 

[OdeFinn]

You don't get that it could be seen as funny that you accuse someone of deleting your account, and it turns out you seem to have just misplaced it!

Yes, yes, and also seeing dreams while awake, because I was logged on there after pcars2 release, and that was bit later than 2015.

 

[Scaff]

Yes, yes, and also seeing dreams while awake, because I was logged on there after pcars2 release, and that was bit later than 2015.

Sure you didn't have more than one account?

As I find that far more likely than the conspiracy theory being woven.

 

[Bealdor]

Yes, yes, and also seeing dreams while awake, because I was logged on there after pcars2 release, and that was bit later than 2015.

Then you must have had a second account. This is the one that was automatically transfered from WMD 1 to the public forums.
I've checked our banned users list and there's no account that sounds/reads even remotely close to your current one.

BTW. I don't like being accused of lying, especially not when I'm trying to help...

 

[Harry Freq]

C'mon SMS give us more sound between 40hz and 80hz your game is cutting all the low frequencies out we hear in the real car. PCARS 2 should have bone shattering sound and transmission whine rather than this sterile lack of excitement sound we have right now.

 

[SGETI]

Tested lot of different things and found few different ways to improve a) quality of sound b) loudness of sound.
I'm posting helps to official pcars forum

Well how about posting your findings here as well ?

Another item are you on PC ? Most of the issues with lack of sound applies to PS4 and Xbox systems.

Look forward to any piece of scrap to aid in improving the sound.

 

[Harry Freq]

Well how about posting your findings here as well ?

Another item are you on PC ? Most of the issues with lack of sound applies to PS4 and Xbox systems.

Seems your right! I guess it's just down to the usual PC version getting the most attention again.





Seem quite similar at higher speeds but at low speeds the PC sound seems vastly superior going by these two videos.

 

[Gr8_Lakes]

Thank you again @Scaff for investing your time and expertise to help identify this issue. My audiophile knowledge is limited to: "that's loud, that sounds good, that's quiet, that sounds bad." Hopefully your efforts will help us see a resolution - soon.

I can appreciate PCars 2 receiving an award for it's sound, but frankly I'd like to be able to hear that award winning sound. I'm sure there's tweaks that could make the sound mix even better, but I'd love for SMS to start with just increasing the volume.