Hook both of mine up yesterday, all working perfectly!
Now just need to learn how to take advantage of the DSP.
I have read the forums, still do not know how to tune, meaning what to look for while tuning...
Different people have different approaches.
Here are my thoughts , with some tips and findings....
Some will rely on a manufacturer's listed specs/data as a way to then calculate or give a theroy on what optimal settings may be. I have seen people go as far to determine what power should be supplied to an amplifer as an optimal setting to a transducer's listed specs.
The first problem is listed specs for amps and transducers are not often, what we find to be highly accurate in real usage. The optimal amplification level used for that persons chosen tactile or how they have it installed, may be reached well below the calculated/supposed optimal setting of the amp. How the unit is installed and if the rig uses isolation are quite likely going to be bigger factors to improved or optimising performance. Potentially more than a specific amp level setting or in some regards to applying DSP.
4 units on corners of a 8020 rig is one of the worst yet most popular approaches to installing. Still today many people have such, yet when we look into what this really does, we see the failings it has.
Measurements in a seat?
With discussions of this in the past, some members here were behind this approach months ago. While I questioned its benefits.... I don't know but would ask, where are DSP settings that were configured based on this approach and with those believing it was a good idea with the measurements from a pickup that they implemented? Quite simply, many months later with several forum members here having an interest in this approach, what benefits did such testing bring and how was that work continued?
Dayton for their own readings I believe used their own mics but highlighted that measurements are very much going to differ based on the materials or objects they are attached to.
So the problem with this is listed specs/data are not necessarily representative with real-world usage and especially with how we are using transducers/exciters or what ways they are being installed.
You have the important factors, like what materials they are being attached to. After this you then have the potential for very different effects mixes that are being output when you are racing with various combinations of effects...
all with potentially different frequencies
all with potentially different volumes
all with potentially different timings/operations
Then combine these factors, based on a rig, depending on the installation of 1 - multiple units installed.
Due to all these scenarios, I found little benefits are going to be gained if seeking to take measurements from my or someone elses seat. The reason is, the seat they may have conducted tests on. We have to first determine what materials it is made of (as a test bed) and if it is representative of a typical race seat most people use? So before even digging deeper into all these points highlighted. The testbed solution presented, did not even represent the most common seats used with sim racing, from the early work done. Therefore beyond it being an interest for some to follow or take part in, I personally seen it as rather limited in what it may achieve as an experiment or offering reliable data for others.
So since then, I am not aware if such tests have been conducted on several seat types, within playing a sim and with multiple examples of effects operational at one time? Doing real scenario tests and applying this to single unit and multi-unit installations?
Let's be real here.... In truth, you could have hundreds of measurement possibilities, trying to cover these options.
I would suggest you don't need any measurements but feel free to do what you want to do. For me, it's quite simple, "you" the user become the sensor, to determine how/what/when "you" adjust different volumes for the various effects "you" may be using. Taking into account how those combine, boost or soften the felt sensation of other effect layers.
Without even changing frequencies, the "output mix" that you feel in the seat from your effects running real-time in the sim may differ on your seat to the exact same settings on someone elses. Not only this but your preference to "what feels good" may differ or vary to someone else as well, even with nice operating effects being used.
With the DSP, when you have a direction in what to do. It lets you control how your transducer/exciter operates with specific frequencies, yet it is still bound within its own operational capabilities. Essentially the DSP lets you reduce peaks, to then help to try to boost other frequencies so that you gain some additional detail.
It's not always about trying to boost even more how much bass you feel from the already peak frequencies that unit you have already delivers. This is the approach of some, to try to even boost the peaks, further limiting the range you feel from the effects. One of the goals is to enrich the bass but do so to increase detail as well, then to also control problematic or irritating reverb.
It also depends on the unit and the role you may apply to the unit within your installation and how you would configure its crossover/eq.
To finish off, I would recommend using an RPM that operates within a sim that generates from the lowest-highest frequencies your unit is capable of using. You could have multiple layers, to let you enable/disable these within tests for determining the output more in line with those frequencies only. In applying this as an approach, you may discover....
the frequencies your unit/installation seems to work best with
the frequencies your unit/installation performs worst with
the frequencies your unit/installation may have reverb issues with
With DSP, we then apply the EQ for these specific frequencies to find a level that lets the user still apply nice volume control settings but achieve good low bass, improved mid or higher bass detail and reduce or eliminate any reverb.....
Plastic Based Tub Seats / Carbon Fibre / Aluminium GS5 / Office Chairs / Wicker Chairs / Real Car Seats and many more each may have or require their own tuning. Quite simply if you dont have a more closed/fixed approach to installation or isolation factors then DSP settings from one configuration may not necessarily be much benefit on your own.
Testing single frequencies in the method some people apply, is not reflective of how you are using Simhub or how it always operates, this is also why test-tone generators are limited in some ways for trying to use those to optimise your tactile for Simhub.
Personally, if its any help I found it best to tune and configure within a Sim and effects you are wanting to use.
