Talking about the importance of SOUND in our motors/cars/bikes

1551 Views 26 Replies 7 Participants Last post by sburns2421, Feb 2, 2011

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · Jan 26, 2011

I found this quite interesting.....

YouTube - Audi Sound Studio - What is the Audi sound?

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sqd8r

· #2 · Jan 26, 2011

Interesting, we are certainly heading to trademarking sound. HD tried it many years ago when the metric bikes were on the rise and imitating the HD sound without the cost. Makes sense imo since sound is often a major part of the sensation of owning motorcycles and performance cars.

This is also the same tech used in popular racing games, notably Gran Turismo, where they use actual sound footage.

UnpaintedHuffhines

· #3 · Jan 26, 2011

who cares? i just care about reliability and performance.

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 27, 2011

UnpaintedHuffhines said:
who cares?

Some of us.

sburns2421

· #5 · Jan 27, 2011

It is a big factor for many riders. There wouldn't be dozens of brands of aftermarket exhaust if not.

Read any test in the reborn MV 750 of 1999-2000. Every single test talks about the sound from the four exhaust tips. Read any test about a hopped-up Ducati and "booming exhaust note" will be included in the text somewhere. I have had people come outside a business when I was leaving on my 851 just to hear me pull away.

Motorcycles are not rational vehicles, they exist to evoke emotion. Quality and/or quantity of sound is just as much a part of what they are as the way the front brake feels or the comfort of the seat.

sqd8r

· #6 · Jan 27, 2011

UnpaintedHuffhines said:
who cares? i just care about reliability and performance.

If you are only a track rider I agree. However if you are a road rider riding a modern bike in excess of 100 bhp then the other senses have to come into play because in today's nanny state it is nigh on impossible to enjoy a bike's full performance on the road.

The look, the sound, the sensations etc. impact on all senses to make one feel like a god, or better yet rossi

, while enjoying the bike or car at legal or at least stay-out-of-jail speeds.

I ride my HP2 off-road 90% of the time, part of the sensation is sliding a 100 hp enduro round a corner and the other is the sound and I'm only going 60-70 kph.

In comparison, on my old ZX10R, in order to give me the same thrill, I had to hit 200 kph (on the track) to get the same rush.

Mazda's miata is another toy that does more with less while hitting all the senses. No where near the performance of more expensive models but driving one hits all the senses and keeps you in the clear legally.

It's a scared new world and unfortunately mfgs have to get creative when it comes to invoking the same sensations that we all used to seek from just matting the throttle.

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whitw wings

· #7 · Jan 27, 2011

I must say, the sound of a a V8 S4 with a Full Milltech system with no cats, an evoms flash tune, and a evoms intake blazing down the straight at brainard is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I love the S4!

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 27, 2011

whitw wings said:
I must say, the sound of a a V8 S4 with a Full Milltech system with no cats, an evoms flash tune, and a evoms intake blazing down the straight at brainard is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I love the S4!

Me too...I smile every day commuting to work and back.
S4 6-speed with piggies into a full 2.5" Y-pipe straight-through resonated Magnaflow catback.

Sounds pretty......crisp!

whitw wings

· #9 · Jan 28, 2011

oh meow!

banda

· #10 · Jan 28, 2011

This is what your Audi money goes to pay for? What a complete waste. I am stunned by the Audi fanboys who commented on that YouTube video - clearly I do not share their values.
Their cars may be nice, but if they have money to waste on auditioning violins for their voicemail, and recording glovebox lids in 5.1 digital or whatever that video was about, then they aren't getting that money from me.

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 28, 2011 (Edited)

banda said:
Their cars may be nice....

Yes, they are! In large part because they spend so much time on the little "inconsequentials" like that....

I climb into my 6 year old AUdi, and it's still as solid as a rock. No squeaks, groans, rattles. First rate materials are evident everywhere, and care of assembly. Compared to much of the other stuff available, and there is a visible (and audible

)) difference. They're not perfect....and have issues like everything else, but they're pretty passionate about quality and trying to make a better car, IMO.If you think the sounds thing is over the top...you should see what they do in the motor and driveline and ECU/controls areas.

I'm sure they're going to miss ya. You're not a BMW owner are you?

Different strokes, I guess.

Jami6989

· #12 · Jan 28, 2011

I think it's cool when old men drive around in TTs cuz it makes them feel "young" and "cool". TTs and Vettes are the official midlife crisis mobiles!:rockon

sburns2421

· #13 · Jan 28, 2011

Jami6989 said:
I think it's cool when old men drive around in TTs cuz it makes them feel "young" and "cool". TTs and Vettes are the official midlife crisis mobiles!:rockon

What is an M3? Does it make the driver feel like "vinegar" and "water"?

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 28, 2011

I love the M3. It may be my next car, despite its bland and cheap interior. But don't assume for a minute that an M3 is any different than a Vette in the attraction as a "mid life crisis mobile"
The fact that Jamie owns one, tells the story...

banda

· #15 · Jan 28, 2011

Old Baldy said:
Yes, they are! In large part because they spend so much time on the little "inconsequentials" like that....

I climb into my 6 year old AUdi, and it's still as solid as a rock. No squeaks, groans, rattles. First rate materials are evident everywhere, and care of assembly. Compared to much of the other stuff available, and there is a visible (and audible )) difference. They're not perfect....and have issues like everything else, but they're pretty passionate about quality and trying to make a better car, IMO.If you think the sounds thing is over the top...you should see what they do in the motor and driveline and ECU/controls areas.

I'm sure they're going to miss ya. You're not a BMW owner are you?
Different strokes, I guess.

I find BMW owners even more detestable than Audi owners. I don't get car geeks. Not at all.

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 28, 2011

banda said:
I find BMW owners even more detestable than Audi owners. I don't get car geeks. Not at all.

Fair enough.

I don't "get" folks who can be happy to spend sometimes hours of their lives every day commuting in something that doesn't interest them. That would be cruel punishment for me...

banda

· #17 · Jan 29, 2011

Old Baldy said:
Fair enough.

I don't "get" folks who can be happy to spend sometimes hours of their lives every day commuting in something that doesn't interest them. That would be cruel punishment for me...

I have what might be the dorkiest possible car. A Subaru Forester.
But...
I get reasonable gas mileage.
It tows my dirt bikes.
It's a top safety pick.
It crunches easily through the worst road conditions that the lower midwest can throw at it.
It has a quiet, smooth motor and ride.
It has a rorty boxer exhaust note when I get into the gas.
On snow or gravel, it does donuts like no other car I have ever driven - I can throttle steer it with all four wheels spinning, while looking out the passenger window to see where I'm going, and holding it at opposite lock in complete confidence.
I take my 90 lb **** hound anywhere he wants to go in the back.
I paid less than $18k for it brand new.

There is no other car on earth that could give me that list of features. Paying double for a car that can't do those things seems crazy to me. So, based on my ride, people are probably going to think I'm a lesbian college professor from Vermont, but I don't care. New England lesbians know something about cars that BMW and Audi owners don't, apparently.

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Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 29, 2011 (Edited)

banda said:
I paid less than $18k for it brand new.

There is no other car on earth that could give me that list of features. Paying double for a car that can't do those things seems crazy to me.

And I paid $22K for my V8, quad cam, 40-valve, full-time AWD, full leather, dual climate controlled, Bose hifi sound, fully galvanized, 360 HP, 6-speed manual Audi. And it LOVES the snow as well.

banda said:
New England lesbians know something about cars that BMW and Audi owners don't, apparently.

Really? I'm pretty happy with my choice, thanks! I'm thrilled that you are happy with yours.

But...this was not meant t be a thread about who made the best car purchase, or who believes the other is silly about their choice.....it's about the reality of the work and effort undertaken by IC vehicle manufacturers in the sounds that their vehicles emit.

banda

· #19 · Jan 29, 2011

Old Baldy said:
And I paid $22K for my V8, quad cam, 40-valve, full-time AWD, full leather, dual climate controlled, Bose hifi sound, fully galvanized, 360 HP, 6-speed manual Audi. And it LOVES the snow as well.

Really? I'm pretty happy with my choice, thanks! I'm thrilled that you are happy with yours.

But...this was not meant t be a thread about who made the best car purchase, or who believes the other is silly about their choice.....it's about the reality of the work and effort undertaken by IC vehicle manufacturers in the sounds that their vehicles emit.

But that's what I'm saying. You payed $4k more than I did for a car that won't do several of the things that mine does. Things that are central to the fun and joy in my life.

But I bet your glovebox sounds f'ing fantastic.

Old Baldy

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 29, 2011

banda said:
But that's what I'm saying. You payed $4k more than I did for a car that won't do several of the things that mine does. Things that are central to the fun and joy in my life.

Why do you think I am suggesting your car is not a great pick for the things important to you? I happen to think Subarus are good cars. They even have cool sounding motors, with their horizontally opposed motors.

But I would be very reluctant to swap my Audi for one just to save $4K. My car is far better for MY purposes and desires. And I love the care they took in those attributes...including the sound.

Now, unless we're going to get back on topic - I think I'm about done.

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