DriveClub Vs Forza Horizon 2 Sound Comparison Video - McLaren 650S Coupe

Here is a comparison video which compares the Playstation exclusive Driveclub versus the Xbox exclusive Forza Horizon 2’s engine sounds.

The car in both videos is the awesome McLaren 650S Coupe.

[GarrusVakarian]

As far as I'm aware, only one of these devs had their car recordings requested by actual car manufactures to replace their own recordings. Can't get much better than that, right? Lol.

"BMW and Mercedes actually called us up and asked if we’d be happy to give them a copy of our recordings to replace their own versions,"

http://blog.us.playstation....

FH2's engine sounds are a lot more "videogamey" and "processed" for lack of a better word. Nowhere near as realistic as Drivecub's. Which I guess is the result of using upwards of 16 mics per car. The 650s in those FH2 clips sounds pretty bad when directly compared to DC imo.

[Volkama]

As far as I'm aware, my wife only asks me to turn down the volume on one of these games. Maybe that counts for more?

The audio mix between the 2 is entirely different. Driveclub mutes the music and focuses on the sound of the car. Horizon 2 has music, radio chatter, and comms about the festival.

They aim to provide different atmospheres, so I don't really see a winner or loser here.

[thereapersson]

The goal is to compare the sounds of the actual cars, not the ambient audio around the car that mixes with the engine / exhaust note of the car.

Lukas Japonicus is correct in saying that the sound of the cars in Drive Club have been requested by some of the manufacturers of the cars themselves. If you are going for absolute authenticity, Drive Club wins.

But since we are moving the goal posts, I'll let you have your point, Volkama.

[Volkama]

Thanks, but you can keep your point.

The article description claims this is a sound comparison. I discussed how the sounds compare. You are the one setting up goalposts.

[Bansai]

FH2 has WAAAAY more cars so that's something that should be taken under consideration in these stupid comparisons, DC is like a demo when it comes to Horizon content.

[jhoward585]

DC engine sounds sounds more realistic than FH2 engines sounds.

However, I think both of them fail at presenting what a car engine suppose to sounds like, especially under different conditions.

Doppler effect are missing in both. This is very important in a car game b/c it give the players the Illustration time vs distance sound wise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Also, there aren't enough variant to the sound level(frequency) to the car engine in both games. Both games lack the rumbling sound of a car engine.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Edit: the rumbling sounds of the cars are too low imo.
DC sounds a bit muffled, and FH2 sounds "videogamey" like Lukas_Japonicus said.

[Jamaicangmr]

What the hell? Come on man your post made no sense. It is a car sound comparison. Driveclub sounds alot better, Just stop.

[thereapersson]

@ Volkama

From the article:

"Here is a comparison video which compares the Playstation exclusive Driveclub versus the Xbox exclusive Forza Horizon 2’s engine sounds."

Engine sounds...

Direct quality of the recording of the sound from the engine as done by the developers.

You can hear right away that the Drive Club version sounds more full and real - a testament to the greater attention to authenticity that Evolution Studios achieves. This is not a knock on the work that the FH2 team has done; if you're going for the closest representation of the cars when compared to real life, Drive Club gets the nod.

Again, who was approached by the auto manufacturers to garner audio samples for their own corporate archives?

[Spotie]

Thanks, Volkama. Now I know sound quality is determined by loudness, and car sound quality is determined by people and music.

Lmao.

[Volkama]

thereapersson "if you're going for the closest representation of the cars when compared to real life, Drive Club gets the nod."

That is the goalpost you are setting up. Driveclub definitely gets closer to that target. That and the decision to mute other sounds suggests it was the target for Evolution.

Horizon 2's design from colour palette to sound is intended to provide a festival atmosphere, so the decision to keep the engine sounds a bit softer on the ear isn't necessarily a failing.

There really isn't anything complicated or bias in what I have said. I haven't even expressed a preference for one approach over the other, unless you want to interpret my wife's comments as a negative (in which case you care about her complaints more than I do).

Why does open discussion on N4G feel like such hard work? :|

[Volkama]

And Spotie, it is Driveclub that keeps her awake because of the deeper engine sounds. I can actually control which game is louder through advanced use of my TV remote.

You got the wrong end of the stick completely huh? How unusual :|

[NukaCola]

DC sounds heavy and real and solid. FH2 sounds hollow and unrealistic. DC gives it a meatier bass sound, as opposed to FH2's higher lawnmower treble sound.

[PONTIAC08G8GT]

Why not compare the engine to the McLaren in Forza 5? FH2 is more of an arcade racer. Forza 5 and DriveClub are more similar as they both try to be simulation racers.

[GMR_PR]

Loud doesn't mean better. The McLaren 650S has a TWIN-TURBO in it which you can hear in FH2 and not in DC. So in that front FH2 is more realistic.

[Maddens Raiders]

@vol

"The audio mix between the 2 is entirely different. Driveclub mutes the music and focuses on the sound of the car. Horizon 2 has music, radio chatter, and comms about the festival. 

They aim to provide different atmospheres, so I don't really see a winner or loser here."

I believe if actual marques are calling to replace their engine sounds with /yours/, then you've certainly won something and not lost anything.

Believe me, if you're a motorhead and want deeper immersion into a racer whether a mix of arcade/sim or not, radio chatter, "festival sounds", and comms fall well behind the need for quality engine and exhaust signatures.

Edit:/@Pontiac

I love what Evolution have created in DC. Their experience with Motorstorms have definitely paid off. With that said though, one thing DC definitely is not, is a sim racer sir.

[Volkama]

@Madden sure, but if everyone was a motorhead then cars would have radios would they?

It isn't right or wrong to choose a softer approach to engine noise, particularly in a game that isn't a sim. Evolution and Playground choose different approaches to audio.

That is my whole and only point. For some reason one set of fans found that sentiment provocative and went on the offense. The set that wonder why people say they're the worst fans. Funny that.

[Naga]

@ PONTIAC08G8GT

"Forza 5 and DriveClub are more similar as they both try to be simulation racers."

DriveClub does not bill itself as a simulation racer, and it isn't one. That's simply not what the game was intended to be. It does a fantastic job of nailing the looks and the sounds of its cars, but there is far, far more to simulation than the aesthetics.

[360ICE]

Want to counter your own bias? Listen to the video with your eyes closed!

If there's one gripe I have with either one of these, it's that Forza's interior sound is very close to their exterior sound.

[Immorals]

Can we stop with these comparisons already?

I turn down the car noises on horizon 2,its all about the music!

[vikingland1]

I do the opposite I turn down the music,it's all about the racing!. Different srokes for different folks.

[Toiletsteak]

Same i have to hear those sexy noises from my car.

[Immorals]

I'm mostly driving the veneno atm, brilliant car, but sounds like a damned hoover!

Also, never ever do the horizon finale in unupgraded willy petes.. Half an hour of.. That noise is unbearable!

[hiawa23]

I balance out the car noise with the ambient, and music as I like to hear everything in FH2

[gamingisnotacrime]

I have both, will take driveclub any day. One i focusedon cars, the other is focused on everything else

[Professor_K]

One is focused on graphics and the other is focused on everything else

Fixed it for ya

[jhoward585]

LOL

I'm really surprised many of you can't tell DC/FH2 engine sounds were downgraded.

No mis-fire, hardly any sounds from the car's muffler, etc.

EDIT: the imperfections in sounds aren't present. That's the beauty of any sounds.

[jhoward585]

This sounds a lot better. However, its still no where near as good as the real thing. of course, this is a video game.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[MCTJim]

Neither of them sound as good as when its coming out of the surround sound. Then you can compare. They both sound like crap from the video.

[kstap33]

Sony fans prefer driveclub's audio... MS fans prefer FH2 audio. Surprise surprise. This site is hilarious.

[Moldiver]

Yup. And yet I cant detect a real car fanatic amongst any of them. Its just another VS article. Personally Ill take forza everytime, because when all is said and done, that is the game with the more realistic and feelsome handling model. DC cars just feel like NFS cars to me. The transition to oversteer, never feels natural. And their approach to understeer is baffling to be honest. Much like the grid games. Looks and smells like cars...but dont really behave like cars.

Anyway..heres the REAL thing for reference. Its actually quite a muted car with the stock exhaust (mclaren offer two different ones for this car)

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

But who cares about the coupe? Gimme the spider!

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Speak_da_Truth]

Why are you so bent on bringing handling into the mix lol Face it DC sounds a lot more like the real car than Forza and the handling that you keep bring up is subjective. I prefer DC's handling and find Forza Horizon's to be floaty.

[Moldiver]

"Why are you so bent on bringing handling into the mix"

If we are comparing authenticity of cars handling HAS to be talked about. GRID had great engine sounds but any illusion of real driving gets shattered by it handling model. Same applies to DC and it hits home more because everything else about the game looks so life like. Its just weird, imo.

" the handling that you keep bring up is subjective"

Err...no it is not. Cars handle how they handle. they lean on their suspension, tyres heat up and deform under load.Gearboxes take a battering from downshifting early.cars only react to that stuff, one way. cant argue with physics. And that connection is never made in pure arcade racer, DC. The oversteer mechanic in DC does not feel like a real car. Nor does its approach to understeer.. you will never push a car wide in that game, simply because it does not happen in DC. shoot the cars dont even react to any road imperfections in DC...THAT is not subjective. Its also nothing like how real cars behave.Not even remotely. Again NOT subjective I say that as a driving enthusiast( not even gonna mention what car, I drive..just know that I KNOW what im talking about when it comes to cars. Even in FH2 with its lighter handling model ( its not a sim after all, unlike the FM games) And forza does a better job of accurately modeling car handling...far more so than the purely code based handling of DC. FH will ALWAYS have better handling as its just FM with toned down handling model

And yes...the cars in DC simply sound louder. Both games use recordings of the real cars, but Forza is the one where a 600+BHP Macca FEELS like a 600HBP Macca. That is not even debatable. Yet here you are trying to tell me ...A REAL car and driving enthusiast what is 'subjective'...I have to laugh, because you REALLY dont know my car or driving history.

How many bans have you had? How many tracks have you visited? I actually have REAL data sheets with my REAL lap times from silverstone and brands..in my REAL car. Do you even know how to drive? If you cant answer any of those you cant possibly discuss the finer point of this with me. Your only agle is that you only have a PS and want to trumpet DC at all costs.

But guess what, buddy?...the truth dont give a shit about your fanboy opinion.

[hiawa23]

What about those of us that are just gamers that own both consoles, and not into the fanboy, my console penis is larger than yours BS? Personally, I did not like DC and prefer FH2, and it has nothing to do with whose name is on the box.

[TearsOfARapper84]

Now where's the audio of the actual car so we can compare to which game sounds more accurate? It shouldn't be about which one sounds cooler, but which sounds more real to the actual car.

[BiggerBoss]

In this case, Driveclub sounds more like the actual car. Both sound fine to me, but car enthusiasts would likely prefer the sound of DC's cars over Forza's.

[Moldiver]

"Both sound fine to me, but car enthusiasts would likely prefer the sound of DC's cars over Forza's."

Car enthusiast will also prefer forza car handling though. I know because I am a bonafide car enthusiast. And ultimately thats what matters in these games. The act and art of driving. DCs cars just sound louder imo. I submitted a vid of a real 650s above and funnily it sounds quieter than the car in DC....

EDIT: Personally I would prefer a 650S spider, than the coupe version. Lets talk cars screw the games! lol

[windblowsagain]

I'll take the 650s and sell it day 2:)

Unless your going around a track or on the autobahn, you'll see use these cars as intended.

[kenwonobi]

Yeah we know. One is like hearing bleeps and bloops from outdated technology and the other (PS4) is like hearing the real deal. LOL!

[ScorpiusX]

Love sound comparison of an automobile no one here has ever driven, but yet they can distinctly tell which game using the real thing. Lol

[GenuineGamer]

As an xbox gamer primarily and a long time forza fan since the beginning, I cant help but be a little jelly of DC.

The graphics are very nicely done and the effects and sense of speed are top notch. Forza was great in the beginning and to me it feels like they got comfortable in its success. And haven't changed the core of the games graphics design. Bouncing, vibration, sense of G's and speed, Realistic filter effects and such.

DC is easily doable on both platforms i don't think its pushing any boundaries per say. But all the little things DC does well comes together to make something beautiful.

And dem sounds! bravo.

I only hope Forza 6 is the no compromises game they are promising with real improvements and weather effects with night an day.

I know they are different games that accomplish different things. but I think the forza series need to step up there game. big time.

[TheCommentator]

This is like comparing character models in GTA V to Tekken 7. A closed circuit racer with limited cars spends it's resoures on different things than an open world racing game does. This exact type of flamebait article was already posted once before anyways. Who keeps approving garbage like this?

[Ashby_JC]

I can listen and say what sounds better to ME...

But which is more authentic to the REAL car....cant say as most cars that are in these games I will never see in my lifetime....such as a MacLaren!

[Wulfstan]

DC sounds more authentic. The went to great lengths to get the sounds as real as possible