Update 1.12 Car Sound Profile Rebalanced Discussion

[phosphor112]

I noticed sound changes to. Intake sounded more "wooshy", less transmission wine (still existed of course), more exhaust (ever so slightly) and replay camera mode had cars "woosh" by the camera instead of just a Doppler effect on the cruddy sounds.

 

[linoleum]

I noticed that my tires chirp a bit more, rather than a long extended screech thru the corners. Perhaps that is just the surface of Sierra... haven't ventured elsewhere this week.....

 

[chzsln485]

Things I noticed:
Whizzy engine noise from the front of the car toned down
Backfire pops more audible
Exhaust is louder
Turbo whistle louder

To be honest, with the fairly limited changes PDI can make without re-recording cars, this is probably the best they can do.

 

[cjr3559]

I think the sound has been improved now that it's been mentioned and I paid attention to it. It seems they boosted the engine sound levels especially in the mid-range RPMs. They appear to have a fatter, heavier and more prominent sound and (to me) it seems more noticeable on larger engines. I recently ran the Jag E-Type and the '69 Corvette Convertible with my PS headphones.

 

[JayRS200]

There is no change to any of the sounds. I've driven many miles in my RS200, no difference.

Same with my Elise and 12C and others. No difference. Turbo sounds the same as it always did from chase cam, practically nonexistent. Turbo sounds the same from any other view compared to before the update, which ranges.

Changing exhaust has always made a notable difference. Not so much on some cars but but there is always a difference.

Cars sound the same when hitting stuff.

Tire squeal was reduced before this update, not sure when. But there has been no change from before to after this update.

 

[TRLWNC7396]

Well, the Caterham didn't scream like I had hoped, but it is a VASTLY HUGE improvement over the last time I used one!

 

[diegorborges]

Well, the Caterham didn't scream like I had hoped, but it is a VASTLY HUGE improvement over the last time I used one!

Same here! Used it last night and its a bit different.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Same here! Used it last night and its a bit different.

So it's not a VASTLY HUGE improvement?

 

[diegorborges]

So it's not a VASTLY HUGE improvement?

I'm not a super specialist but I can say its not a vastly huge improvement but at least the Caterham sound a bit better.

I've been playing with some exhausts. I'm liking this small change. Specially the louder turbo sounds.

 

[guywithanAE86]

The only cars I've driven since the update were the AE86 and the Nismo GT-R really. The 8-6 sounds the same, granted it sounds like a proper 4-AGE, so that's all well and good. But it sounded a bit louder when I had the semi-racing muffler on. Huh.
Oh well, I need to try a muscle car now to see if they improved those, too!

 

[MARcFuLLa]

Dont know at what moment the sounds were re-balanced (I was 3 updates late), but for sure theres some difference, and its for good

 

[exXboxfan]

I have a slow internet upload speed, but I am making a video that to me, proves there is at least some difference in tones or EQ. The changes to the balance between views and experience of surround sound, could not be showcased in the video...

Will post as soon as it's done.

 

[exXboxfan]

The only cars I've driven since the update were the AE86 and the Nismo GT-R really. The 8-6 sounds the same, granted it sounds like a proper 4-AGE, so that's all well and good. But it sounded a bit louder when I had the semi-racing muffler on. Huh.
Oh well, I need to try a muscle car now to see if they improved those, too!

If i'm right, what they did was applied to everything. It may just be more apparent in some cars, and some situations. The bassier the car should be, in theory, the more you'll notice the difference. If it's a "screamer" you may simply notice that the balance of car sounds has changed, not the tone. The sample file for that screamer car would not have had much bass to elevate.

Again, I don't think they went in and tweaked cars one by one, but applied a rule/setting change to how the game mixes the car sounds across the board, which is what I was hoping they would do. (Given the fact that reprogramming car sounds individually will likely not appear until GT7 as has been elluded to.)

 

[Stylel_Code]

Actually watched this video, and I can say engine sounds a bit better even off game:

 

[exXboxfan]

here's my video:

 

[XS]

Hmmm... To me the vid shows the opposite of what folks have been saying. The turbo is far less noticeable on 1.12 and the low range engine sound less pronounced, at least to me anyway.

Edit, but yes, I do think it proves there's been a change.

 

[hardvibes]

Yeah I posted in the undocumented changes thread. I thought I heard something different for the F40, especially with the semi-professional muffler. That growl even in idle.... I don't know if it's just because I didn't touch this car in a very long time.

 

[exXboxfan]

There is no change to any of the sounds. I've driven many miles in my RS200, no difference.

What sort of sound system are you using? and what game sound settings?

Same with my Elise and 12C and others. No difference. Turbo sounds the same as it always did from chase cam, practically nonexistent. Turbo sounds the same from any other view compared to before the update, which ranges.

They've turned down the "Breathing" and "whining" that the car did from almost every view, and that has simply let the turbo be noticeable on more cars, especially on roof cam. It has more of a "crisp" sound now.

Changing exhaust has always made a notable difference. Not so much on some cars but but there is always a difference.

I wasn't saying that it never made a difference, but that it is more of a convincing difference now that the correct engine tones are able to be heard and not drowned out by other sound elements such as trans whine.

Cars sound the same when hitting stuff.

I can say I've spent quite a lot of time crashing on purpose to test this, and I don't agree at all. Most crashes, and I am on surround sound, personally, are much more quiet and don't give the large thud. Head-on collisions will still thud loudly, but one could argue that is realistic.

Tire squeal was reduced before this update, not sure when. But there has been no change from before to after this update.

I know it was reduced before, but it has been better balanced with other sounds now. I'm not sure it is quieter compared to tires prior to update, just that it is not as loud overall for the whole car's sounds now. Engines and exhausts are louder so that makes it seem better to me.

 

[exXboxfan]

Hmmm... To me the vid shows the opposite of what folks have been saying. The turbo is far less noticeable on 1.12 and the low range engine sound less pronounced, at least to me anyway.

Edit, but yes, I do think it proves there's been a change.

Again, the video isn't able to really show you how "good" the change is, but to prove there was one.

In game, I personally feel the changes are for the better. That video shows me that the old sounds were very "flat" or "dull" by comparison.

 

[MattZR1]

Yea, something definitely got tweaked with sound. No placebo effect here. I just got done messing with the MP4-12C and progressively changed exhausts. It sounds a lot more aggressive with each one and you certainly hear more bass in the tone. I just took out the HSV-010 and I am not sure if it was always sounding like this, but I am getting engine noise in chase and cockpit cams while I get the shriek from the exhaust in exterior view and a mixture of both in hood view. Must say I love the engine noises in the chase cam on this car.

 

[XS]

Again, the video isn't able to really show you how "good" the change is, but to prove there was one.

In game, I personally feel the changes are for the better. That video shows me that the old sounds were very "flat" or "dull" by comparison.

Right, I get what you're proving, and I think you're right, there's definitely been a change. I haven't played enough to tell for myself if it's for the better. The video I think is pretty definitive. Thank you for putting it up!

 

[ironman44321]

I thought something seemed different when I was playing the other day...The tires seemed quieter and this might be me going crazy but the sound of tires losing grip seems to be a little different. I was on Sierra the other day with my Golf R and I noticed on some corners the tires sounded like they were almost skipping across the ground rather than that one giant sliding noise we used to get.

Anyone else know what I'm talking about?

 

[ScottPuss20]

The 288 GTO engine has a bit more muscle in it now-the up shifts and down shifts sound have more crunch to them. It no longer feels linear

 

[Robbks]

You really notice the difference around 4k rpm in the GTO, throaty V8, plus better turbo noises

 

[chzsln485]

I thought something seemed different when I was playing the other day...The tires seemed quieter and this might be me going crazy but the sound of tires losing grip seems to be a little different. I was on Sierra the other day with my Golf R and I noticed on some corners the tires sounded like they were almost skipping across the ground rather than that one giant sliding noise we used to get.

Anyone else know what I'm talking about?

YES. In uphill and downhill corners especially, there is a very pronounced chirping and juddering, which I think sounds great!

 

[TCSTigersClaw]

I think that is a placebo effect..I haven`t noticed anything..
Some people rushed to talk about turbo spooling ,because obviously they tested the Nismo GTR first.
GTR`s had always good Turbo spool sounds.

The Vision GT-1 sounds pretty nice too...but there is no other change to sound IMO.

Take an Evo ,Impreza, Rx7 ,Vag 20vt for a ride, it sounds the same cleaner no Turbo spool,no intake sound

EDIT: the only differnce I heard is of Nitrous. I dont remember pressing it on idle would make a sound before..(like GT4) ,then again I dont use much Nitrous maybe it was from the start

 

[Racelouse]

YES. In uphill and downhill corners especially, there is a very pronounced chirping and juddering, which I think sounds great!

if its on uphill or downhill corners especially then it might just be the bumpiness of the individual polygons that cause this. most GT6 tracks are unrealistically smooth, with no real bumps in them at all, which leads to a rather lifeless driving sensation. sierra seems to not have as many polys in the road surface, which despite being less desireable in turn leads to a more lively driving experience.

 

[chzsln485]

if its on uphill or downhill corners especially then it might just be the bumpiness of the individual polygons that cause this. most GT6 tracks are unrealistically smooth, with no real bumps in them at all, which leads to a rather lifeless driving sensation. sierra seems to not have as many polys in the road surface, which despite being less desireable in turn leads to a more lively driving experience.

The less accurate the track, the more fun the physics...

So much for that FIA approved track accuracy!

 

[unit-one]

I noticed some little changes, but sadly the 5.1 sound is still broken. (Optical)

When changing the camera from in-car view to chase-cam, the sound of the in-car view remains for some time and goes away after changing gears or slowing down or completely randomly. :/

 

[Griffith500]

The changes are only subtle to my ears.

It does seem like there is a change in "EQ" to the sounds, but on an individual, per-source basis. This probably means PD used their low-pass filter on the engine sound, and also on the exhaust sound but in a more "open" state, and "reversed" it for the turbo effects, before re-adjusting all the gains to compensate. If the gain adjustments have resulted in a different balance, that would be noticeably different without the "EQ tweak", but there are other subtle signs.

The highlighting of low-frequency detail in the engine samples helps to modulate the smooth exhaust sounds, in a way that intake sound (still absent) would - very clever, PD. Accentuating that same low frequency detail slightly in the exhaust gives the flow noise generator something to sink its teeth into, which gives the exhaust sound extra edge and depth (or just adds more blowiness for those exhaust sounds that are all noise already, e.g. a lot of stock exhausts) - again, very subtle, very clever. This subtle subverting of the sampling limitations implies PD have a deep understanding of what they are doing, which bodes well for any major update (GT7).

There is something I can't quite understand, and that's how it doesn't get all woolly and droney with so much extra gain in the low end. Perhaps it's not just a simple low-pass filter, and maybe it's the "detail extraction" part of the flow noise generator on the exhaust used in a different way.


I think the exhaust volumes are back to what they were at release, i.e. slightly louder from sports upwards. This means the dreaded dynamic range compressor spiking (other cars, collisions or tyre noise etc., drowning yours out) would be back, unless they've tweaked that as well (I use the "small theatre" setting with headphones and have never had such issues in GT6). If there is a difference in the drive-bys, it's possible it has had attention, i.e. making it quicker to release / spring back.

There does not appear to be any major change with exhaust parts, unless only a few specific cars got a sample swap, as sometimes happened with GT5.