An agreement between the Roland Corporation and Japanese car manufacturer GLM will see Roland co-develop ‘a neo-futuristic driving sound generation system’ for GLM’s electric sports car. The key to the sound generation itself will be Roland’s SuperNatural synthesiser technology.

The SuperNatural synthesiser technology will provide the GLM ZZ model’s sound generation system with ‘dynamic and dramatic’ sounds that change in response to real-time driving considerations – acceleration, deceleration and motor load variances on sloping roads. The technology is based on the responsiveness used when recreating the subtleties of acoustic musical instruments electronically. Electric sports cars are gaining popularity, and as environmental concerns escalate, drivers are learning to appreciate quieter electric engines. Safety considerations at low speeds when the cars are almost silent require ‘engine’ sounds to be produced. And diving sounds are still crucial for many drivers – especially of high-performance vehicles and those who want to have a fun and fulfilling driving experience.

The established means of reproducing traditional musical instrument sounds is PCM sampling. The challenge with sampling is that most acoustic instruments respond differently to how hard they are struck, blown or bowed – most acoustic instruments grow brighter as they get louder, for example. By modelling the subtle characteristics and responsiveness of acoustic instrument sounds, Roland was able to create the most realistic electronic music sounds. Roland’s SuperNatural technology makes it possible to recreate these nuances electronically, and will be used to create the best driving sounds possible in the electric sports car.

The sounds are reproduced through the car’s stereo speakers in response to driving situations detected by the system in real time through monitoring the car’s speed, pressure on the accelerator pedal, and load to the power system. Drivers can select from several driving sound types based on their personal preference, including ‘neo-futuristic’ options.

See also:
Motor Sport: The Other Loudness War
The Sound of Speed