Engine noise and microphone test

[GM7]

During the last 2 GP, Force India tried a new microphone on Perez's car. The goal of this new microphone is to have a better engine sound on onboard cam.

You can see the first result on this onboard :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_igFuXobNE

What do you think about this new microphone ?

In my opinion the actual onboard sound is not representative of the real engine noise, especially during the downshifting, the real noise is muffled by the sidepode. So the new microphone is an improvment but the sound is a little bit to acute in comparaison with the real noise.

[AJI]

It sounds pretty similar to trackside to me (obviously without the doppler effect, or reverb, and you only get to hear a single car for a few seconds at the track), but you're right about the down shifts. I've never really heard that so prominently.

[GM7]

New setup test by Russell during FP1 (50% exhaust mic,50% old engine mic). IMO it's perfect.

[Manoah2u]

still sounds like a lawnmower.

[NL_Fer]

Now all the technical details from the turbo/mgu and air valves are muffled, not right imo. Also the old exhaust fumes were rich and still burning/expanding after exiting the pipes and the enormous amount of volume caused all kinds of reflections/echos around the track. I still mis that magic.

[NathanE]

still sounds like a lawnmower.

I want your lawnmower!

[thedutchguy]

New setup test by Russell during FP1 (50% exhaust mic,50% old engine mic). IMO it's perfect.

The new mic on its own lacks body, lacks any form of emotion. It might as well be a kitchen blender.
Mixed with the 'old' mic it's a little better, but it's still nothing to get excited about.

Here's some reference of an F1 car could sound onboard around interlagos:

[zac510]

They're all just an engine with revs going up and down, they sound the same but for different octaves/frequencies/etc.

[nokivasara]

I may be barking up the wrong tree here but aside from the natural differencies in the muffled sound from a turbo engine vs the NA engine, isn't there also a different sound from an engine that's near it's rev limit, no matter if it's a 5000rpm redline diesel or a 18000rpm 2.4l V8 in F1?
Todays engines probably are designed for the 15k RPM rev limit but usually hit about 12K, or 80%, no wonder it sounds lame? The first year with these new engines they shifted even earlier, sounding like they didn't even try to race.

If you have a 6000 rpm redline in your car but shift at 4800, does it sound as good as if wringed out to 6000?

I think the engines sound good enough, it's nice to be able to hear the tire squeals and cheering of the crowd.

[Maritimer]

I may be barking up the wrong tree here but aside from the natural differencies in the muffled sound from a turbo engine vs the NA engine, isn't there also a different sound from an engine that's near it's rev limit, no matter if it's a 5000rpm redline diesel or a 18000rpm 2.4l V8 in F1?
Todays engines probably are designed for the 15k RPM rev limit but usually hit about 12K, or 80%, no wonder it sounds lame? The first year with these new engines they shifted even earlier, sounding like they didn't even try to race.

If you have a 6000 rpm redline in your car but shift at 4800, does it sound as good as if wringed out to 6000?

I think the engines sound good enough, it's nice to be able to hear the tire squeals and cheering of the crowd.

Unless the engine is about to shake itself apart the redline doesn't make a difference in terms of sound other than those few more revs. If the limit was 12k the current units would sound the same as they've already been designed that way, nobody ever intended these ones to actually hit 15k despite the rules allowing it.