RX-7 Sim

This demo started without grand intentions, just one simple goal: recording the sound of my car. On a brisk Fall morning, I set out with a close friend to mic up my 1993 Mazda RX-7 and capture the iconic "brap brap brap" of its rotary engine. Before, during, and after the session, my friend asked:

"So… what do you actually want to do with these recordings?"

For years, I have been looking for an excuse to leverage ThreeJS, a Javascript library for delivering GPU-driven graphics on the web. Coupled with the Web Audio API, which allows for spatialization and effects like convolution reverb, these vehicle recordings offered the perfect chance to give it a shot.

This demo is the culmination of many pieces of my technical audio design puzzle: recording, programming, interactivity, esoteric APIs, and of course, the sweet sound of Mazda's greatest engine.

 

Click the photos above for more details on the recording session!

Recording

While this wasn’t exactly my first time recording a vehicle, there were still many lessons learned along the way:

  • Prep is everything. With three intake, three exhaust, two interior, and two exterior microphone setups, any time you spend preparing cable runs and mic placement in advance is time saved on the day of recording.

  • Mornings are quiet, but mornings are also cold and dark. Dress accordingly and bring a few flashlights (with fresh batteries)!

  • Gaff tape is usually your best friend when it comes to vehicle recording, but a fresh ceramic coating renders it less adhesive than a sticky note. Zip ties are your new best friend.

  • If your Sound Devices MixPre says “No SD Card Found” when you know it has an SD card, don’t panic! Turn it off and on again, and it should be happy. If it isn’t… then it’s safe to panic.

 

Credits

  • Design, Programming & Implementation: Aaron Cendan

    • ThreeJS, a JavaScript library for rendering 3D objects in the browser using WebGL.

    • Web Audio API, a modular framework for audio playback, routing, and effects.

    • Embedded and deployed using GitHub Pages

  • Audio Recording, Editing: Aaron Cendan, Paul Boechler

  • Sound Design: Paul Boechler

  • Animations, Lighting, and Other Disciplines Whose Crafts I Have Butchered: Aaron Cendan, armed with Blender and YouTube

Assets

Source Code

Special Thanks

  • My wife, Jenna, for trusting me to put suction cups, gaff tape, and zip ties all over our ‘90s Japanese sports car.

  • Paul Boechler, these recordings would not exist without your advice, passion, and talent.

  • Jack Sandall, for sharing your seemingly limitless expertise and insights on vehicle recording.

  • Jeff, RG Racing, WCR, and the many local community members that have played a part in keeping RX-7s on the road (and not on jack stands in the garage).