Chris Jojo is not your average audio professional. As a sound designer and car sound recording engineer, he works at the intersection of engineering precision and creative storytelling, translating the mechanical heartbeat of race cars into immersive audio experiences. From the “scream of straight-cut gears” to the “whispered harmonics of turbochargers,” Jojo’s work focuses on more than technical accuracy; it’s about emotional authenticity.
Recently, Jojo was tasked with capturing high-speed audio from a rare Ford RS 200 Group B rally car at BGM Motorsport, following a recording session at Millbrook Proving Ground’s Mile Straight circuit. To meet the demands of these specialized sessions, he turned to his trusted arsenal from DPA Microphones.
“I’m obsessed with delivering a visceral, true-to-life racing experience. It’s not just about creating effects, it’s triggering memories and sensations,” Jojo explains. “It’s sound design on the ragged edge of engineering, physics and raw emotion. That low-end rumble, the high-frequency scream, the way the exhaust echoes off a tree line—I want to put you there.”
A statement from the company reveals, “Using DPA microphones allows me to isolate and reproduce the complex layers of automotive sound with astonishing clarity and precision, capturing the car’s soul.”
To achieve this, Jojo uses a carefully planned multi-microphone approach, incorporating DPA’s 4007 Omnidirectional Pencil, 4011 Cardioid, and 4062 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphones. Strategic placement ensures the capture of engine, exhaust, induction, and transmission sounds from both onboard and external perspectives. Every microphone position is calculated to avoid bodywork reflections while maintaining maximum fidelity in the high-SPL environments characteristic of high-performance race cars.
For Jojo, it’s this combination of technical precision and the right equipment that transforms raw mechanical energy into an authentic listening experience.
