Panning audio issue in GT5

[crazedmodder]

Title: Car SFX can be heard panning between right and left front channels in front engine cars when travelling at high speeds in bumper or cockpit view
Description: When traveling at high-speed (260KM/H+) in a front engine car the SFX (engine, transmission, exhaust) can be heard in one speaker only while turning and can be heard panning when swerving.

Please note that reproducing this issue requires a front engine car that can achieve speeds above 260KM/H (162MPH)

Please note that this issue may be easier to hear when using headphones but can also be heard from speakers.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Select [GT Mode]

- Remove race music (this issue occurs with music enabled but will be easier to hear with it disabled)
1. Select [My Home Settings]
2. Select [Options]
3. Scroll down to “Hardware”
4. Select [Audio]
5. Set “Race BGM” to “0”
6. Select [OK]
7. Press {Circle}
8. Select [OK]

- Select the car (this issue occurs with any front engine car that can achieve speeds greater than 260KM/H (162MPH)):
1. Select [Garage]
2. Highlight a front engine car that can achieve speeds above 260KM/H (162MPH)
3. Press {Triangle}
4. Select [Change Car]
5. Select [Yes]
6. Select [Close]

- Select the track (this issue occurs on any track where speeds greater than 260KM/H (162MPH) can be achieved):
1. Select [Practice]
2. Select [World Circuits]
3. Select [Superspeedway – Daytona]
4. Select [A-Spec Free Run]
5. Select [Start]

- Create the issue:
1. Switch to bumper camera view
2. Accelerate to a speed greater than 260KM/H (162MPH)
3. Complete the first turn
4. On the straightaway accelerate as much as possible to achieve as much speed above 260KM/H (162MPH) as possible
5. Before reaching the next turn begin to swerve left and right

Result:
1. When turning at speeds above 260KM/H (162MPH) the car’s SFX will only be heard through one channel, either front left or front right.
2. When swerving at speeds above 260KM/H (162MPH) the car’s SFX can be heard switching between front left and front right channels.
Expected Result: The car’s SFX do not pan between channels

Please note that:
1. the car’s SFX should not pan because the bumper cam is fixed relative to the rotation of the car. Therefore, even if the rear of the car rotates the angle and distance between the camera and the source of the sound will not change. As such the car’s SFX should not pan at all.
2. this issue also occurs in cockpit view but it is much less pronounced
3. the issue is much more apparent with a fully customizable transmission.
4. the issue starts occurring at approximately 260KM/H+, becomes worse at approximately 280KM/H+ and is extremely apparent at 300KM/H+
5. this is still an issue as of v1.05
6. I currently use Daytona to test this issue because of the higher speeds that can be achieved. This is not track dependent however as I have had this issue on Nordschleife, Indy and Daytona. Tracks that have extremely high-speed turns.

The following settings were tested but the issue still occurs:

Optical
HDMI

DTS 5.1 ch 48kHz
Dolby Digital 5.1ch 48kHz
Linear PCM 2ch 48kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 ch 48kHz

Living Room
Small Theater
Large Theater

2-Channel Stereo
4.1-Channel Surround
5.1-Channel Surround
7.1-Channel Surround

Fat PS3
Slim PS3

Cars tested:

Chevrolet Camaro SS '10 (RACE MOD)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C6) '09 (RACE MOD)
Lexus LFA '10 (Fully upgraded, issue occurs with both the stock transmission and fully customizable transmission)
Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG '08 (Stock)
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG '10 (Stock)
Nissan GT-R SpecV (GT Academy Version) '09 (Turbo and exhaust)
Toyota 2010 Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx TOYOTA CAMRY '10

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 '08 (Fully Upgraded)
Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce '09 (Stock)

--ORIGINAL POST--
I've had this horrible sound issue in GT5 and I'm wondering if anyone had this issue and managed to get it fixed.

What happens is that when I'm going around a turn at high-speeds I can only hear the engine through my front right or front left speaker and after the turn is done I can hear the engine panning between my front left and front right speakers as I straighten up. The panning is so bad that it sounds like it only coming through one speaker at a time when I'm straightening up.

This is most noticeable in bumper cam and slightly noticeable in cockpit view.
I've only really noticed this issue in FR cars.
First heard it at Indy Oval in my RMd Camaro.

I thought it might have been my gear but I don't have this issue in anything else and I also found this post in another thread:

I haven't got any popping sounds, but with my Slim plugged into my Sony DAV-DZ260 (not exactly high end!) via an optical cable, I have a strange glitch where, when I'm at high speed, estimated at 180+mph, my left audio channel, both front and rear, cuts out if I steer to the left. If I'm only slightly steering left it will cut in and out rapidly and sound horrible, and when it cuts out for long periods of time it makes me feel like I'm deaf or something...

I'm not sure what profile I have set, I think I've checked the first three boxes in the manual audio settings list, I think DTS is one of them. Before this thread I never thought to change that setting but I will after this race and see what happens.

Update: Even after setting the output to just Dolby 5.1, the glitch is still there...

So, have you had this issue? Have you been able to fix it?

Thanks!

 

[W3H5]

I've had sound problems with other games but GT seems fine for me so far. Maybe try a search online to find a solution if you haven't already.

 

[t.o.]

I too get that. I use cockpit view so it's not as noticeable and doesn't really bother me much but it can be distracting at times.

 

[sesselpupser]

As the OP knows, I have the same problem; I always use bumper cam and have been grinding at Indy for a while so I hear it a lot, in my RM ZR1 if you turn to the left then the sound cuts out of the right speaker and vice versa. If only slightly turning then you can hear it cutting in and out quickly and it sounds horrible. I'm using Dolby 5.1 and have set GT5's audio to small theatre. I have my video going through HDMI but audio through the optical port.

(p.s. Crazedmodder: Thanks for letting me know about this thread!)

Edit: managed to totally miss he'd copied my post in the OP, oops...

 

[crazedmodder]

Updated the first post with stuff I have tested and that you mentioned neema_t. Unfortunately have not found a workaround yet but I will keep updating the original post as I test more settings.

 

[trk29]

The only sound problem I have had (if you want to call it a problem, I do) is when I did the last nascar challenge. I still haven't beaten it yet dang it is hard I can not get any better than third at the moment. Anyway when I am at top speed going around the course I start hearing a really loud whining noise and clicks, as my speed slows down it goes away.

I must be hearing the same thing but I didn't notice it until I put headphones on coming out of my receiver.

 

[slackbladder]

Just to add. I have noticed this with 7.1 too. But I feel there's nothing that can be done about it as it seems to be in the game. The sound design in GT5 can be a little, well, peculiar at times. But it's never stopped my enjoyment of the game.

 

[RogsR34UK]

I have been using DTS 5.1 and when I approach a corner at high revs the engine sound will distort until I brake for the corner. This is not the engine hitting the rev limiter.

 

[sideshowfrost]

I get the same effect. You are not alone.

 

[kitchenboy3]

Updated the first post with stuff I have tested and that you mentioned neema_t. Unfortunately have not found a workaround yet but I will keep updating the original post as I test more settings.

I am sorry, I really don't wish to minimize this 'problem' you have, BUT, seriously, I have to know, Just how much time are you spending with all of those tests?

 

[crazedmodder]

I am sorry, I really don't wish to minimize this 'problem' you have, BUT, seriously, I have to know, Just how much time are you spending with all of those tests?

Took me like 10 minutes, plus DTS and Dolby were mentioned by others as having the issue as well.

Honestly, if I wanted to I could probably blitz through all the audio settings in the PS3 menu in about 30 minutes. I'm just too lazy and I get annoyed sitting through loading screens so I break it up. I used to be a game tester, so meh.

 

[supersub7]

I get this when I'm grinding for cash on Indy with my ZR1 (RM). I use a Turtle Beach headset and when the car hits full speed the sound distorts and crackles.

 

[Tommy_861]

I don't notice any distortion but I do notice the engine sound cutting out of the left or right speakers at some points depending on how I'm turning. I use the bumper cam exclusively, and my system is and Onkyo 5.1 DTS and hooked up to the PS3 via optical cable.

 

[Griffith500]

I thought I noticed this last night. I'm a G25 user, but I switched to the pad for some late night racing and noticed the audio pan when steering (in fairness, I knew about the issue before hearing it for myself, so it might have been my mind!)

Anyway, of those people having the problem, how many are using the pad? I, too, use the optical connection with the 2 / 2.1 output settings (PCM) and HDMI for video.
I swear it doesn't do it when I use the wheel.

 

[Stonemonkey]

Is this happening in cockpit or all views?

 

[tinram]

I must say, this is how issues should be discussed.

I hope this remains a no whining zone

 

[Griffith500]

Is this happening in cockpit or all views?

I use "bumper" view almost exclusively.

 

[sesselpupser]

I too use bumper cam almost exclusively, and from what I can tell it's less obvious in cockpit view, but still there. I've been using my pad for the last week or so, I'll try it with my DFP and see what happens, though. I wonder what causes it? I mean if it doesn't happen with all cars, maybe there's something about them that makes it happen. I notice that in the list of cars that Crazedmodder posted, all the ones it does happen in are front engined, and those it doesn't happen in are mid... I'll test some more and post what I find.

 

[Stonemonkey]

I only have an old 3 speaker system from the PS2 days but replaced the speakers and it's connected to the PS3 AV socket.

Just tried all views in the California and there's no panning, most of the engine sound comes from the left with the whine from the centre/right and none of that changes. Sounds of going over kerbs comes from the correct side.

 

[SimplyKok]

Same exact problem here. Noticed this problem when farming in the Indy with my ZR1 RM.
Must be my car going so fast that it broke the speed of sound at 330km/h and thus sounded like that.

Car: Corvette ZR1 RM
Track: Indy
Sound System: Logitech z5500 on DTS Digital

 

[hst12]

I'm having the same issue with the sound panning from left to right. I first noticed this on my GTR V-Spec with the adjustable transmission and often when approaching top speed on the straight and usually on the oval tracks. I tend to use cockpit view when available or bumper cam for the standard cars.

My amp is a recent model Sony STR-DH510 5.1 receiver and I'm using HDMI cables from PS3 to amp and amp to TV (Sony KDL32EX400). The PS3 is a slim model in case that is relevant.

EDIT: Here is one case where this sound glitch doesn't happen with an adjustable transmission. I'm currently on lap 27 of 60 of the first endurance race and am driving the Formula GT car. On this car you can hear the engine sound coming from behind clearly and there has been no weird panning effect at all.

 

[Griffith500]

I think the controller thing might be a red herring, now that I've tried to reproduce the problem.

I just did some experiments with the dynamic range settings in the audio options in the game. It seems that if you select one of the compressed settings ("Living room" or "Small theatre") the sound of the tyres when cornering tends to overwhelm the sound of the engine. Cleverly, this compression appears to be performed per channel in the game, so that because the (front) left hand tyres squeal louder in a right-hand turn, the engine noise is muffled in the left-hand channel, and is then comparatively more prominent in the right channel.

I'd encourage people to give the "Large Theatre" setting a go; be careful with the volume, though - the maximum volume the game can achieve is the same on all settings, so the menus etc. and game in general are much quieter in the "Large Theatre" mode, but close-ups and fly-bys are really loud - as are race exhausts...

If the problem disappears, then you've got your answer. PD is trying to protect your ears / sanity / marriage etc.

 

[crazedmodder]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm still hoping we can find at least a temporary solution because I find it rather annoying.

BTW I use a wheel so it's not just pad users.

And yeah, it seems to only affect front engined cars but I've only tried FR so far. I'm hoping to try FF or F4WD but I don't know if any FF cars car get to 280KM/H+ .

I think the controller thing might be a red herring, now that I've tried to reproduce the problem.

I just did some experiments with the dynamic range settings in the audio options in the game. It seems that if you select one of the compressed settings ("Living room" or "Small theatre") the sound of the tyres when cornering tends to overwhelm the sound of the engine. Cleverly, this compression appears to be performed per channel in the game, so that because the (front) left hand tyres squeal louder in a right-hand turn, the engine noise is muffled in the left-hand channel, and is then comparatively more prominent in the right channel.

I'd encourage people to give the "Large Theatre" setting a go; be careful with the volume, though - the maximum volume the game can achieve is the same on all settings, so the menus etc. and game in general are much quieter in the "Large Theatre" mode, but close-ups and fly-bys are really loud - as are race exhausts...

If the problem disappears, then you've got your answer. PD is trying to protect your ears / sanity / marriage etc.

I will give this a shot when my brother stops playing Black Ops. If that is the cause then I hope they can balance the levels better in a patch because exhausts are crazy loud in large theater.

 

[JackC8]

I notice when I go down the straightaway in Special Stage Route 5 I get this thumping through my subwoofer. Every 2 or 3 seconds, a good loud thump, like a bass drum or something. Doesn't matter what car I'm using, it's always there.

 

[HuskyGT]

No problems at all. I have a Bravia Theatre DAV-DZ570, PS3 is running through optical cable, and the setting in the game is Living Room. My recomendation is to leave the sound output options on the PS3 on default, and the surround system in A.F.D Standard. The A.F.D Standard option will reproduce the sound exactly how the system is recieving it. Putting it on Dolby, DTS or PL2 will only simulate the surround effect.

I notice when I go down the straightaway in Special Stage Route 5 I get this thumping through my subwoofer. Every 2 or 3 seconds, a good loud thump, like a bass drum or something. Doesn't matter what car I'm using, it's always there.

JackC8: I know... Pay attention to the pavement on the straightaway, and you´ll see why. There is no problem with the sound

 

[JackC8]

JackC8: I know... Pay attention to the pavement on the straightaway, and you´ll see why. There is no problem with the sound

Thanks, I'll have to check that out next time I race there. Mystery solved

 

[Mig]

My system was working fine until about 2 days ago. Now every time a high revving engine (10k/rpm-14k/rpm) would be at the top end my sound completely cuts out

I dont believe anything settings have changed but im missing a lot of high frequencies all of a sudden (good onkyo amp)

 

[crazedmodder]

Sadly Large Theater did not work for me . I have yet to try FF and F4WD cars (I slacked a little yesterday because I got the X1) but I'm going to give those a shot soon just to complete my list.

Doesn't look like there are any temp fixes for this other than not using bumper cam (and to some extent, cockpit view as well)

 

[Griffith500]

I think I heard this panning properly today, where one channel almost completely cut out, and then it quickly swapped to the other side and then quickly fixed itself. (I was recovering from a hairy moment). If that's what it's like for you guys, then it is horrible!

I also heard the menu sound effects distort, too.
On top of this, I often hear certain sound effects "glitch" -they go full deflection, so maximum volume, for 1-2 seconds (I recognise the sound my headphones make under DC ) - it's like the delay buffer used to simulate the distance of the sounds is freaking out and somehow saturating the output

I've only heard it on collisions and "backfires" so far.

They must be maxing out the SPUs, so occasionally things get waylayed and sound is of lower importance, hence it suffers. Very off-putting, still.

 

[wrxkurt]

I have noticed the engine sound cutting out at top speed.

I am using the optical cable through my Sony DTS 6.1 receiver (not sure of the model number).