Sound Design – Targeted Acoustic Design

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Sound design has become a key differentiator – whether in automobiles, architecture, or consumer goods.

What does quality sound like? Or dynamism? Or luxury? In product development, sound is no longer just background noise – it is specifically designed to evoke emotions, convey brand values, and meet customer expectations.

Starting point & relevance

Acoustics are becoming increasingly important in an increasingly multisensory product world. The first impression of a product is not only visual or tactile – auditory stimuli also have a strong influence on how users perceive a product. Acoustic brand identity has become particularly established in vehicle development: a powerful engine sound, the satisfying sound of doors closing, or finely tuned turn signals have a decisive influence on the driving experience.

Challenge

It is not only the "natural" sound of a product that is decisive, but also its targeted shaping to achieve the desired target sound. The difficulty lies in the objective measurement, targeted modification, and final validation of a sound—especially when emotional perception and technical precision have to interact.

Solution

Sound design follows a structured process of analysis, modification, evaluation, and selection. Starting from a reference sound—such as the original sound of an engine—digital signal processing and psychoacoustic methods are used to develop a target sound that supports a specific brand message or product effect (e.g., sporty, comfortable, quiet).

Process

Acoustic recording of the reference sound using precise PAK measurement technology
Digital modification through targeted changes to engine configurations, frequency components, and transients
Analysis of the variants using psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness, sharpness, or roughness
Auditory comparison of the variants (including reference noise as anchor sound) by expert committees or representative user groups
Definition of your target sound based on acoustic and emotional evaluation (e.g. in cooperation with MBBM Active Sound Technology GmbH)

Results

This iterative process allows variants to be developed, compared, and validated quickly and cost-effectively – without the need for physical prototypes. The target sound thus becomes a plannable and reproducible component of the product design.

Customer

✅ Shorter development cycles through digital simulation and evaluation

✅ Targeted acoustic optimization based on objective and subjective criteria

✅ Strengthened brand identity through consistent acoustic characteristics

✅ High reusability of the developed sound designs for similar products

⭐️ Key Features

Digital sound engineering based on NVH data
Psychoacoustic analysis methods for well-founded perception evaluation
Wavelet-based transient analysis for short, impulse-like noises
Interactive listening comparisons with individually selectable target sounds
Interfaces to the PAK software family for seamless integration into existing development processes

✅ Conclusion

Sound design is now an integral part of modern product development – functional, emotional, and brand-building. With the right tools, sound can be specifically designed and turned into a competitive advantage. Whether it's an electric car, a household appliance, or high-end fittings – sound makes the brand.

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