Simhub Shakeit - Large Buttkicker LFE & Concert - Effects Experimentation

[Mr Latte]

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While not many users will own the largest Buttkicker units due to their cost and high wattage amps required to power them. I know we have some on the forums that own at least one and a few will have purchased amps I have recommended for these going back almost 8 years.

What I want to do in this thread is share some of my own testing/experimentation with these units. How for me I was able to get the most out of them after a long and extensive period of testing. I am making files available for people if they are interested they can try these effects if owning the required hardware.

My own custom build is going to use multiple sets of large BK units (as well as others) and apply the usage of them for specific duties or roles for certain effects. So this is an unofficial Simhub/Shakeit thread that is focused around my own efforts and tactile immersion interests with various effects I have created.

Simhub Shakeit:
WOW as software, this has brought a lot more potential and control to what we can now do with tactile. In the last year updates and improved features, it offers have opened a door to new possibilities compared to any other tactile based software. Its developer deserves a lot of credit and those involved to making it what it has become.

We have right now, is the potential to take tactile immersion far further than most builds currently use and indeed what we see even with expensive professional rigs shown at events like Sim Expo. Many rigs specialise with "motion" for enhanced immersion but really little has been done in a creative way to do this with tactile.

What I want to do here is help others discover how we can bring superb emotion and immersion with powerful tactile for static rigs but also complement motion rigs.

Whats the point?
These large units have the ability to output very low frequencies and this is a big benefit over common transducers. My intention is to bring much more energy, character and immersion for several high energy effects, such as:

• Engine Aspects
• Large Bumps & Impacts
• Braking
• Acceleration
• Lateral G

 

[FireWithin]

what tactile headset? Razer Nari Ultimate?

SkullCandy Crusher, works pretty good for me the only con is the cheap plastic.

 

[Reprobate]

When my own rig is at the point with the tactile re-installed. I will delve deeper into comparing both BKs to the Earthquake in a more detailed set of tests.

I cannot say one "BK" unit immediately stood out to be much better than the other.
Is it partly marketing, maybe but when using the NX3000D you can easily tune each unit to offer more or less output for specific frequencies anyways.

An owner of a BK on its own will want it to output a wider range and it can do okay with that, better than most budget units as you have all the extra low frequencies you can use that they dont work well with. What you miss is detailed bass above 60Hz and its here the TST will easily take over as the unit to bring more to the quality you feel from mid-higher frequencies.

In my experience for what we are doing, the BK partner best with units like the TST 329 or 429 if seeking best performance but at high costs. However the 209 or 239 can be used to work well from 30ish Hz but are better than BK over 60Hz and well beyond that.

Pairing a large BK with a small BK is not so good at all as you then are still restricted by the limited output over 60Hz. You want what gives the best output over the full 200Hz. So the Exciters and the TST units can bring their own certain advantages, other units do not bring.

One thing is certain my own views are based on testing and effects experimentation.
My goal has been to get the very best tactile we can creatively attempt to achieve.

I have reduced what my own rig will use, removing 2 BK from the previous configuration:

Here is the current plan
Corners = 4x BK LFE combined with 4x TST 429 for corner based effects.
Stereo = 2x BK LFE for additional stereo effects representation
Mono Front = 1x BK Concert for SPEED/GEAR combined with TST 329 for RPM
Mono Rear = 1x BK Concert for SPEED/GEAR combined with TST 329 for RPM

Seat Exciters = 6 for various effects detailing.
Additional units like Earthquake TBC if will be used.

Hey I’ve been reading a lot of your posts today on BK LFE, wanted to check what you think of the order I placed as your posts got me thinking afterwards.

2x BK LFE rear left rear right both under seat on the extrusion
2x BK mini LFE front left front right both under pedal extrusion
Amps - T.Amp 800 - 500w per channel @4ohms
T.Amp 1200 - 1200w per channel @4ohms
Sound blaster X4

I also have wind and motion with the SFX150, I have never tried a transducer so I’ll have to wait a week for everything to arrive, do you think it’s enough to get me going? Specifically having only the large models at the back and only the small ones at the front?

 

[metalnwood]

Hey I’ve been reading a lot of your posts today on BK LFE, wanted to check what you think of the order I placed as your posts got me thinking afterwards.

2x BK LFE rear left rear right both under seat on the extrusion
2x BK mini LFE front left front right both under pedal extrusion
Amps - T.Amp 800 - 500w per channel @4ohms
T.Amp 1200 - 1200w per channel @4ohms
Sound blaster X4

I also have wind and motion with the SFX150, I have never tried a transducer so I’ll have to wait a week for everything to arrive, do you think it’s enough to get me going? Specifically having only the large models at the back and only the small ones at the front?

You have already ordered but IMO a much better mix is one lfe and one TST on the seat. If you really wanted to reinforce the LFE it only makes sense to me if you do that after having a LFE/TST combo. The TST (at least tst219) is very good and powerful in areas the lfe (or mini) cant compete.

If you keep with a similar budget to your choices you have then you could get lfe+tst for seat, one tst for pedals and get the nx3000d and nx1000d amps that he suggests

 

[Reprobate]

You have already ordered but IMO a much better mix is one lfe and one TST on the seat. If you really wanted to reinforce the LFE it only makes sense to me if you do that after having a LFE/TST combo. The TST (at least tst219) is very good and powerful in areas the lfe (or mini) cant compete.

If you keep with a similar budget to your choices you have then you could get lfe+tst for seat, one tst for pedals and get the nx3000d and nx1000d amps that he suggests

Thanks, I probably should have asked here first, had never even heard of a TST before, I’m going to look into it now

 

[metalnwood]

Thanks, I probably should have asked here first, had never even heard of a TST before, I’m going to look into it now

Its pretty good and the one I have on my pedals is better than the 2xmini lfe's I used to have there

 

[Reprobate]

Its pretty good and the one I have on my pedals is better than the 2xmini lfe's I used to have there

I can always add them in as well then if needed!