It’s been a while, but I’m finally back in the community and in Forza. Life, work, and studies kept me busy, but I’ve stayed updated on the game. It is amazing to see how far the game has improved significantly in terms of playability, immersiveness, graphics, and stability. Driving the new Lamborghini SC63 was mind-blowing, and I loved the depth of the engine sounds. New tracks like Bathurst and Sunset Peninsula are great additions, and I’m sure more are coming. The experience is truly amazing now.
First of all, I am really happy that Nick Wiswell and Mike Caviezel returned to Forza and which I got to know from the post (Car Audio in FM behind the scenes update | AMA transcript added Nov. 22). I really wanted you guys to return and take the larger audio initiative to set things right and to bring back those glorifying, eargasmic, authentic, high-quality car sounds that we all loved and enjoyed in FM1, FM2 FM3 and FM4 ( in fact I am listening to the soundtrack Cold ATF by Lance Hayes while writing this post). We still cherish and adore those sounds and still talk about the previous Forza experiences (especially FM2, FM3 and FM4) even to this day. Although I couldn’t attend the AMA, I read through everything in the post. I really appreciate the changes being made to the existing and future car sounds, and I hope this initiative continues to improve the overall car audio experience.
Now starting with my thoughts:
Last year, I wrote something similar about the car sounds, but it reflected the situation at that time only. This time it is going to be about the car sounds in 2025 of FM 2023. I had this feeling that made me feel the need to write this long post to share my thoughts to Turn10 (Especially Mike and Nick since they are in the audio department) as I’ve put a lot of effort in the past to provide with as many resources as possible to fully fix the sound of cars for FM 2023 (you can check my posts for car audio issues). While I was away from the game, I did listen to the updated car sounds. I can see that some have improved, but for the most part, they haven’t changed as much as I expected but I’m sure more car sound updates and fixes are coming, and I know you’re working hard on them, which I truly appreciate.
Let’s begin with analysis:
The sound update of the 1998 Supra RZ caused an uproar (Toyota Supra RZ 1998 - inaccurate engine sound (1654763)) and I agree with everyone that this wasn’t the best sound update. In fact we all expected something much more significant, like the updates for the Lexus LFA and the 2020 Toyota GR Supra.
When I drove the Supra RZ and tested its stock and tuned sounds with various upgrades, it didn’t seem to capture the essence of the real-life car’s sound which I was looking for . If I talk about the stock sound of the Supra RZ it is passable to say the least here’s why. It does have the tone(at a minimum level), but really messy, unpolished which ruins the overall essence of the raw 2JZ-GTE sound. When I revved the car till 3K RPM it sounded somewhat smooth but crossing that 3K range felt like there is a shift between two samples of the sound. It is as if the car magically possessed an upgrade and started sounding worst. I was then comparing the stock sound with it’s real life counterpart(bone-stock supra) and it was…nope from passable to not really passable at all.
As I started tuning the car, the Street tuned sound was not bad, it was good(once again at a minimum level). However; starting from the Sport and all the way to Race upgrades it was really horrendous and just not what I was expecting, it totally sounded like a different car and not like a Supra at all. It was just unrecognizable.
This is not only about the sound of Supra RZ, I am talking about all the other car sounds of this game that me and other members has posted in this community and had been providing feedbacks since then. Even with the ongoing audio initiative and the larger changes being implemented to improve car sounds, it seems that the improvements aren’t as noticeable in the broader details and aspects of the experience. While I truly appreciate the efforts and recognize that progress is being made, the overall impact still feels very limited. The changes haven’t yet translated into a significant shift that enhances the authenticity and variety of the car sounds across the board. It’s clear that there’s potential, but the updates don’t yet reflect the depth and distinction one might expect from such a major initiative yet. We know that car sounds serve as a unique identifier for each vehicle and these sounds make cars instantly recognizable and evoke strong emotions or memories for car enthusiasts. Just like the design and performance, the sound of a car is a key characteristic or element that defines its identity, beauty, and plays a significant role in making a car memorable and iconic.
Let’s go back to the previous releases and my favorites from Forza Motorsport franchise and what made the car sounds truly iconic, amazing and true to the core. Let’s begin with
The Birth of Authentic Car Sounds: Forza Motorsport 1
The first debut of Forza in 2005. Despite being 20 years old, each car had its own unique sound, not just in engine pitch but also in exhaust tone and character, which helped make each vehicle feel distinct, evolve in real-time, making the driving experience feel natural and immersive. This level of differentiation was important in delivering an authentic experience and resonated with car enthusiasts who could recognize the sound of their favorite cars. Despite the hardware limitations at the time, the balance between high-quality sound and technical constraints ensured that the car sounds remained immersive and impactful.
The Rise of Realism in Car Sound: Forza Motorsport 2
Forza Motorsport 2 marked a significant milestone in the evolution of car sounds in racing games. It took the authenticity and immersion of car audio to new heights. What really made the car sounds stand out was the attention to detail in the recording process. The recording of actual cars on dynos and using an array of high-quality microphones which captured every details of the engine’s sound is truly amazing. To implement these in the game, the sounds were matched with sample loops to the car’s engine speeds, ensuring the audio felt natural and responsive. The use of advanced DSP techniques to enhance the sound, gave more depth and realism. Beyond just the engine sounds, additional recordings were made for turbochargers, superchargers, straight-cut gears, tires, and even collisions which allowed for a rich and immersive auditory experience. This level of detail and dedication is what truly made the car sounds astounding and is still remembered by forza fans to this day.
The Dawn of Audio Excellence: Forza Motorsport 3
A new standard for realism and immersion begun. The process of creating new car audio started by recording each car or at least each engine featured in the game which also expanded the extensive library of engine sounds from previous games by recording actual cars either locally, by traveling, or by partnering with others perform the recording sessions. The use of a consistent microphone and input setup, while running cars on chassis dynos ensured that each recording was of the highest quality. Tire noise played a crucial role in conveying feedback to players, providing insight into their car’s handling at the limit of grip. The capture of the full spectrum of traction and grip sounds by recording tires on various surfaces and seamlessly integrating these recordings into the game’s audio system made the whole experience immersive and natural. For in-game programming, the utilization of the FMOD API, along with custom code and debug menus, was truly unique. This approach allowed for the modulation of audio effects in the game such as distortion, panning, EQ, volume, and dynamic range compression, with each element dynamically adjusted based on the car’s physics parameters.
The Evolution of Sound Perfection and the birth of a Masterpiece: Forza Motorsport 4
Turn 10 identified sound as a cornerstone of the Forza experience, and that accuracy and excitement are key to that. The sound design team for Forza Motorsport 4 set out to make car audio more visceral than prior entries in the series. Sounds from over 500 cars were captured on a dyno in a Redmond, WA garage, using the same recording setup first used with the Bizarre Creations PGR games beginning in 2001. Fans of the game were also solicited to bring their own cars for recording. An 8 to 10 channel recording device captured sound from microphones at the engine, intake, and exhaust. High SPL mics were used on the loudest of cars, notably the Mazda 787B, to reduce distortion.
The audio channels were mixed, sliced, and recombined to span rev range. The sounds are then applied to the car physics model, applying DSP and filters based on how the car is driven. The team licensed a distortion effect, iZotope’s Trash plugin on FMOD, to achieve the on the limit feeling of sound distorting in your head. The sounds are then mixed with transmission and tire sounds, and finally the distance and environmental model to form the final soundtrack heard by the player. DSP also changes the sound of the car after engine upgrades, rather than swapping samples as was done in prior games.
Along with the physics team making a new tire physics model with data from Pirelli, the sound team added more granular tire sounds to differentiate skidding from braking, steering, or wheel spin. A Tesla Roadster was used to record the game’s tire sounds, due to its near-silent electric motor which allowed them to record the sounds cleanly without engine or exhaust noise. Two microphones were mounted to the car and pointed at the tire for recording. The tire model contains hundreds of sounds for each surface and varies dynamically depending on lateral and vertical load. This detailed tire feedback improved lap times among hardcore Forza drivers within Turn 10. In Autovista mode, engine startups were recorded in 5.1 from the perspective of the driver’s head plus mics near the engine and exhaust.
All these efforts and hard-work delivered an iconic audio experience that players still talk and cherish to this day and hence resulted as the best Forza game in the racing game history.
However; starting from the FM5 and onwards (including FM2023) is where the downfall began for the audio experience which led to the highly synthesized, over-done, inaccurate, robotic, suppressed, muffled and trumpety high-pitched car sounds and totally diminishing the actual feel of the previous Forza releases we know of (FM4, FM3, FM2). It did not sound like it was actually coming from the engine, rather it was more like as if the sounds were produced digitally with the midi keyboards and had that electronic feel. Therefore, I am not going to say about FM5 much as it demolished the tone of the car sounds. In FM6, it was actually better than what FM5 had, sort of(not to a great extend). It managed to balance between the feel and authenticity of the sound. At least it did not diminish the identity, the tone, the characteristics of the car sound from a general stand point of view. But the depth and the overall feel was missing. I would give some points for not bleeding my ears with the high pitched trumpet sounding cars of FM5.
One of the standout features of FM4 and FM3 was the raw, visceral engine noises that truly brought each car to life. These sound profiles weren’t just about technical accuracy; they were crafted with passion, creating an audio experience that resonated with players on a deep, emotional level. The roar of the engines, the growl of a V8 and V12, the scream of a high-revving engines—each car had its own distinct voice that felt not just authentic, but thrilling and natural.
Now the recommendations and suggestions:
As from the above clips I have given of the previous Forza titles, you can clearly see what made this franchise glorious, iconic and remembered by all the fans and players to this day. It is not only the playability, amazing graphics and other contents of the game, it is also the car sounds that matters to us car enthusiasts and Forza lovers. I believe in you guys and I believe that with the potentials, initiatives and the ongoing changes we are getting through updates, FM2023 will be back to it’s throne again.
To bring FM2023 back to the heights of its golden age, I believe the key element will be to revisit the iconic sound samples from FM4 and FM3 and incorporating those in FM2023. Remember, these sound samples of FM4 and FM3 is what give us that raw, exciting engine sounds in those days that are iconic and masterpiece of it’s own. It had a soul to be very honest. By reintroducing these signature sounds—or building upon them with the same attention to detail—could recapture that visceral, heart-pumping sensation that made racing in FM4 and FM3 unforgettable. The distinctive growls, roars, screams, and whines of each car would bring a sense of excitement and energy to FM2023 that is currently lacking in comparison.
Therefore, I highly and strongly suggest you guys use these iconic sound samples from Forza Motorsport 4 (FM4) and Forza Motorsport 3 (FM3) to enhance the audio experience. The car sounds in FM4 and FM3 were truly special, offering a raw, visceral quality that made every engine note come to life. These sounds were not only technically accurate but also filled with depth and emotion, making the driving experience feel incredibly immersive and exciting. I am sure you guys know what to do for that. I am no expert in audio engineering and just an average racing gamer who is expressing the emotion of previous Forza titles and what we players are looking in FM2023. I hope that these clips bring back those memories of what we loved and I hope you take the time to read my post and get the message not just from me but on behalf of other members and players of Forza.
The attention to detail and the passion that went into recording these sounds in FM4 and FM3 helped elevate those games to another level, and I believe reintroducing them in FM2023 could go a long way in restoring that same magic as they are an essential part of the Forza legacy and would significantly enhance the driving experience for players.
Huge thanks and shout out to Mike and Nick for your contributions and I look forward to more exciting audio updates.
Thank you