The TIE Fighter Sound in STAR WARS Was a Mix of Elephant and Car Sounds

The distinct sound of the TIE Fighters in Star Wars 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 by, its engines emit a high-pitched, whining noise that rises and falls as the ship approaches and then moves away. 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 World War II dive bombers. Joe Johnston shared:

"In World War II the super dive-bombers had an artificially created siren wail created by air ducts. They didn't serve any purpose except to create this noise, which would terrify people. It was intended that the TIE should achieve the same effect with just a menacing appearance."

The primary 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 whirring and an aggressive growl. It conveys the raw power and speed of the TIE Fighter as it zips 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 craft the TIE Fighter sound, Burtt is said to have combined the noise of an elephant call, a car driving on wet pavement, and an air conditioner motor. This unique combination of sounds, along with various audio editing techniques, resulted in the iconic TIE Fighter roar.

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

"Swoosh, the car would come by, and you heard this car plowing through the water. I took that sound still thinking that I was making a laser of some kind. I'd really put it in because I had no other alternative, but it got great reviews, so naturally it became the sound of the TIE Fighters."

All of those sounds came together nicely to create an indelible part of the franchise's audiovisual experience and it evokes a sense of excitement and danger whenever it’s heard in any Star Wars film project.

Via: /Film and Popular Mechanics