Research + Development: EV Sound Design

Salem-Mackall’s current work focuses on the creative sound design of electric vehicles. This work stems from his graduate thesis, "Exploring the Sound Design of Electric Cars," where he developed four unique vehicle sonic identities: Additive, Creative, Granular, and Physically Modeled. He implemented these propulsion and engine sounds virtually, recorded them inside vehicle interiors, and mixed them for immersive listening experiences. The sonic implementations below demonstrate Salem’s sounds in a virtual and re-designed environments to approximate interior auditory feedback while driving.

Virtual implementation of Granular Engine Sound.

Gameplay Footage Credit: @Vroomy

Driving footage implementation of Additive, Creative, & Physically Modeled sound matched to an EV sport mode.

Footage Credit: @windingroadmagazine Chevrolet Equinox EV Review

INSPIRATION + SOUND DESIGN PROCESS

Salem-Mackall is an automotive enthusiast with an ear for unique engine sounds and cabin acoustics. His focus on electric car sound design merges his passions to enhance auditory feedback for an exceptional driving experience. His research includes:

- Advancing loop-based futuristic propulsion sounds

- Creating realistic artificial engine sounds through physical modeling

- Utilizing procedural generation for enhanced realism

The research and development of original engine and propulsion sounds took place over the course of two years, and included a test and comparison of existing methods and resulted in the development of Salem-Mackall’s own sound design workflow. The process began with a deep study of current electric vehicle audio designs, relevant sound designers, and an extensive literature review.

Salem-Mackall's process then developed into comparing additive, granular, creative, and physical modeling synthesis methods using virtual instruments, analog synths, sound design plug-ins, and procedural patches in Max MSP.

VEHICLE RECORDINGS: BINAURAL + IMMERSIVE

Salem-Mackall conducted vehicle recordings in a Toyota Rav4 plug-in hybrid, BMW 428i, and Tesla Model Y to study 3 unique vehicle soundscapes. Additionally, he played his proposed engine sounds inside of the vehicles. He fashioned a binaural dummy with a 3DiO XLR binaural microphone, a mannequin, and also used immersive recording techniques in 7.1.2, allowing him to play and mix these sounds in Dolby Atmos.

Current Work: PHYSICALLY MODELED SOUND

Salem-Mackall is currently working on advancing a Physically Modeled engine Sound with a procedural engine parch in Max MSP. He utilized an adapted version of Andy Farnell's Pure Data model found in the textbook, Designing Sound. Farnell’s original engine model features a four stroke engine, overtone generators, a parabolic delay, and a waveguide exhaust system. In order to make these sounds appropriate for UX or UI inside a vehicle interior many customizations had to be made including the addition of gear shifts, exhaust clicks and pops and acceleration/deceleration programmed to keyboard values.

Currently, Salem-Mackall is working on modeling a 6.2 liter supercharged V8 from his customized model to create a hyper realistic system that closely resembles existing sport vehicles. This hyper-specific modeling of flagship engine sounds can allow future electrified models to pay homage to their roots and heritage, with realistic auditory feedback for high-performance vehicles and EV sport modes.

Below is a short audio example of the V8 engine model.