Active Sound Generators in cars
Discussion
Active/artifical sound generators are becoming more common in modern cars to add a bit of 'excitement'. These are generally disliked by pistonheaders. But why? - Yeah, it's fake noise.
Would something like an electric Mini (or Fiat 500) be able to carry it off? It could be switched off, have an inline 4 from a JCW; or an inline 6, V8 or V12 from BMW's back catalogue. You could even change the volume. In an electric car you'd have to somehow incorporate gearshifts or 'jerks ' to simulate them racing to the redline.
Would something like an electric Mini (or Fiat 500) be able to carry it off? It could be switched off, have an inline 4 from a JCW; or an inline 6, V8 or V12 from BMW's back catalogue. You could even change the volume. In an electric car you'd have to somehow incorporate gearshifts or 'jerks ' to simulate them racing to the redline.
Haven't Hyundai or someone already suggested/demonstrated this, possibly including a simulated "gearbox" as well.
The noise of an engine is a (sometimes pleasant sounding though often not these days) by-product of the engine itself doing something. If there's no engine there, it's just a pointless soundtrack from a computer game.
Electric motors, (more often the power electronics controlling it) can naturally make some quite good noises when pushed hard. Perhaps we should make more of that instead to make EVs interesting.
A cheaper alternative is to put a car loving toddler in the back seat. When my son was about 2 he loved making engine noises whilst we were driving along. The only problem was that he was fitted with a Fast and the Furious Gearbox which had no relationship to what the car was actually doing. I was probably in about 2000th gear before he got fed up of it on some occasions as he only ever did upshifts.....
The noise of an engine is a (sometimes pleasant sounding though often not these days) by-product of the engine itself doing something. If there's no engine there, it's just a pointless soundtrack from a computer game.
Electric motors, (more often the power electronics controlling it) can naturally make some quite good noises when pushed hard. Perhaps we should make more of that instead to make EVs interesting.
A cheaper alternative is to put a car loving toddler in the back seat. When my son was about 2 he loved making engine noises whilst we were driving along. The only problem was that he was fitted with a Fast and the Furious Gearbox which had no relationship to what the car was actually doing. I was probably in about 2000th gear before he got fed up of it on some occasions as he only ever did upshifts.....
rodericb said:
A company in the midlands dabbled in it with BMW a few years ago:
Christ, they worked hard for that April Fools joke. And included the PINCH and PUNCH.I guess this is what EV owners need. Although it won't actually work with an EV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9QbrhoBISU
Biggy Stardust said:
Why would any adult want their car to play fake broom-broom noises through the speakers?
If you ignore the aesthetics aspect of it, it also provides continuous audio feedback to the user for what the car is doing. Eg: If the car is struggling up a hill or is slowing down due to adaptive cruise control you're more aware of what is happening without having to look down at the speedo.I'd like it if it sounds decent. I turn the volume up playing computer games / watching motorsport if it sounds good, so I don't see why driving would be much different. Though I do sometimes make engine noises while driving, so I am a bit weird.
It might also help cut down on noise pollution.
It might also help cut down on noise pollution.
Terminator X said:
Fake noise is worse than no noise. Some cars have piped engine noise through to the cabin so not fake as such.
Blame the Noise Regs, no one asked for it.
TX.
piped noise is worse imho. removed it from our gt86. Blame the Noise Regs, no one asked for it.
TX.
for an ev, would be good to be able to dial in tie fighter noises, like the early ferrari f1 cars on kers regen, they sounded awesome.
fake noises arent for me. i love the real sounds my cars make, and if a car is hampered by modern noise regs then i'd very likely be fitting a induction kit and a sports exhaust. my 2005 boxster sounds absolutely glorious with just a sports exhaust on and its real noise.
my mate has a GR yaris and the fake engine noise was immediately obvious and grating. if it was my car i'd be turning off the fake noise and installing a decent exhaust instead.
as for fake noise in EVs, i wouldnt buy an EV for the noise, would rather sit in hushed comfort than pretending i'm in a ICE car? if i want a car with a nice noise, i'll buy a car with a nice noise!
my mate has a GR yaris and the fake engine noise was immediately obvious and grating. if it was my car i'd be turning off the fake noise and installing a decent exhaust instead.
as for fake noise in EVs, i wouldnt buy an EV for the noise, would rather sit in hushed comfort than pretending i'm in a ICE car? if i want a car with a nice noise, i'll buy a car with a nice noise!
t. Worse than without the artificial noise. You couldn't hear anything.Good discussion with lots of interesting points made. It's a very divisive subject.
Buy a car with a nice noise - Humans get bored easily. You could try a V6 one day, a V8 the next or a boxer 4/6 etc. And also switch it off on the motorway at constant speed. And when you get bored ....
Robertb said:
The problem is the fake engine noises are awful, completely unconvincing. I’m astonished that with modern sound technology they can’t do a better job.
I like the sound the Taycan makes as it’s actually based on the motor sound.
Yes. Why can't the fake engine noises be much more realistic? It can't be that hard to take a decent recording. Most higher end cars have collaborations with audiophile companies and seem to play back decent music that will satisfy most people barring picky audiophiles. I like the sound the Taycan makes as it’s actually based on the motor sound.
brillomaster said:
fake noises arent for me. i love the real sounds my cars make, and if a car is hampered by modern noise regs then i'd very likely be fitting a induction kit and a sports exhaust. my 2005 boxster sounds absolutely glorious with just a sports exhaust on and its real noise.
my mate has a GR yaris and the fake engine noise was immediately obvious and grating. if it was my car i'd be turning off the fake noise and installing a decent exhaust instead.
as for fake noise in EVs, i wouldnt buy an EV for the noise, would rather sit in hushed comfort than pretending i'm in a ICE car? if i want a car with a nice noise, i'll buy a car with a nice noise!
I get this. However, upgrading to a 'sports' exhaust is also trying to enhance the sound and enjoyment. However, may require a premium on the insurance, and the cost of the exhaust. If this could be achieved by decent artificial sound (I know the word 'decent' doing a lot of heavy lifting here), it would be cheaper. And you could 'try' a Janspeed exhaust today, a Milltek tomorrow and an Akrapovic the next etc. if copyrights could be agreed.my mate has a GR yaris and the fake engine noise was immediately obvious and grating. if it was my car i'd be turning off the fake noise and installing a decent exhaust instead.
as for fake noise in EVs, i wouldnt buy an EV for the noise, would rather sit in hushed comfort than pretending i'm in a ICE car? if i want a car with a nice noise, i'll buy a car with a nice noise!
Buy a car with a nice noise - Humans get bored easily. You could try a V6 one day, a V8 the next or a boxer 4/6 etc. And also switch it off on the motorway at constant speed. And when you get bored ....
shirt said:
piped noise is worse imho. removed it from our gt86.
for an ev, would be good to be able to dial in tie fighter noises, like the early ferrari f1 cars on kers regen, they sounded awesome.
Would space ship type noises be interesting for a while? for an ev, would be good to be able to dial in tie fighter noises, like the early ferrari f1 cars on kers regen, they sounded awesome.
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