Realistic engine sounds and exhaust.

[Vaporized Steel]

I personally am verry happy with the rocket sounds that the real fuels engines produce, which are mostly used in combination with RSS/RO. I use them, but I also have 2 non RSS/RO Ksp folders where this type of realism is absent.
The Real fuel engines are ofcourse real life replicas, not simply by looks, performance and real life operating specifications. They are also a close to realistic simulation of the sound these nozzles create.
I like real life sounds in my game.

We have mods like this
 

I don't use that one, but it is as far as I could find any sound overhauling in the game.
It doesn't add realistic engine sounds but does improve the sound quality of KSP in many other areas. Strangely enough the thread got little attention, I'm not even sure if it works in 1.1.2. Maybe I'm one of the few that cares about realistic sounds, and besides that specific mod that still leaves work to be done on realistic engine sounds.
I want realistic engine sounds based on stock parts (stock engines)
I could just turn down the "spacecraft" volume button and go to youtube and listen to a real launch in the background. But that defeats the in real time simulation of in game sound and the luxury of having it added in the game.

Now you might think, realistic sounds for stock engines? Stock engines are unrealistic by default.

I can agree to that ofcourse, and then you might think, what is the basis of a realistic sounding stock rocket engine.

Well, there isn't. But given that fact we have to be honest. The stock engine sounds are crap.
Hypothesize however that by default squad used more realistic sounding engines. Maybe while we're at it, also more realistic nozzles. Not necessarily replicas like real fuels introduces but something based on realistic sounds, rockets and engine bells and then what?

Wouldn't that then be the basis on which to work on?
The Stock engines are sci-fi, and the sound they produce is that of the very same typical vaccuum cleaner for each and every engine with some small variation in sound pitch/frequency and simulated Db.
In other words, I want a modder who wishes to propose and initiate a sound overhaul for stock engines. The basis of these sounds is real life rocket sounds. And the sounds given to each individual stock engine is based on the stock engines default function.

Incorporate this new mod to the Toolbar plugin. Or add a menu to the part settings so one can choose between different sounds in the VAB/SPH. Maybe use the Toolbar plugin so one can choose engine sounds before takeoff. Let's say you have "mainsail" engine on the first stage then that engine is considered a 1st stage engine because of it´s specification and the fact it is part of your 1st stage. In this new mod the engine part has settings in the VAB/SPH, and you are limited to a series of sound settings mimicking real life engine sounds of various real life counterparts. This way you may choose between different real life counter parts of traditionally used 1st stage engines.

If you attach a LV-909 let's say you are limited to real life engine sounds in the part settings for upperstage engines and probably produce little sound anyway.

Which brings me to sound in space, and more specifically, why there is sound in 3rd view on a rocket in space if not well above the dense parts of the atmosphere.
Sound should be produced in IVA mode because of the atmosphere in the cockpit. Which also makes me want to suggest to add crackling noises in IVA mode when a engine is running in space.
But not in 3rd view mode, no sound at all please. Maybe make it so realistic that sound is produced when you camera angle right behind the rocket exhaust, but not when you pan the camera anywhere else.

As suggested in the last sentence I personally want the simulating perception of sound be perceived based on the camera angle. Where you look is where your microphone is.
And since KSP is a simulation and not a in real life rocket launch I want the effects of sound being produced as if you were watching it being recorded.
So I want crackles at launch and sound dissipation based on the distance you have zoomed out.

Stock KSP already simulates the latter, but it doesn't seem to do it right, but that may be just my interpretation.

Another suggestion unrelated to sound but also to stock engines.

In ksp the engine exhaust flames produce a very bright glowing untransparent white tail. You cannot see the engines unless you throttle them down below 25% thrust. Unless you install real fuels ofcourse and get to work with real life replicas. Yes, I use real fuels and only in combination with RSS. Remember, I want sound and graphical realism in the areas specified for stock, and this won't be related to gameplay realism.
There also shouldn't be condensation in space, and in combination with gas expansion the exhaust flames in space should be nearly invisible. The exhaust flames in space for stock however look exactly the same as they do in the atmosphere. As for condensation in the atmosphere, can Environmental visual enhancement introduce persisting condensation trails. Maybe use auto generated contrails based on the EVE cloud textures the dissipate over time in a natural realistic way.

That's probably going to be a performance hit. But luckily EVE has a detailed settings menu so you can choose to change the settings or put them on/off at your leisure.

I'm unaware of any mod that fixes stock sounds and visuals for engines except for real fuels which is intended for RSS. A mod I don't intend to use in 1/10 kerbin scale solar system.
If a modder is willing to enhance the stock graphical/sound realism in anyway whatsoever I'll be very happy, and hopefully alot of other players aswell.

Edited June 13, 2016 by Vaporized Steel

[Ippo]

check out Real Plume, it makes th exhaust gas more realistic making it expand with the diminishing pressure. It only addresses a small part of your wishes unfortunately, but it's something.

[Vaporized Steel]

fantastic

I've never tried realplume, kinda wish I did, even although I've seen the thread headlined on the add-on release page a few times. Kinda silly I missed it so far. That is indeed very satisfactory and does indeed fullfill my wish regarding engine contrails. Although the brightness of the engine flame is still to huge and seems unaltered. Whenever I see a rocket launch I can distinguish the engine bell from the flame.

As for my main wish which is realistic sound, I hope theres some spirit for a overhaul and I'll be awaiting further replies.

[wasml]

Unfortunately not updated for 1.1.x - Author has offered it up for adoption.

 

[Vaporized Steel]

Much sympathy for any modder that attempts to overhaul the sound even if they haven't found time to update their mods.
Except for the very popular mods there seems to be a huge collection of mods that have never seen a upgrade to Ksp v1.x.x
The author of audio muffler seems to be a very active member, and is probably occupied with other projects. Hopefully he will find theres great spirit for his audio muffler mod, and while his mod is not the most popular one in terms of attention every user showed great favour for his mod on the addon release page.
Hopefully in the future NovaSilisko will find time to update this mod.

 

[Ser]

I guess the problem with Audiomuffler is that in Unity 5 the LowPassAudioFilter used to muffle sounds is broken. So the solution could be just to find a person who implements a custom one. I have something like that but it sounds like **** and have no time to make it better. So if anyone wishes I could share it.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Ser

[CobaltWolf]

On 6/14/2016 at 4:30 AM, Vaporized Steel said:

Hopefully in the future NovaSilisko will find time to update this mod.

IIRC, @NovaSilisko was a modder, then hired by the stock developers, then stopped making things for KSP. He mostly just plays the game anymore.