Halo's Mongoose Vibration Stems from Dissimilar Vehicle Sounds
Unveiling the Secret Behind the Iconic Mongoose Exhaust Note in "Halo 3"
The Mongoose ATV in the popular video game "Halo 3" is renowned for its distinctive growling exhaust note. A new revelation sheds light on the source of this unique sound, as it was inspired by a combination of a Pontiac Fiero and a Vespa scooter.
According to Jay Weinland, the Audio Lead for "Halo 3", the team at the Acura Design Studio meticulously crafted the Mongoose's audio, incorporating specific car and scooter exhaust characteristics into the game. Weinland himself owned a Vespa with an aftermarket muffler, while one of his colleagues had a Fiero fitted with dual, six-inch pipes.
The team's approach to the Mongoose's audio was to mix different real-world vehicle exhaust notes, creating a one-of-a-kind auditory experience in "Halo 3". The whoosh sound of the automatic doors in the game was also created by morphing the sound of a Subaru wagon's tailgate opening, and the Mongoose was recorded with a microphone mounted to the edge of a Subaru wagon's tailgate.
The video detailing this information can be found at 50:22 in an embedded video, but it does not specify where the sound of the Ghost in "Halo 3" was recorded or provide any new information about Weinland's Vespa or his colleague's Fiero.
"Halo 3" was released at a time when broadband networks were expanding across the country, and the game became significant to a certain generation of millennials. Many people spent thousands of hours playing "Halo 3", and the detailed and guttural sounds of the UNSC vehicles in the game added to the immersive experience.
This new insight into the sound design of "Halo 3" highlights the process of tuning sounds in post to fit in the game world, demonstrating the level of care and craftsmanship that went into creating the audio for the game. The video discussing audio capture in "Halo 3" also emphasises the importance of designers hearing potential good sounds in everyday life and recording them for use in the game.
[1] Making of "Halo 3" film (2007) [2] Acura Design Studio [3] Jay Weinland (Audio Lead for "Halo 3") [4] Subaru wagon [5] Pontiac Fiero [6] Vespa scooter
- While working on the audio for "Halo 3", the Acura Design Studio combined the exhaust notes of a Pontiac Fiero and a Vespa scooter to create the distinctive growling sound of the Mongoose ATV.
- When immersed in the world of "Halo 3", players were surrounded by the realistic and immersive sounds of various UNSC vehicles, such as the guttural sounds of the Mongoose ATV, which were meticulously crafted by Jay Weinland and his team.
- The process of recording and mixing sounds for video games like "Halo 3" often involves filmmakers hearing good sounds in everyday life, such as the whoosh of a Subaru wagon's tailgate, and recording these sounds to create unique auditory experiences.
