Audio issues

[Mirabilis]

TSW seems to run audio through a low-pass filter when you are inside a train, then open the filter up when you get out. There is a problem with this filtering system - it seems as if the filter frequency band is set too low on the low-pass filter, making the audio seem very quiet inside a train.

Also, looking outside the train opens the filter as it should, but when going back inside it seems the low-pass filter stays switched off. This makes the train inside seem noisier when going back in after looking outside.

The phasing issues that dogged the first Train Simulator is still there. When two locomotives are next to each other the identical sample used to represent the engine phases in and out, making it sound as if you are running the engine noise through a phaser effect. Using different samples, or even applying a little modulation to one of the engine samples and not the other, would fix the problem. The issue has been around since the earliest game and still hasn't been fixed.

Reverb effects are implemented poorly, and even footsteps appear and disappear at random.

Dovetail have made the news by sacking a lot of people at the moment. Might I suggest now would be a good time for the sound coder to make an exit? He wouldn't be missed.

[Cam the Era Man]

The sound overall in this game is terrible from what I can tell. The horn is gutless and the engines anemic. I could railfan by the rails and listen to trains go by for hours- but this is regretfully uninspired and tragic. Definitely feeling like I wasted my money.

[Karlia]

Originally posted by Legatus:

I agree.

I have experienced the same issues described by OP.

But what really annoys me the most is this:

Originally posted by Mirabilis:

... Also, looking outside the train opens the filter as it should, but when going back inside it seems the low-pass filter stays switched off. This makes the train inside seem noisier when going back in after looking outside.

That is very immersion breaking for me and that issue has been present since day one.

Once back in the cab, left arrow key, right arrow key... sortted.. not a game breaker

[Sunscreen]

^ Thanks dude.

[Karlia]

dudette ;) yw

[CMyTA]

sounds of the trains itself is very horrible.. many sound effects are just missing. when you're riding on a real train IRL, there's alot more sounds going on all the way

[Karlia]

turn them off and play ABBAs greatest hits then

[Sunscreen]

Originally posted by KMC:

dudette ;) yw

:)

[Mirabilis]

Sound is immensely important. In real life we use it to take cues from what is going on around us. If you're trying to cross the road with your headphones on 'listening to ABBAs greatest hits' don't be surprised if you end up as road pizza.

While faffing with arrow keys in the cab may not be a game breaker for you, it is for anyone who doesn't know the workaround. Besides, I never said the sound issue was a gamebreaker - that's a straw man argument. I said it needed fixing. Do you disagree?

I don't dislike the actual sound in the game itself. Some of it is very good, considering how difficult it is to obtain recordings of trains and then isolate individual sounds from a wider recording (such as track knocks.) I do agree with CMyTA that there is not enough of it to be convincing. I was careful not to actually criticise the sound recordist but the sound coder - the person who codes the sound into the game may have nothing to do with gathering the sound, just playing it back. He clearly isn't competent (he may have other duties in coding he takes more seriously which would explain the errors and bugs in sound playback.)

Look, if you're happy with weak sound and workarounds, knock yourself out. Go back to your ABBA. For the rest of us, if we want to report errors because we want a better experience, let us have our ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ in peace.

[cszolee79]

Originally posted by KMC:

turn them off and play ABBAs greatest hits then

I listen to old Frank whenever I'm in a train game.
Let's fly away, let's fly away to the moon... :)

[darkage]

From what I heard from people who use/have used UE4, they say the sound issues is mostly due to UE4 sound egnine problems, about those all DTG can do is wait for sound engine improvements

[cszolee79]

I googled "ue4 sound problems" but did not really find many.
Found this, however, amazing and very educational:
https://allarsblog.com/2018/03/16/confessions-of-an-unreal-engine-4-engineering-firefighter/

[Sunscreen]

Interesting article. Someone needs to print it off and leave it on the managers desk at DTG ;)