We tend to take sound for granted. I’m not talking about the ability to hear, necessarily, but rather the presence of sound in our visually-dominated world. Take motion pictures, for example. Few people pay as much attention to the sound design as they do to the visuals. It’s really a shame. The audio world is just as rich and colorful as the visual. I thank one of my best friends for teaching me that.
Think of your favorite car, one you’ve owned or wished you had. I’m sure you can “picture” exactly what it sounds like. Or, better yet, think of the transformative properties of music. Hear a song on the radio that you haven’t heard in a decade and you’re immediately transported back. Herein lies a problem for the Enertia powercycle.
By nature, electric vehicles produce very little sound. Cars and motorcycles emit thunderous roars thanks to the thousands of explosions going on inside the aptly named internal combustion engine. Well, there are no explosions on the Enertia. What sound is produced comes from the very few moving parts of the powercyce: the wheels, drivetrain, and electric motor. Anyone who has ever fooled around with a remote control car knows that these sounds aren’t that impressive (which is a terrible disservice as the Enertia is perhaps the single most impressive piece of hardware I’ve ever seen). There’s also a slight safety concern. Motorcycles benefit from their loud sound output as it alerts other drivers to their presence.
Luckily, BRAMMO is a progressive company and has turned this problem into an opportunity.
Check this out: http://www.reverbnation.com/brammosoundcontest – it’s the preliminary test of what is shaping up to be a nationwide sound design contest to give the Enertia a voice.
There are definitely a few sounds that come to mind when I think of this powercycle. I thought I’d take a moment to share with you my inspiration.
- Star Wars speeder bikes
- Ghostbusters proton pack
- Jetsons cars
- Star Wars podracers
- Suped-up Ford from Men in Black
- Jet Engine spool-up
And finally, my personal favorite:
I’ve posted the Tron scene before but I can’t help it. I can’t NOT think about it. Same goes for the Jetsons sound. I know it’s lame, but it’s where my mind goes. Think about what sounds you’d like to hear on the powercycle and add them to the link above.
