The sound of the TIE Fighter in STAR WARS was a mix of elephant and automobile sounds

The distinct sound of the TIE Fighters in Star Wars it serves to enhance their menacing presence and create an atmosphere of intense aerial combat.

The TIE Fighter’s sound is a combination of mechanical hums, screeches, and howls, layered with a distinctive Doppler effect. When a TIE Fighter passes, its engines make a high-pitched, whining noise that rises and falls as the ship approaches and then recedes. This effect creates a sense of speed and agility, adding to the perception of the TIE Fighter’s maneuverability.

When talking about the idea behind the sound, it was inspired by WW2 dive bombers. Joe Johnston shared:

“In WWII super dive bombers had a siren wail artificially created by the air ducts. They had no purpose other than to create this noise, which would terrify people. It was intended that the TIE would achieve the same effect with only a menacing appearance.”

The main source of the TIE Fighter’s sound is its powerful ion engines. These engines, which are twin ion engines, produce a unique, throaty roar that sets them apart from other spacecraft in the Star Wars universe. The sound is often described as a blend of turbine-like humming and an aggressive growl. It conveys the raw power and speed of the TIE Fighter as it hurtles through space or engages in dogfights.

The TIE Fighter’s distinct audio signature was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who also designed the iconic sounds for lightsabers and many other elements in the Star Wars universe. To create the TIE Fighter’s sound, Burtt is said to have combined the noise of an elephant call, a car driving on a wet sidewalk, and an air conditioner motor. This unique combination of sounds, coupled with various audio editing techniques, resulted in the iconic roar of the TIE Fighter.

The elephant audio came from John Huston’s 1958 adventure film The Roots of Heaven and slowed down the audio, to get the roaring sound he was looking for. When it comes to the car’s sound, Huston said:

“Swoosh, car went by and you could hear this car plowing through the water. I took that sound still thinking I was doing a laser of some sort. I really would have put it in because I had no other alternative, but it got great reviews, so of course it became the TIE Fighters sound.”

All of these sounds have come together well to create an indelible part of the audiovisual experience of the franchise and evokes a sense of excitement and danger whenever heard in any Star Wars film project.

Via: /Popular Movies and Mechanics