Tactile Immersion - General Discussion - Hardware & Software

[ncornelisse]

I've edited my last comment a couple of times, so there's a couple of extra ideas to check.

Sounds like your wiring it up correctly. Yes, it's a single mini jack to twin RCA on the amp. Make sure that windows and the amp are both set to 5.1. I honestly think that you might be getting a signal but it could be down to the volume levels. Amp test signals are normally quite loud though I've no idea what frequencies they use.

I'd unplug the buttkicker (or at least turn it's amp off) and then creep the simhub/pc and amp levels up to see if anything comes through. Make sure you bring the levels back down before using the BK again.

Also check that you're definitely selecting the correct source on the amp

Its working at the moment. I think its something with the Sony amp.

What is a good alternative for the Sony STR? I have 4 transducers right now, but maybe I'll replace them for bass shakers. The Sony has too much settings to. I want something more simple.

Thank you Brutal for your help so far!

 

[GagarynGaribaldi]

Its working at the moment. I think its something with the Sony amp.

What is a good alternative for the Sony STR? I have 4 transducers right now, but maybe I'll replace them for bass shakers. The Sony has too much settings to. I want something more simple.

Thank you Brutal for your help so far!

I'm new to tactile and have a very humble setup, just 4 Dayton Audio transducers. I'm powering them with a tiny Douk Audio M4 - cheapest 4 channel amp I could find, connected to motherboard sound card with two mini jack to RCA cables. It works very well - I would recommend it for a cheap and cheerful solution.

 

[McClusky]

I finally finished installing tactile feedback on my rig. If you read some of my posts in this thread I had issues because my rig is mostly made of wood.

For my GS-105 chair I put ButtKicker isolators between it and the seat slider which is made of wood (pic 1 below). I then re-installed my ButtKicker Advance, inside of the seat, putting shock absorbing pads between the plywood seat bottom and a piece of oak board where the BK-A is mounted (pic 2 below). When I had the BK-A mounted directly to the plywood seat bottom the feedback was harsh and traveled all over the seat but now feedback feels dampaned and more direct.

I mounted my wheel on an oak board along with 2 Dayton Audio TT25-8 pucks (pic 1 below). I then mounted that board to my rigs table top putting shock absorbing pads in between (pic 2 below).

For my pedals I mounted an Aura Pro Bass Shaker to the bottom of the metal plate that my pedals are mounted to (from my old Obutto rig). This plate snaps onto a metal bar so I wrapped the bar with vibration reduction rubber then snapped the plate on to it (pic 1 below). I also used shock absorbing pads under the front of the plate using table saw hold down clamps to secure it (pic 2 below).

Doing all of this made a night and day difference, no comparison to what I had before. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread!!!


Items used in this project:

SimHub

Dayton Audio BSA-200 Amp to power the Aura Pro Bass Shaker

BKA300-4 amplifier to power the ButtKicker Advance

BT20A 2 Channel Amplifier to power the 2 Dayton Audio TT25-8 pucks

ButtKicker Isolators

Shock absorbing pads

Vibration reduction rubber

Hold Down Clamps

 

[Alan Davsion]

Hi all,

sorry for what is probably a dumb question but as this thread is just so damn long and I’m in the middle of a rig upgrade I need to ask!

i would like to have a setup whereasI have 4 pucks mounted to myseat (out of a Toyota 86) that are used for road vibes andkerbs etc... then I’d like another two larger units to put on the pedal baseplate and under the seat to give a combination of rpm, gearbox clunk and braking.....

i think I need to go 8 pucks and two larger style things to do what I want.....

i have two questions, in the 8 puck, two larger unit setup, the soundcard I’ll need, do I need a minimum 7.1? Will a 5.1 do it? Do I need two extra sound cards?

are external USB soundcards ok? I’m at a bit of a loss with that side of this whole thing!

also, with regards to my larger units..... Aura or Dayton BST-1’s....... I know they’re NO WHERE NEAR say, buttkickers but would they do the job of gearbox,engine etc??

sorry for the huge post and probably going over everything already discussed here but I’m short on time!!

thanks guys!

 

[McClusky]

@Alan Davsion Below is a post I found when doing research awhile back.

"If your soundcard is just stereo you can run a 2 channel amp separately driving 2 transducers

If your soundcard is 5.1 it has 6 channels so could run up to three 2 channel amps separately driving 6 transducers

If your soundcard is 7.1 it has 8 channels so could run up to four 2 channel amps separately driving 8 transducers"

Now for my 2 cents - I use a USB 7.1 sound card and it works great. I also use 2 pcie cards which is overkill (for now). I have an Aura Pro under my pedals and since I "don't know any better' its perfect. But do search this thread for proper mounting tips to get the best tactile feedback, just dont mount them and hope for the best.

 

[blekenbleu]

I think its something with the Sony amp.

I searched but could not find where you specified the model of your Sony STR amp.
Some surround amplifiers lack discrete (an RCA jack for each of 5.1 channels) inputs.
In my experience, Windows outputs only stereo, not 5.1, over S/PDIF.
Searching online with the specific Sony model number should yield a PDF for its user manual.
FWIW, I could not read connection labels on the rear image attached to one of your posts.

 

[asteroulis]

Mr.Latte has suggested STR-DA 1200ES model because it can handle 4ohm impedance,so I suppose that's the model..

 

[Wmacky]

Nevermind. Figured it out

 

[ncornelisse]

I searched but could not find where you specified the model of your Sony STR amp.
Some surround amplifiers lack discrete (an RCA jack for each of 5.1 channels) inputs.
In my experience, Windows outputs only stereo, not 5.1, over S/PDIF.
Searching online with the specific Sony model number should yield a PDF for its user manual.
FWIW, I could not read connection labels on the rear image attached to one of your posts.

It is the Sony STR DB1070, but its working now for some reason.
My second soundcard, a Creative Soundblaster RX has a bug when there is a cable plugged in the sub output. All settings are reset when windows starts. There are more complaints about it.
In the meantime I've bought an another soundcard but not installed yet. That's a job for my new AMD pc next month.

 

[Lloyd Johnston]

Hi all, dose anyone cool their transducers with fans?

I installed this setup on my rig this week:

ButtKicker Simulation Kit

Built with industrial-grade quality and a patented magnetic suspension system, the latest 2017 ButtKicker Simulation Kit delivers stunning realism, immersion and impact to your simulator installation.

shakercentre.co.uk

It's my first taste of transducer goodness, but after about 2 hours the ButtKicker Mini-CT will turn off to stop it over heating (not the amp it's fine), it's suppose to do it to protect it according to the documentation that came with the kit.

I have the amp set that the levels are in the green and not spiking into the red (clipping).

I'm I expecting to be able to game to long before this needs a cool down.

It will run longer if I use a fan to actively cool it, is that a bad idea, dose anyone else cool their transducers with a fan and if so are you using PC style case fans?

Cheers for any insight,
Lloyd.

 

[Alan Davsion]

@Alan Davsion Below is a post I found when doing research awhile back.

"If your soundcard is just stereo you can run a 2 channel amp separately driving 2 transducers

If your soundcard is 5.1 it has 6 channels so could run up to three 2 channel amps separately driving 6 transducers

If your soundcard is 7.1 it has 8 channels so could run up to four 2 channel amps separately driving 8 transducers"

Now for my 2 cents - I use a USB 7.1 sound card and it works great. I also use 2 pcie cards which is overkill (for now). I have an Aura Pro under my pedals and since I "don't know any better' its perfect. But do search this thread for proper mounting tips to get the best tactile feedback, just dont mount them and hope for the best.

Legend!! Thanks! As I suspected so now I can move on.

Re mounting the shakers, I’m sure that’s so variable as to what your mounting, to why you’re mounting it and what’s between them so I imagine a lot of trial and error.

 

[Wmacky]

Does anyone have any of Mr. latte's special profiles for the 6 exciter/ mono LFE setup? I have finally got it installed and everything appears to be working, I would love to try one of his profiles before trying to create own, But I guess I took to long and now he's away. I know he released one in the Discord, but I believe that one was not for the exciter setup/

 

[EddScott]

I've just signed up as I'm about to start building my sim rig. However, I'm stuck on how to wire up the 6 Dayton TT25 I've purchased - 4 for each corner, 1 under the seat and 1 under the pedals. My sound card is 7.1 and I am probably buying two small 4 channel Dark Audio amps. How do I get the 6 RCA inputs of the amps wired correctly into the sound card? - which has front, rear, centre, side 3.5 headphone sockets.

 

[GagarynGaribaldi]

I've just signed up as I'm about to start building my sim rig. However, I'm stuck on how to wire up the 6 Dayton TT25 I've purchased - 4 for each corner, 1 under the seat and 1 under the pedals. My sound card is 7.1 and I am probably buying two small 4 channel Dark Audio amps. How do I get the 6 RCA inputs of the amps wired correctly into the sound card? - which has front, rear, centre, side 3.5 headphone sockets.

with minijack to RCA cables. I have 4 channels so use two of these. You'll need three obv. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D5H8LDM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[EddScott]

Thanks, I was being thick. I was thinking each shaker needed a pair of RCAs each.

One more thing though. I'll need both onboard and sound card yes? One for the shakers, one for the sound. For which I can use SimLab.

 

[GagarynGaribaldi]

Yes, you need one sound card dedicated to the shakers. I didn't need to add anything because my normal audio either is via HDMI or via my Index - my sound card was unused, now it serves the shakers. But if you currently plug speakers into your sound card you'll need another.

 

[EddScott]

Thank you!

 

[McClusky]

Re mounting the shakers, I’m sure that’s so variable as to what your mounting, to why you’re mounting it and what’s between them so I imagine a lot of trial and error.

Yep and my errors were 'not properly isolating the shakers to where I wanted the feedback to be'. By all means my setup isn't near what others have but it is very cool. For years I used my BK with just audio but this is so much better although I have thought of adding some (just a little) audio feedback to the mix.

 

[Wmacky]

I seem to be struggling to get any responses on this thread.

Lets see if anyone can answer this. Has anyone here other than Mr Latte, created layered effects using transducers from 2 separate cards? I've spent a few hours looking around and I'm not sure how he did this. Unless I missed it, I've gone through hours of reading and never saw it ever explained. I see a gazillion posts discussing the wonderful benefits of layers, and not one mention of the procedure to set this up :-(


I did see a old post where it was mentioned to create a effects "folder" for each for bk effects, and a folder for Exciter effects. I don;t see a effects folder creation facility in Shake it?

 

[Mr Latte]

I seem to be struggling to get any responses on this thread.

Lets see if anyone can answer this. Has anyone here other than Mr Latte, created layered effects using transducers from 2 separate cards? I've spent a few hours looking around and I'm not sure how he did this. Unless I missed it, I've gone through hours of reading and never saw it ever explained. I see a gazillion posts discussing the wonderful benefits of layers, and not one mention of the procedure to set this up :-(


I did see a old post where it was mentioned to create a effects "folder" for each for bk effects, and a folder for Exciter effects. I don;t see a effects folder creation facility in Shake it?

I am taking a break from it all, posting very little here. I can’t tell you why it’s so hard to get people to share and discuss effects. Even with the recommended exciter/BK approach that makes it easier for profiles to work on various rigs. It’s not just here....

I can tell you that feedback is usually very limited in return for the help I try to offer. It’s also after several thread attempts not been a success to get people to participate in testing different effect solutions or altering some to determine the direction of people’s preferences. I have considered doing video tutorials and offer a course covering tactile and experimenting with it via Skill Share.

I feel that may not get a large audience but it would be easier to connect more directly with people wanting help in this area of immersion and effects creation or setting that suit certain models of transducers and installations.

It’s a deep topic with many avenues that could be covered but really nobody seems to be covering it in ways discussed in these forums. Yet making it more clear in 5-6 min videos. Also to cover such Skillshare might be easier to make some decent returns if people followed and several videos a month were uploaded. As such, time required for all this is like a part-tine job. I think I prefer this option having people watch what they want to watch than trying to build a YT channel from nothing and takes a long time to grow. As yet however I may do nothing and focus on my own build.

Someone here is free to share effects I shared with them but these were still experimental and while showed good progress I know better is still possible.