Bass shakers

[lesthegrngo]

Hi all, I have been playing around with some simple bass shakers on my race sim rig, in order to add a bit of tactile feedback for the VR experience. It's controlled by a program called Simhub, which seems biased to race type sim, although Warthunder is supported too. However DCS is not listed

Is there something that can be used to control bass shakers for DCS in a similar way?

Les 

[Biggus]

@lesthegrngo You will want to look at this thread.

Simshaker Sound Module combined with Simshaker for Aviators should give you what you are looking for.

[lesthegrngo]

Cheers, will check that out, thanks!

Les

[lesthegrngo]

I got this up and running and certainly it is well worth doing it - I especially love the effects when the undercarriage is raised or lowered, the clunks and thumps really do feel right. I have a way to go before I have it set up correctly, at the moment the way to assign certain effects to a certain transduced / channel eludes me but I will get there. I am using my tried and trusted 'flail around trying random things and asking stupid questions' method, which has stood me in good stead so far (apart from on the Aduino forum...)

But...... it strikes me that some of the effects could be better produced by using the output from DCS Bios. As an example, the engine RPM is a direct function of a number, 0% rpm being represented by an output value of 0, and 100% by I think it was 63,556. So, by my logic, you should be able to output a sinusoidal, or even square wave of between 0hz and say 5000hz to correspond to the mapped value. Additionally, you should be able to make the amplitude of that output vary according to the DCS bios output, so that it rises in a linear fashion between 0 and 50% of the output value, then constant thereafter, or maybe increasing proportionately but at a lower rate.

I assume that there is a way to output from an arduino in this way to one of the channels of those little USB amps and so onto a transducer? I have four more transducers and two USB amps, so am willing to test it out.

If anyone has any ideas or thoughts, or better still experience in using Arduinos and sound devices I'd live to hear from you. 

EDIT***** found this, food for thought https://forum.arduino.cc/t/audio-signal-over-usb-as-a-sound-card/1125587 *****

Les 

Edited August 11, 2024 by lesthegrngo

[Bucic]

For a quick afternoon experiment with an old bass speaker and an amplifier how would I "split" audio to feed it from the usual audio setup I use which is a USB soundcard?

[lesthegrngo]

At the moment you have to either use the Sim Shaker for Aviator or Sim Haptics programs to do so, where you assign a particular effect to a particular USB soundcard channel. It woks, but I believe that some improvement can be gained if we could use DCS Bios to modulate the effect, which at the moment is not possible

Les

[Hoirtel]

20 hours ago, Bucic said:

For a quick afternoon experiment with an old bass speaker and an amplifier how would I "split" audio to feed it from the usual audio setup I use which is a USB soundcard?

You can do this with voicemeeter if you are interested in running game sound through it. The applications add telemetry. Personally I use game sound with high frequency cut off through 2x transducers and love it. Uninstalled the telemetry, but most seem to like it. 

[Bucic]

10 minutes ago, Hoirtel said:

You can do this with voicemeeter if you are interested in running game sound through it. The applications add telemetry. Personally I use game sound with high frequency cut off through 2x transducers and love it. Uninstalled the telemetry, but most seem to like it. 

How do you get Voicemeeter to... what's its hardware interface setup?

[Hoirtel]

37 minutes ago, Bucic said:

How do you get Voicemeeter to... what's its hardware interface setup?

It's free to use. It is a mixing software that allows you to manage sounds in and out. It has good documentation + YT tutorials. 

[Bucic]

1 hour ago, Hoirtel said:

It's free to use. It is a mixing software that allows you to manage sounds in and out. It has good documentation + YT tutorials. 

Looked into web description and a tutorial and I must admit I still don't get that part

 

[Hoirtel]

On 8/27/2024 at 9:01 AM, Bucic said:

Looked into web description and a tutorial and I must admit I still don't get that part

 

It takes a bit to get your head around at first but then it's fairly simple. Especially if you only have a small number of in/outs. I did once help somebody else with it. Post may help you too. 

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/290526-dedicated-haptic-feedback-for-bass-shakers-and-the-like/?do=findComment&comment=5367671

[Bucic]

2 hours ago, Hoirtel said:

It takes a bit to get your head around at first but then it's fairly simple. Especially if you only have a small number of in/outs. I did once help somebody else with it. Post may help you too. 

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/290526-dedicated-haptic-feedback-for-bass-shakers-and-the-like/?do=findComment&comment=5367671

Thanks for the topic. My confusion stems from the fact that most of the guides assume it's obvious where the user is supposed to connect  the physical cable of the transducer amplifier to the PC.

I'm guessing that the Voicemeeter app has the capability to use one of the physical outputs of a multi-soundcard PC for "to transducer amplifier" output.

 

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

If one is to use only a bass shaker, where should it be first? The back panel? the Legs of the chair? Or underneath the seat?

[corbu1]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants:

If one is to use only a bass shaker, where should it be first? The back panel? the Legs of the chair? Or underneath the seat?

I‘d guess most go with one under the seat to get a good experience.

I have two under my sim seat and one in front of my pedals.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

7 hours ago, VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants said:

If one is to use only a bass shaker, where should it be first? The back panel? the Legs of the chair? Or underneath the seat?

The closest location to your body part in contact. Example, if your rudder pedals rest at a pedal plate, that's a nice place.
If your seat is a bucket(rigid) style seat, the lumbar area. However, if it is a comfy with plenty of padding, the seat must be tricky. Is the seat isolated from the floor?

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

3 hours ago, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

Is the seat isolated from the floor?

Yes, unfortunately. It is an IKEA sofa chair. So should I put it on one of the legs, or as you say, on the pedals? It may be better cause it is closer to the power source and the computer. Thanks.

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

To be specific, this is the side photo of my "game chair". Should I mount the shaker in either location marked by coloured circle: blue under the side beam, green under the beam in the back and red, on top of the leg? Or should it be mounted elsewhere?  Thanks in advanced.

Edited November 18, 2024 by VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants

[Biggus]

If green is one where you can place it at the middle of the seat, then I'd do that.  I'd consider blue if running a pair of transducers.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

22 hours ago, VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants said:

To be specific, this is the side photo of my "game chair". Should I mount the shaker in either location marked by coloured circle: blue under the side beam, green under the beam in the back and red, on top of the leg? Or should it be mounted elsewhere?  Thanks in advanced.

What about attached to the alu extrusion profile showed in the Pic? 

Also consider adding another layer of isolation between the carpet and the chair. 

The more energy is contained in the chair instead of transferring to the carrier and floor, the better. The amp will require less effort for the effects to be noticeable

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Thank you guys!

The aluminium part is actually the HOTAS mount which is for flying aircraft with side stick (like F-16). I am not sure if the bass shaker should be mounted there.

Dual shaker seems to be a good idea...

Adding extra short legs or paddings underneath seems to be a good idea.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

7 hours ago, VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants said:

Thank you guys!

The aluminium part is actually the HOTAS mount which is for flying aircraft with side stick (like F-16). I am not sure if the bass shaker should be mounted there.

Dual shaker seems to be a good idea...

Adding extra short legs or paddings underneath seems to be a good idea.

is that a poang chair? Apparently it´s a well known resource for driving/flight sim rigs and you have plenty of info and examples on youtube

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

24 minutes ago, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

is that a poang chair? Apparently it´s a well known resource for driving/flight sim rigs and you have plenty of info and examples on youtube

Yes, the IKEA one. Will have a look. Thanks.