Audio reproduction in GT5P

[VentureDenny]

GT5 is way better than GT4 in the sound department, but that's not actually saying much, as GT4 had horrid, bland audio.

I'd say GT5's biggest problem is the dynamic range of the sounds. (That's the "lifeless" issue everybody brings up.)
It's like there's an upper/lower cap on how loud each sound can be, like the loudest noise coming from the engine is only 10dB away from the quietest.
The F2007 has the same amount of "information" in its engine noise as other cars, but because its so loud its much more apparent how crap it is.

An example:
* Imagine a kiddie roller coaster at a fair; it starts at ground level and peaks at 20ft in the air. This'll be equivalent to a real-life 350Z's noise.
* Imagine a full-blown coaster that ranges from ground to 200ft in the air - this is a real F1 car.
* Imagine jumping as high as you can - 3 feet. This is the GT5 350Z.
* Finally, imagine going up to the roof of a 20 story building, and jumping as high as you can again. You'll reach 203ft, but return to 200 again. This is GT5 F2007. You may be 200ft up in the air, but obviously its not the same as the big coaster.

Does that make sense? NEEDS MORE DYNAMIC RANGE!

There actually is an adjustment that you can make to improve this. It's under the "options" menu. In Audio adjustments, there is a place where you can choose between "living room" , "small theater", or large theater". Each one has a slightly different sound, and a bigger dynamic range. Of course the results you get depends on your sound system.
I bought the fiber optic cable and plugged my PS3 into my Kenwood amp with surround sound 5.1, 100 watts per channel. When I switched from "living room" to "small theater", I noticed a pretty big improvement. I haven't tried "large theater" yet.
---------------
But another thing I noticed in the lack of realism...when you drive with the cockpit view, the exhaust sound is a little muted (as it would be going from an outside view to inside the car). But what is missing is the engine mechanical sounds that you hear inside the car...the induction roar that you hear when going to full throttle, the other sounds that you hear when inside a car that makes you aware of what the engine is doing.
And, in my opinion, the wind and road noise as speed increases is WAY too loud.
There is more to the sound of a car than just the exhaust note. Of course, as said before in this thread, this is just Prologue. The beta or field test for the whole game.
Actually, I like the idea of releasing a field test to the public. It's not only a smart marketing idea ( got ya hooked ), but it shows that Polyphony Digital is very concerned about getting public feedback, and getting the main GT5 just right.
I'm REALLY looking forward to the full release!

 

[Saladine12]

Wrong, wrong. (Not dissin' ya, just the wrong approach.)

This does not capture the engine, transmission and differential under load. This is what most games, I suspect do and that is why the cars don't sound right in racing mode.

Straight cut gears make a very distinct sound during a race, not something you get on a dyno. All these sounds are affected by the cars traction for instance, as the suspension loads and unloads under acceleration there are changes in pitch, compression etc. Those are the things that are missing, not only from GTx but most racing games.

As I said before, a huge undertaking. Micing the cars and tracks for each? Not an audio contract I'd want, fun but what a nightmare..

I agree that an undertaking like that would be massive to say the least, especially for nearly 1000 cars, but the dyno way, under load, would be the next best thing rather than recording from neutral while revving.
Forza recorded the dyno way and i must say that the sounds are arguably more raw than GT5,imo anyway.

 

[JM1681]

...but the dyno way, under load, would be the next best thing rather than recording from neutral while revving...

What I'm trying to say

Transmission, diff, turbo, supercharger noise IMHO could be delegated to a more generic set of sounds (Notice I said set, as in not-one-sample-for-each ) as they don't carry as much of a "personality" as the engine, intake and exhaust do.

 

[AERO_HDT]

Does anyone agree at least that the Corvette is rather awesome in sound? LOL I've never heard a Corvette Z-06 on full song, but I've heard plenty of LS-spec engines on full bore and the Corvette is seriously good especially when hooked up to my audio system with the bass turned up.

But the cars do lack 'dirty' sounding exhausts and real or not, they would surely enhance the experience above and beyond the clinical and somewhat cold sound-effects they've got in place at the moment. Realism CAN be stale sometimes. If you want to replicate the feel of DRIVING, then you need to compensate for the lack of physical forces involved in racing a real car. So you must inevitably enhance the audio effect to add to a level of realism that isn't quite there....

Seems like no matter how much people bag NFS, Electronic Arts DO get some things right. I've always been an NFS fan, ever since the first one was released back in 1995 and I own all of them. For a franchise to last 14 years, they must be doing something right and the fact that people aspire for NFS levels of audio reproduction is testament to this....

 

[Saladine12]

What I'm trying to say

Transmission, diff, turbo, supercharger noise IMHO could be delegated to a more generic set of sounds (Notice I said set, as in not-one-sample-for-each ) as they don't carry as much of a "personality" as the engine, intake and exhaust do.

Ah, right sorry.
Well aren't they using generic sounds for those things already?

 

[Saladine12]

Does anyone agree at least that the Corvette is rather awesome in sound? LOL I've never heard a Corvette Z-06 on full song, but I've heard plenty of LS-spec engines on full bore and the Corvette is seriously good especially when hooked up to my audio system with the bass turned up.

But the cars do lack 'dirty' sounding exhausts and real or not, they would surely enhance the experience above and beyond the clinical and somewhat cold sound-effects they've got in place at the moment. Realism CAN be stale sometimes. If you want to replicate the feel of DRIVING, then you need to compensate for the lack of physical forces involved in racing a real car. So you must inevitably enhance the audio effect to add to a level of realism that isn't quite there....

Seems like no matter how much people bag NFS, Electronic Arts DO get some things right. I've always been an NFS fan, ever since the first one was released back in 1995 and I own all of them. For a franchise to last 14 years, they must be doing something right and the fact that people aspire for NFS levels of audio reproduction is testament to this....

Honestly, i believe that the corevette still sounds repressed somewhat. Forza's corevette sounds much throatier, more potent than it is in GT5P.
Probably my favourite sounding car is the F40. I fiddle with the gears to stretch 2nd and 3rd while adjusting 4th and 5th gear real close just to make it sound more terrifying at full ball!
As for Need for Speed, i agree 100%. I love the game specifically for the over the top sounds. Every nuance is recorded faithfully and furthermore, enhanced considerably to convey raw, undiluted power.
Somehow, the recreations of sound (shifting,turbo,blow off valves,engine and exhaust notes) are somewhat reminiscent of how cars really sound on the streets.

 

[JM1681]

...Somehow, the recreations of sound (shifting,turbo,blow off valves,engine and exhaust notes) are somewhat reminiscent of how cars really sound on the streets.

QFT

Agree 100%

 

[VentureDenny]

As for Need for Speed, i agree 100%. I love the game specifically for the over the top sounds. Every nuance is recorded faithfully and furthermore, enhanced considerably to convey raw, undiluted power.
Somehow, the recreations of sound (shifting,turbo,blow off valves,engine and exhaust notes) are somewhat reminiscent of how cars really sound on the streets.

And ( in NFSS ) since you can add speed parts to make the engine more powerful, the sound of the engine gets louder and deeper, as you add power. I was impressed when I noticed that. Compare a stage 3 engine sound ( forced induction, powertrain, engine mods) to the stock engine sound, you can definitely hear the difference.

 

[Sa!!yz~Rage]

Transmission, diff, turbo, supercharger noise IMHO could be delegated to a more generic set of sounds (Notice I said set, as in not-one-sample-for-each ) as they don't carry as much of a "personality" as the engine, intake and exhaust do.

Hmmm..... Well I don't want to create one of 'those' threads, but generic is sort of what's creating the crappy sounds in games now isn't it?

And if you've ever owned a car that has run an over-driven 6/71 blower on it, well you'd know it's personality real well, real fast.

 

[SpecOpsBob]

Long been a supporter of this, it's one of the main things I was a bit dissapointed with in GT5P.
Some cars sound great, but they don't sound mechanical and agressive like they should, they sound too hollow.

+1

 

[Sa!!yz~Rage]

but they don't sound mechanical and aggressive like they should, they sound too hollow

It's a very 'processed' sound for sure, and not in a good studio way either. It just all sounds very pre-canned. For instance, and this is almost comical. Why does the F1 2007 sound like an electric generator when it's idling? I just laugh when I hear it, it's ssssssssooooooooooooooooo bad.

I just hope and pray they left out the 'good' audio for Prologue, because if this is the way it's going to sound in GT5? Yikes...

 

[Biggamehit]

And ( in NFSS ) since you can add speed parts to make the engine more powerful, the sound of the engine gets louder and deeper, as you add power. I was impressed when I noticed that. Compare a stage 3 engine sound ( forced induction, powertrain, engine mods) to the stock engine sound, you can definitely hear the difference.

i don't get into debates a lot.. but this is something that gets to me.

this game was never ment to be an all out slap all the parts on your car and have the best machine.

i like it becuase I am a Tuner/Racer and if i can tune a car to perform better than the next guy, its just as good to me... i mean you can increase the HP. Seems you just like the feeling of installing XYZ part on a car which is ok.

im sure when the finial game comes out, you will be allowed to upgrade your own drivetrain etc etc.

 

[Saladine12]

I'd just like to know one thing.
The Ford GT LM SPEC car, does it have a 6cyl engine or is that Polyphony's idea of a V8?
Honestly, is that how the car would sound in real life?