Bass Shakers / Tactile transducers

[Rockeyes]

:helpsmilie:Any of you guys using the above? I have spent hours going around in circles and got know where. What I would like is to get some ‘feel’ through my rudder pedals and seat. The commercial set ups seem to be expensive so I’m looking for a simple effective alternative or a supplier that either in the UK or ships here of suitable transducers.

Any info would be appreciated………Thanks

[-fox-]

Something like this? (Note that I don't know if they are any good because I haven't tried them.)

http://shop.rightthing.nl/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=65&language=en

 

Or this?

http://www.audio-discounters.com/buttkicker-lfe.html

Edited June 1, 2009 by -=fox=-

[Rockeyes]

Nice find FOX thanks:thumbup:. I wonder what I need to drive them Guess its time for some more Google.

 

http://shop.rightthing.nl/index.php?...65&language=en

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

If you want an all in one solution look into the Buttkicker Gamer ( http://www.thebuttkicker.com/gaming/products/bkgr.htm ). Its a good little transducer that does what its supposed too. It comes with everything you need to get it going unless you need to mount it specifically to a simpit. In that case just need a couple parts that can be had at any hardware store anywhere. See my pit thread here: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2565874/Updated_Pit_and_new_Diggs.html#Post2565874

 

[JG14_Smil]

funny you should ask....

 

pic is of a homemade tactile shaker I glued up this weekend. I saw an article on how to make these, but the website that had it is now gone (Frugal's flight sim world, I think), so I went on memory and made a couple. Found an old amp to drive them, too.

 

oh, if you want more vibrations in your controls, look for an old exercise machine frame, I have an old "E-Force" frame that makes a great cockpit base (with modifications). I support it at the front and rear only and with a subwoofer sitting on it, the vibrations go all through and into anything else connnected to the frame (joystick, pedals, arse, ect...). Vibration is a very useful item in simming.

Edited June 1, 2009 by JG14_Smil

[Rockeyes]

If you want an all in one solution look into the Buttkicker Gamer ( http://www.thebuttkicker.com/gaming/products/bkgr.htm ). Its a good little transducer that does what its supposed too. It comes with everything you need to get it going unless you need to mount it specifically to a simpit. In that case just need a couple parts that can be had at any hardware store anywhere. See my pit thread here: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2565874/Updated_Pit_and_new_Diggs.html#Post2565874

 

Looks good and would certainly be suitable for my simpit chair using your adapter method. I will have to hunt around as it’s close to 200USD here in the UK:cry:.

I tried a small DIY version today with no success.

[Rockeyes]

funny you should ask....

 

pic is of a homemade tactile shaker I glued up this weekend. I saw an article on how to make these, but the website that had it is now gone (Frugal's flight sim world, I think), so I went on memory and made a couple. Found an old amp to drive them, too.

 

oh, if you want more vibrations in your controls, look for an old exercise machine frame, I have an old "E-Force" frame that makes a great cockpit base (with modifications). I support it at the front and rear only and with a subwoofer sitting on it, the vibrations go all through and into anything else connnected to the frame (joystick, pedals, arse, ect...). Vibration is a very useful item in simming.

Just supporting the pit at both ends is a good tip:thumbup:.

 

From scratching around the net, looking into a DIY approach to the shaker, it appears you have to glue a weight onto the centre cone; however there does not appear to be a guide on how much weight is needed. Is the lateral bar purely to keep the weight centred and thus it needs to flex?

 

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

As for the Buttkicker hunt around for prices at times they've gone for under $100 here in the states at least. I think my brother got this for $60 new from www.woot.com a few years back. My unit just went out by the way after over two years of use and the support has been great so far trying to figure out the problem. Hopefully the fact my went out won't turn you off as the unit has been heavily used.

 

Its a great pc. to have its cool feeling the blades spinning, touching down, engine running and the occasional flak burst or better yet the thud you feel a split second before the missile blows you up!

[Rockeyes]

funny you should ask....

 

pic is of a homemade tactile shaker I glued up this weekend. I saw an article on how to make these, but the website that had it is now gone (Frugal's flight sim world, I think), so I went on memory and made a couple. Found an old amp to drive them, too.

.

Have you had time to test the new shaker yet? Looks like the Buttkicker Gamer is a no go as im being told that manufacturing has stopped on that unit.

 

Has anyone tried these?

 

Technical Specs :

Wattage: 100 Watt

Impedance: 8 Ohm

Freq. Rang: 28 - 55 Hz

 

Size: 120mm, Depth 30mm

UPDATE: Well I’ve bitten the bullet and placed an order. In the mean time I’ve been promised an old sub woofer so I will have a go at tweaking that into a shaker.

Edited June 2, 2009 by Rockeyes
Update

[Rockeyes]

Things are looking rather quiet here at the moment so I thought I would post a quick update.

 

I received a pair of well-packaged tactile transducers from the company previously mentioned a few days after placing the order. I have never previously dealt with this company and any apprehensions were quickly laid to rest and will be certainly looking into some of their other interesting items.

 

As hopefully you can see from the pictures, I chose to fit one of the units to the base of my chair, the other to the rudder pedals. These units are temporally wired to an active/powered subwoofer by disconnecting its speaker and connecting the shakers to the output. As I use a Creative X-Fi card with its numerous outputs a ‘Y’ lead adapter was not required for the subwoofer amp input.

 

After a small amount of experimentation, I found the ideal position for the chair unit was towards the back. This places most of the ‘Feel’ directly under the butt and sends the vibrations up through the back of the seat in a realistic way. I did try placing the unit on the back of the chair but resulted in nothing but an unrealistic and unpleasant sensation. The icing on the cake was when I placed the other unit on the rudder pedals. This combined with the seat really does give a realistic feeling of being part of the helicopter.

 

I initially tried the units out using FSX and found the results vary as expected depending on the aircraft flown. I then went over to BlackShark and without boring you all to tears; I will just say I’m grinning ear to ear. I just love everything from the gentle ‘thud’ of the rotors to the rattle of the gun to the positive thump as the gear comes up and locks. Flying with the system switched off just seems to make the simulator feel sterile. I suppose it can be compared to watching one’s favourite films through a cheap 6inch speaker or through a surround sound system, both are possible but one gives immediate immersion.

My next step is to find a cheap 100watt subwoofer amp board to power the set-up as the current makeshift unit only provides 50watts. Any ideas?:book:

 

Edited June 10, 2009 by Rockeyes

[JG14_Smil]

hello,

 

have not had time for testing my shakers yet.

 

Do you get interference in your rudders having the speaker magnet that close?

[Rockeyes]

I thought I had at first due to the proximity of the Shaker to the Field Effect sensor. My signal was all over the place, so I removed it only to find that it was a broken wire and not interference. Refitted the wire (to the Bodnar board) and the shaker and now all is well.