Techno's Influence on Car Sound

author: FutureCar Staff    

Electric vehicles are giving automobile companies the opportunity to redefine the sound of cars, and many are turning to producers to help create new sound palettes. Techno music has long been associated with cars, with artists like Juan Atkins connecting the dots between the automobile industry and techno production.

With the rise in popularity of electric vehicles, car manufacturers are rethinking how cars should sound. While some companies are sticking with traditional engine sounds, others are getting more creative. Electronic musicians are often at the forefront of championing this redefinition of car sounds.

Sound designers like Richard Devine are straddling the worlds of music and car design, using software like Symbolic Sound's Kyma and Native Instruments Reaktor to create unique sound environments for cars. Devine's work with Jaguar involved analyzing the sound of previous combustion-based engines and incorporating those elements into the new electric cars.

Japanese manufacturer Green Lord Motors (GLM) partnered with Roland to create the audio environment for their Tommykaira ZZ car. Roland adapted their SuperNATURAL sound synthesis architecture for the electric vehicle, resulting in a traditional yet futuristic sound.

Car companies are moving away from recreating the sounds of old engines and instead creating new palettes of sounds. Musicians like Jean-Michel Jarre have collaborated with car manufacturers to create sounds that are caring and friendly, rather than aggressive and loud.

Car companies are also aware of how the sounds of their vehicles contribute to urban spaces, and they are working to create environments that embrace humanity. Sound designers like Renzo Vitale from BMW want to bring elegance to the streets and make cities a better place through sound.

Modern electric vehicles also allow for customization of interior sounds, similar to creating a personal playlist. Richard Devine has already started experimenting with creating his own custom sounds for his Tesla Model 3 Performance.

As electric vehicles become more prevalent, automobile manufacturers are redefining what the sound of a car can be. By incorporating audio from human musicians, cars are becoming more human and less dystopian. This collaboration between humans and machines is reminiscent of the techno ethos, where people work together with machines to create a better world.

FutureCar Staff