DCS-SimpleRadio Standalone

[VAF [136] Striker]

The distortion is incredibly bad now with 1.2.8.0 and 1.2.8.1. We can't even use it now. Please tell me what we need to do to get it working correctly again.

[Coug4r]

And you're both on windows 7, did sound fine to me yesterday and not on windows 7.

[Esac_mirmidon]

Almost all my squad mates and i are using W7.

[Dojo]

The distortion is incredibly bad now with 1.2.8.0 and 1.2.8.1. We can't even use it now. Please tell me what we need to do to get it working correctly again.

 

What we've done, since 1.2.6, is turn the mic boost down below negative 50. Several are using Negative 90. Try that.

[Ciribob]

Hey Ciribob,

 

Reporting two issues that we're experiencing:

 

First issue: Since we first began using SR, we've had an issue with the microphone boost, whereby if a speaker had his boost settings above 100, AND he spoke above a certain volume, the receiver would get a very distorted transmission. Speaking at a relatively normal/low volume would not produce the distortion. We solved this by simply informing all members to keep the boost below 100, and the issue was not experienced.

 

Since 1.2.6, this distortion is back, unless we change the mic boost to be below 0, usually in the -50 to -90 range. So it's manageable, but certainly an issue worth reporting.

 

Second issue: The "radio effect" is a bit more difficult to describe via forum, but I have recorded some audio samples if my explanation here fails. First, I had felt that the radio effect being applied to the voice was a bit weak... that is, I would hear the transmitter in an unexpectedly high quality, with some background noise applied to make the transmission sound "distorted". To my surprise, I was watching a Ralfidude youtube video, where he was using SR, but all of the transmissions he received sounded pretty aweseome... so I assumed there was something misconfigured on my side.

 

Yesterday, while testing the first issue above with a fellow member, he reported that I sounded very much like I was coming through a radio, while I reported that he sounded very much like we were on TS, but with background noise.

 

I attempted to retest with a another member today, and it was the opposite, although I've changed nothing! That is, I sound to him as if I'm talking on TS with some background noise accompanying my transmission, while he sounds to me as if he's on a radio!

 

Please let know what I can do help demonstrate this experience if my explanation above fails to convey the problem. We're currently on 1.2.8.0, although I've experienced the above previously.

 

The same here.

 

We have experience a lot of distorsion using radios since 1.2.6- i didn´t noticed it could be related with the microphone boost.

 

We are going to test it with -50 and see if this changes something.

 

The distortion is incredibly bad now with 1.2.8.0 and 1.2.8.1. We can't even use it now. Please tell me what we need to do to get it working correctly again.

 

Firstly, for the distortion - Please make sure your on the latest .Net https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=53345 to rule out that.

 

Secondly - Please make sure you preview the audio on the latest release. The Audio Preview now runs the audio through the Encode and Decode of OPUS to give you a much better idea of how you'll sound to others and use the VU meters to monitor the input/output.

 

To stop distortion - Firstly set speaker boost to 0% and set mic to the absolute minimum minus. Slowly increase with preview and if its still topping out, reduce speaker boost as well. Ideally you should just leave speaker boost where it is and just mess with the Mic boost. You can also use windows sound mixer to reduce DCS volume and boost SRS volume instead of Speaker boost.

 

The reason why its a difficult problem is every mic is different as well as every ones Hardware and settings. Some mics have Auto gain built in (like mine), some have a manual mic boost, others not ,so I can't give any default values (other than no boost), that'll work for everyone. Its also hard for me to test as with Auto gain any distortion is automatically solved by my mic.

 

If you hear others distorting - Ask them to lower their mic boost as well and slowly everyone will get there until I can force everyone to try the preview first! :P

 

Having a mic or speaker boost of minus is OK, and nothing to worry about :)

 

Dojo - Thanks for the feedback and if its Ralfidudes latest video - The audio sounds just like it should here

and this guy has his mic boost too high or just a rubbish mic

 

Which do you sound like (not insulting your mic :P ) or hear? There isn't any static audio mixing in yet but I'll be working on that next hopefully after I'm back from work trips this week and next. The radio effect is quite subtle at the minute

 

Please do send any recordings you have as well :)

 

Again to all - Thanks for posting and do keep feedback and bugs reports coming. Just remember I do have very little time so progress will slow.

 

Edit: Interesting Comment about Window 7 - I'm on 10 so can't test. Sorry. You can also try the old api and compare to the new. They're both available under the latest release on GitHub

Edited October 10, 2016 by Ciribob

[VAF [136] Striker]

And you're both on windows 7, did sound fine to me yesterday and not on windows 7.

Not an OS problem. It was working fine a couple versions ago.

[Dojo]

Firstly, for the distortion - Please make sure your on the latest .Net

 

Dojo - Thanks for the feedback and if its Ralfidudes latest video - The audio sounds just like it should here

and this guy has his mic boost too high or just a rubbish mic

 

Please do send any recordings you have as well :)

 

 

This is the video I had watched as well, that first alerted me to the possibility of a local problem. The two time stamps you've included capture each of the issues I've reported perfectly.

 

As for the distortion, we'd dealt with that by lowering the mic boost. It's true that different values worked to mitigate the issue for different folks, but there was some adjustment. As far as I know, most of us haven't updated .NET, so we'll do that, retest, and report.

 

As for the difference in transmission receipt quality, strangely, it's working well for me now, i.e. everyone sounds like they're "suppose" to, according to your first link. I'll provide the samples a bit later, and will retest all again after updating .NET. (would have updated .NET sooner, but assumed that was only relevant to 1.2.8.1, and we're still on 1.2.8.0 for the moment.

 

Thanks again.

[VAF [136] Striker]

Firstly, for the distortion - Please make sure your on the latest .Net https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=53345 to rule out that.

On our server as well?

[Ciribob]

Not an OS problem. It was working fine a couple versions ago.

 

It IS possible for it to be the OS - As the Audio output API has been changed to WASAPI which while introduced in Vista has been changed in 7 and again in 8/10 as has the .Net version which may effect it. Not saying it is, but it is possible :)

 

Please check the post above and try the suggestions there, namely setting boost for mic to the far left and speaker boost to 0% and having a play around with the sliders while previewing :)

 

Edit - Apologies our posts seemed to have crossed

 

On our server as well?

 

Yes no harm and at some point it may just randomly not work until .Net is updated.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Ciribob

[VAF [136] Striker]

Please check the post above and try the suggestions there, namely setting boost for mic to the far left and speaker boost to 0% and having a play around with the sliders while previewing :)

We've already done all of this. We were on Buddyspike yesterday and almost everyone we were trying to talk to had the exact same problem. I know some of them had Windows 10 so that's why I felt pretty confident it wasn't a OS problem. But anyhow, this is really frustrating because it was working fine with 1.2.6 and now it's basically unusable. I'll try updating .net and let you know if it helps.

[Esac_mirmidon]

I our squad we all have Net 4.6.2 installed.

 

Some on W10 , but almost everyone on W7. With 1.2.6 the sound was excellent. Now is like you, a lot of noise and distortion.

 

Testing different boost settings.

[Ciribob]

We've already done all of this. We were on Buddyspike yesterday and almost everyone we were trying to talk to had the exact same problem. I know some of them had Windows 10 so that's why I felt pretty confident it wasn't a OS problem. But anyhow, this is really frustrating because it was working fine with 1.2.6 and now it's basically unusable. I'll try updating .net and let you know if it helps.

 

I our squad we all have Net 4.6.2 installed.

 

Some on W10 , but almost everyone on W7. With 1.2.6 the sound was excellent. Now is like you, a lot of noise and distortion.

 

Testing different boost settings.

 

How does it sound for both of you with audio Preview with Speaker all the way left and Mic boost all the way left and no other audio programs running (TS, Media player etc)?

 

Please send a recording of this if you still hear distortion with those settings on Preview

 

If it doesnt work with mic boost all the way left AND Speaker all the way left - Try the other version listed on the release page called - DCS-SimpleRadioStandalone-Old_Audio_API-Release.zip

 

This uses the same sound engine as 1.2.6.0 but with all the new features of 1.2.8.0

 

As I said a few posts ago - The next release will have both old an new selectable so you can switch between if you have issues with one audio api or the other.

 

Please also remember, I'm doing my best to help here :)

 

Edit - Why OS shouldn't be ruled out or at least investigated a bit more - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/mt298187(v=vs.85).aspx

Edited October 10, 2016 by Ciribob

[Esac_mirmidon]

If i move both sliders all the way to the left i can´t here myself at all.

 

At -50 Mic Boost and 0 Speakers Boost i here no noise at all. But the sound is a little quite, if this is how i will hear inside cockpit i need more boost.

 

At -50 Mic Boost and 100% Speakers Boost is quite nice, almost not noise at all, only when i speak hard maybe a little, very little distortion. Same -50 Mic Boost, and 200% Speaker Boost is the best for me.

 

Not noise and very good volumen in the Speakers. A little grainy sound at the top of my voice ( i dont know how to describe it in english ) but is a lot better than previous Audio Preview when i was using 150 Mic Boost and 400% Speaker Boost.

 

The strangest thing is that when this 150-400 settings in 1.2.6 the sound was perfect.

 

But in the lats release you know, a lot of noise and distortion.

 

In essence, -50 Mic and 100 to 300 speeaker Boost sound a lot better for me.

 

PD:

 

I´ve tested New and Old API sound and in my case ( Realtek High Definition Audio Sound ) the quality ins much better with the Old API version. At the same settings, much less noise with the Old Ones. I can set almost a perfect sound with +50 Mic Boost and +150 Speaker Boost. Clear, no noise, no distortion.

 

With the New API and same settings the sound is stronger and louder and with a little noise, grainy sound. For the same quality i need to move down both Mic and Speakers boost.

 

Hope this could help you. The NEW-OLD API option in the client windows could be a great addition.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Esac_mirmidon

[Ciribob]

 

In essence, -50 Mic and 100 to 300 speeaker Boost sound a lot better for me.

 

Great ! Glad to hear your sorted!

 

As I mentioned, how I do sound has changed which is also why the old settings wouldn't work.

 

One solved one to go! :)

 

Apologies but I have a 5am train so no more troubleshooting for a while.

 

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

[Coug4r]

I think with the new API the sound is way more radio like, should be a little 'grainy' and noisy.

 

@Mirmidon Do you have the Radio Rx/Tx effects enabled?

[Esac_mirmidon]

Yes.

 

I´ve all radio options enabled. I will test without them if you need ¡t.

[Coug4r]

Was just curious if that might help with your sound problem.

[Esac_mirmidon]

I think the new API sound introduced with 1.2.8 doesn´t need so much boost like before and that could be the reason why in our squad mission last sunday we hear so much noise.

 

Almost everyone had over 100-150 mic boost and over 400% speakers boost.

 

Now with settings around 0-50 Mic boost and 100-200 speakers boost is more than enough but i find Old API more clear, with less noise and better quality for me at the same boost settings. Even lower boost needed with old ones.

 

I´m eagerly waiting for the next squad mission test to hear how is now the sound with the new settings.

[Coug4r]

Probably a good idea, had like 13% mic boost and 160 speaker boost and even that was a little loud. New API -> New volume levels i guess.

[GGTharos]

Yep, after playing around with it a little bit, I turned mic boost to the minimum (-95) and everything is peachy now. Just had to make sure to turn mic boost up to +20 in windows.

[Manzanita]

I have an issue where my frequencies in SR are stuck at 0.000AM in my Mirage even though the radio is on and have the frequency set to 126AM in-game.

This is in Blue Flag.

[Esac_mirmidon]

Check your export.lua file inside saved games/DCS/Scripts.

 

Turn off any line except the Simple Radio one. ( you can do that adding at the beggining of the line -- ).

 

Or simply delete your export.lua file and install again SR. It will create another one with only the SR line into it.

 

Also is a good idea to install Net Framework 4.6.2.

 

PD: Silly question.

 

You have electrical power ON? 0.000 frequency is what you get when no energy on the plane.

[VAF [136] Striker]

Please also remember, I'm doing my best to help here :)

We know. We all like SR and want to continue to use it. We'll try the older API and let you know the result.

[NeilWillis]

I have tested the latest version of SR prior to running it out as our go-to radio system in RAF Air UK, and although fundamentally the testing went very well, I have a rather elusive issue in that I can't hear radio transmissions sent on Radio 1. 2 and 3 are fine.

 

I have looked at the obvious things such as volume controls, and tried with and without the encryption enabled. Tried left/Right/Both outputs, but still no joy.

 

Any possible solutions?

 

Edit:

 

OK, we have tracked it down to the radio volume control in the cockpit. The system was successfully rolled out on a mission tonight.

 

Thanks for this excellent utility.

Edited October 11, 2016 by NeilWillis

[TomCatMucDe]

I tested this in my squadron yesterday. This is a fantastic piece of software. Thumbs up! ED should integrate it per default in DCS 2.5!