Hi guys, time for big news audio wise. As you know, we introduced the FMod middleware in an early (and bugged) stage. Since that moment, many Fmod versions have been released (with new features and awesome bugs), but we had no time to update our version, until now. Console feedback together with requests by modders gave us a "good excuse" to start a new two-men BIG challenge in a ridiculous amount of time. We reworked the whole project and about 90% of the related code, making it easier to manage by us on the long term, fixing bugs, making broken things work as expected and last but not least improving performance and resource usage drastically. Does this new big update break current sound mods? Yes, but this time we want to face the problem in advance: we are releasing the new SDK one week before the public one, so modders can update their work in time for AC 1.9 release.
 
Of course new sounds banks cannot be tested in game until the public AC 1.9 release, but once out it's just a matter of volume balancing. Furthemore, you will find some new event folders in the project, so you can mod almost everything audio wise. Hope you appreciate it.
 
Where to start?
 
If you want to start experimenting, please register/login and download FMod Studio 1.08.12: www.fmod.org
 
This is the temporary link for the new updated AC SDK. Of course it will be available in the 1.9 update: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c3h5cbdld [...] 9.zip?dl=0
 
What's changed?
 
Quick premise: we didn't rework every single sample since it would require years. Long story short: we reworked the FMod interaction with the game.
 
Studio side, basically the mixing group structure, many distance attenuations, events output format (i.e. now the engine_int outputs as surround in the FMod deck, instead of the fake stereo pan curve. Furthermore the 3d panner is back), volumes and many other things changed. In order to proceed with a proper migration of their own project(s), modders should check every single event and compare theirs with the new ones of the provided project. Check 3d panner settings, volumes, curves, input and output format. Don't be scared, it needs 15 minutes per car. As said, the rest is volume balancing once the 1.9 update is out.
 
Code side, it was almost a complete overhaul in order to achieve a better resource usage and overall performance, especially on long gameplay sessions and with many cars involved. Fmod version update was the only way to make some fixes and improvements possible. We could talk about this for hours, but we think that the huge changelog and your in-game experience will result in a better feedback.
We tested every possible condition with passion and effort, together with the enormous help of our dear betatesters and their precious feedback, in order to release an update without any major issues. Hope you'll enjoy our work and before someone asks: room for improvement? As usual, but absolutely not in the time we spent for this update.
 
Suggestions?
 
1) Make a backup of your existing 1.05.14 project, so you can always revert to your current scenario;
 
2) Open your project with Fmod 1.08.12 and let it migrate, then save the new project;
 
3) READ THE PDF DOCUMENT PROVIDED WITH THE PROJECT EXAMPLE;
 
4) Open the new sdk project, create a duplicated "tatuusfa1" folder (this is very important) and start working on that, don't touch the original one. Doing this way, your GUIDs.txt will generate new keys that should avoid the problem when different modders release a sound set with same GUIDs.txt keys;
 
5) You can copy/paste events from your updated project to the example one. Done that, as said please check carefully every single event and its properties, updating them accordingly to the example car;
 
6) Volume suggestions: interior engine volume for official cars usually peaks to -9dB in the output mixer (Mixer window). Exterior sound are a little bit louder (+1 / 1.5dB, depends of the car). In order to have a consistent behaviour between official and modded cars, please take this in account.
 
7) Be creative! Have fun!
 
8) Be aware: we don't care at all about ripped stuff of course, so don't ask about that.
 
Changelog (W.I.P.)
 
And last but not least, a quick preview of the current changelog, fmod related only:
 
- Fmod updated to 1.08.12
- Updated SDK for modders
- Removed reverb snapshot in the Fmod project
- General audio engine code cleaning and bug fixing
- Vastly improved Fmod resource usage
- Voice stealing is now properly managed by code, so the sound mods will follow the same behaviour of the original sound banks
- Fixed listener priority for cars in pits. They don't steal the priority anymore
- Amount of events instances are now properly limited in order to keep proper volume range and overall performace improvement
- Overall volume balance
- 7.1 surround should now work as expected (on all platforms)
- Fixed audio initialization pop when the session starts
- Stereo imaging now works as expected
- Fixed ambience sound affected by reverb zones
- Reworked reverb logic: when triggered onboard, the reverb is given by the exterior engine
- Reworked distance attenuations for enhanced experience (e.g. engine_int raised to 350 meters)
- Reworked wind curves: now the wind volume is related to the air pressure (i.e. player car will hear turbulence when in draft and AP value goes below 1.00)
- Reworked surfaces audio curves
- Reworked skids logic
- Fixed skids positional sound
- New exterior skids sound
- Set tyre skid entry point to 100 in audio.ini (set what you prefer in the audio options)
- Reworked code management for traction control and limiter events
- Tweaked wind and limiter sound emitter position in dashboard camera
- Audio compressor on engine_ext event now works as expected when many cars are involved
- Surfaces, crashes and skids are now properly audible in chase and track cameras
- Opponents volume now honours F1 cameras. For track/free cameras it is set to max (optimum for replays, broadcasting etc.)
- Fixed load/coast smooth for AIs and multiplayer
- Fixed transmission smooth and pitch for multiplayer opponents
- Engine volume setting is now related to the player/focused car
- When driving, some opponents events are now audible (e.g. skids, surfaces and gear shifts if available)
- Surfaces events are now properly cached. This fixes stuttering when a surface event is triggered for the first time and should limit "digital clicks"
- Fixed multiplayer opponent surfaces sound when it leaves instantly (e.g acs proces kill/crash) while driving on sand/kerb/etc...
- New dirt sound effects
- New brake squeal for some "old" cars
- Added audio fade when track camera changes
- Added [VERSION] section in audio.ini
- Removed [LATENCY] section in audio.ini (managed by FMod itself now) and from the GUI
- Slightly modified gear grind sound
- Fixed wrong listener position for track and car cameras in some situations

After more than 12 years away from the hardcore sim-racing world, the Porsche Brand is coming to Assetto Corsa, as part of three DLC packages. The first of these packs, the Porsche Pack Volume 1, introduces some of the most iconic Porsche cars ever created, coupled with some of the most recent models of the Porsche 2016 line-up, with the aim to offer a perfect mix between road cars, hypercars, as well as modern and historic GT and racing models.
Let us introduce you to the 918 Spyder, which embodies the essence of the Porsche idea: it combines pedigree motor racing technology with excellent everyday utility, and maximum performance with minimum consumption.
The main source of propulsion is the 4.6-litre, eight cylinder engine that produces 608 hp (447 kW) of power. The engine is derived directly from the power unit of the successful RS Spyder, which explains why it can deliver engine speeds of up to 9,150 rpm. Because of its parallel hybrid configuration, the 918 Spyder can be powered at the rear axle either individually by the combustion engine or electric motors or via both drives jointly, thus giving it a total power of 887 hp (652 kW). The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is performed within 2.6 seconds, and the top speed is reached at 345 km/h.
The 918 Spyder has conquered the 20.6-kilometre lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than seven minutes. Achieving a time of exactly six minutes and 57 seconds, the super sportscar shaved an incredible 14 seconds off the previous record.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is 1 of 7 cars coming to Assetto Corsa as part of the Porsche Pack Volume 1, scheduled for release on October 25th on Steam, then in November on PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One!
Stay tuned for more info!

From Aristotelis facebook :
 
Probably the most technologically packed car inside Assetto Corsa. The Porsche 918 spyder has it all. Active aero, brake steering, active differential at the rear, hybrid ERS system with different modes. 2 (two!) electric engines, completely independent front and rear, active antiroll bars (!), active rear wheel steering (!!), active All Wheel Drive with electric motor at the front and active torque vectoring...  
 
All of that stuff has to comunicate with each other and try to be as transparent to the driver as possible. Not an easy task. Does it succeed? Not sure, you'll be the final judge. But it does succeed on being an amazing driving experience, a totally different level from everything else.
 
When you have 900hp, even on hypercar class sticky street tyres, traction is your main issue. While all the other hypercars struggle to find traction on anything less than slicks, the 918 simply digs into the asphalt and manages amazing exit speeds with the pedal to the metal. I wouldn't call it an easy car to push close to the limits. Very stable, amazing traction, especially with the street tyres. It might seem a bit heavy, not easy to stop or even a bit understeery on occasion. But trust it, be smooth but decisive, don't be aggressive mid corner, let it "take a set" and then push through the exit, and you'll be rewarded with some unbelievable laptimes and brand new sensation of traction and acceleration.

Marco Massarutto:
Whatever your favourite game is, the 2016 will be the year, and Assetto Corsa will be the place where you can perform a race, featuring one of the most appreciated and advanced physics models, used on their official simulators by the same Car manfucaturers that have licensed the same models for this game, driving the most wanted hypercars, reproduced with the maximum attention to their respective details, on some of the most realistic and loved tracks, created using Laserscan technology. On PC and console. My personal advice: enjoy the momentum. Because this is something that we waited so long, and that doesn't happen everyday.

Introducing the breathtaking Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0, another classic to be featured in the upcoming Porsche Pack Volume 1.
 
When choosing the most exciting 911 of all time, the Porsche 911 Carrera RSR would come out on top. Based on the 911 Carrera RS homologation model, the RSR was built in 1972 as a Group 4 race car, whose performance far exceeded that of its predecessors.
 
The front and rear wings were five centimetres wider, and the oil cooler was located under the car's front-end which visually highlighted the power of the 55 911 Carrera RSRs produced. The rear of the vehicle had a six-cylinder engine with increased displacement, whose performance was increased to 330 hp at 8,000 rpm, thanks to dual ignition and larger valves and cylinders.
 
The Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 is 1 of 7 cars coming to Assetto Corsa as part of the Porsche Pack Volume 1, scheduled for release on October 25th on Steam, then in November on PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One!
 
Stay tuned for more info!

From FB:
Aristotelis Vasilakos:
The iconic Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 build as an homologation car for Group4 in 1972. The first "wide body" with the big rear whale wing.
 
Porsche 911's have always been highly praised for their handling treats, road holding and grip. Their history is full of success, wins, achievements... Yet there has always been this "fear" of the rear engine. Pilots have always talked about treating them with "respect". For me, this particular model is what started the "new" era of the 911s. An era where all the great treats remain, but the wide body suspension modifications and the big rear wing that gives 0 aero lift, transforms an already amazing car into a perfectly balanced legend.
 
The steering wheel is so alive, heavy under braking and turn in. comunicative mid turn, light on the exit. The front end bites, the rear end rotates, but not abruptly fast. Not anymore like on the older models. It doesn't want to bite you on the fast bends, it doesn't want to snap in the esses. It will gently rotate to help you position the wheels exactly where you want them and when you see the exit, just press on the accelerator. The traction is still there. If you feel the steering wheel getting light and the front end push wide, give it a bit more gas -power is plenty for the light chassis- and give some feedback on the steering wheel... a bit more, a bit less... the rear end will step out just a little and with a touch of opposite lock you'll be out of the turn without much dramma but with an enormous grin on your face...  
So satisfying because you know you did it all yourself. No silly electronics, no ultrawide slicks, no enormous amount of power. Just the perfect bit of everything, making a car better than the sum of its parts.
Oh and don't forget to look at the laptime at the end of your lap, it will still surprise you.