21st century sim sounds

[Dom]

For many of you that have seen real racing, the sounds are a huge part of the experience, for some reason there are really neglected in sim racing and driving games in general.

Check these videos out, a guy in iracing put some real sounds with the sim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Gggi_nOw8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvIITQsLJnI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP9INpx75Q4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2NYKDKIs8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa6iFUuzWxo

[Olde Bloke]

Well, in my opinion, the 2 best sims physics-wise (iRacing and LFS), are both a rather flat experience because of their particular lack of acoustic interest. Sound is more important than visuals for a sense of immersion; watch a violent/action film with no sound and it loses all impact. I've actually had goose bumps just driving down a straight in Historix or P&G because of the engine noises. And the in-cockpit creeking, squeeking, rattling, ticking, noises give you that feeling you're sitting in a vulnerable physical metal (or whatever) box that will kill you if you collide with something hard. Whereas, iRacing (and LFS), take me back to GT4; a whining engine noise and where you don't feel any sense of danger - it's just a (skilful) game. This is something iracing could fix relatively easily, and it would massively improve the fun and sense of being in it for real, and surely that's got to be good for business.

I've had some entertainment in 2 months of iracing - the tracks make it a totally different experience where you're constantly adjusting the steering and balancing the throttle because of the track surface detail as opposed to driving on flat glass where you just turn in. But it's starting to feel a bit sterile. I feel a bit like getting back into and old rattling GTL or historix car for a sense of immersion and excitement. But yes I am now going to signup for a year..you can't go back.

There's a youtube of a mundane real life SRF Summit Point race, and the sounds (which are nothing special) still make you feel the danger and excitement far more than you do actually participating in iRacing.

I don't know whether this is exactly what you're talking about, Dom, but anyway...

[Dom]

Yeah I think you explained it well there. I think going to a real race you are immediately blown away by the sounds of the cars - I mean even parking up you can hear the cars from miles away. Sim racing just doesnt seem to quite capture this, GPL I think had a really good nostalgic atmosphere, many of the ISI based stuff lacks that somehow.


I know the iRacing guys are redoing the sound engine, which is great news, they need to focus on the car sounds, the incar sounds and dont forget how important the externals are. Doppler, reflective sounds, commentator over the tannoy, crowd noise, pit noise, general humm of a busy circuit. iRacing does feel too much like a driving game and not enough like an 'experience' - quite a turnaround from the atmosphere in GPL!

[FilipM]

Yep, thats one of the issues in sim racing. I'd always enjoy a higher revving car compared to a lower revving engine - eg. Corvette in IR. I loose sense of how much i am revving it and usually go in a gear lower expecting the revs to be in the mid range at the corner, but no, put my foot down and then realise "dam, i've done it again".

I haven't been driving much lately, haven't got all the nececary tracks, my life's gone a bit wrong, bought a new PC aswell now so i guess if it isn't fixed for next season, i won't even notice it cos of all the motivation :)

[Dom]

Thats interesting Filip, I have a similar experience with iRacing and the low rev sounds, i use sound quite a bit to work out how much throttle I have put on. Lets face it we are limited in the values that indicate to us how much grip there is, having better sounds would surely help that:)

[Olde Bloke]

On the subject of sound - anyone know why someone plays the trombone when you drive on the rumblestrips? Probably why the tracks are expensive. Session musicians with binoculars, I expect.

Sorry.... :)

[Dom]

haha, well I remember in GTP we experiemented with sounds, quite funny to replace engine sounds with music, some good drum and bass that Goldie would be proud of.