tldr: I'm looking for your simhub settings (Hz & percentages etc) in combination with the dayton pucks.
Hello everybody. Last week I made my first attempt with two 16ohm pucks and mounted them to my chair via the puckicker from thingiverse. AMP is one of the cheap nobsound from amazon.
I know that the mounting solution in combination with these small shakers haven't so much impact like a big one, but I have kind of a different problem.
At least with the standard simhub settings I can't feel any differences for the different effects. I expected some changes when dealing with the frequency values (between 20-80) but it seems that these shakers peak around 40hz and otherwise are very very weak. But if every necessary effect has the same frequency the feedback isnt so great. Maybe its just a settings issue, so please tell me how you setup your pucks with simhub.
Thanks in advance
You opted for the Dayton Puc and while these have been affordable/popular for some time. It was one of the units I compared when seeking to find the best solution for this shared concept.
The "Puc"is much more limited in what it can output with the upper bass frequencies and is one reason you are struggling to feel many variations. What happens is effects with lower frequencies also have harmonics so we want a unit that has scope well beyond the 100Hz so that we can not just feel the "center values" given for effects but that can create the higher harmonics they also output.
When you have several effects using between 40-60Hz then it is likely each of those also creates their own level of harmonics at @ 80Hz.
This issue you have is a common problem and is why lots of users with budget tactile (limited to perform well @30-80Hz) have this problem.
Lots of these budget units have a peak output of around 40Hz.
What can happen is the natural harmonics generated from some effects using 40Hz will be similar in amplitude/strength @60Hz from the used (40Hz center value) and you then trying to place some different effects with a (60Hz center value) .What happens is you get a mush of vibrations and little clear distinction of individual effects. The harmonics being generated from the strong/peak effects you are using around 40-50Hz are combining with other effects you are trying to also generate. Does that help?
Some use the phrase "less is more" as having fewer effects can bring more detail in this scenario with frequency limited transducers. As expressed quite alot on these forums my own approach is to highlight that using a BK/Exciter combo we are able to extend the operating range we have for effects by as much as 4x the range, offering response from (1Hz-200Hz+) to what many budget transducers offer as good performing frequencies with only (30Hz-80Hz).
A further example is how Buttkickers do not perform that well beyond 80Hz and they start to drop off in felt detail, when compared to TST units and/or Exciters @60Hz or so.
When you have that ability and then apply also multiple exciters to specific body zones then you can play around with how/where you place effects. You CAN avoid the mushiness by placing any effects that use similar frequencies at the same time
@turen009 so that they are generated on
different exciters. It's just worth self experimenting but avoiding a unit being overloaded.
Note:
An "
Exciter" is a vibration unit that turns objects into speakers, it will act like a speaker with a wide range of frequencies. Unlike a "
Transducer" which are limited only to a small number of bass frequencies.
In 2019 I got an idea of trying to use an "Exciter" with
controlled crossover settings to then reduce its operation in acting as a speaker for it to instead operate only with bass frequencies. In essence, making them operate more like a "Transducer" but with the benefits similar to Clark Synthesis TST transducers that we could generate much finer detail for harmonics and extend felt sensations to beyond 150Hz-200Hz. So technically we are using these not in their normal operation and hence why we need to take care with settings or crossovers in feeding them constant low bass signals.
The higher frequencies may offer little on their own in felt sensation but when used in the right way as additional harmonics accompanying other effect layers, then it adds to the feeling/sensation for effects we can generate. Just like removing treble from speakers/headphones makes it sound kinda dull lifeless or with no spakle. Harmonics are natural so adding harmonic layers can with some effects be a benefit to the felt sensation, err less dull, less lifeless and with added sparkle... Used on specific effects it can help change their felt character to others and is a key benefit if we want to associate felt muscle/memory to specific sensations. Ideally, we want to give effects their own felt identity and this would be an important aspect for feeling the movement of the car. Examples being senstations to represent g-load,slip, acceleration giving the user felt feedback to improve their driving and also braking.
Also having the ability to directly place vibrations to specific body regions lets us apply specific effects or indeed specific layers from effects that use multiple layers to avoid the mush issue or a single unit being given too much of the same frequencies to generate from several effects operating at a time.
Multi-Layer Effects:
Effects can have layers using really low bass for BK units and we can then add layers for the Exciters/TST units that use "harmonically matched" in sync frequencies for the layers that the BK generates.
We can create effects that use both units for their own operational benefits to bring much more energetic and stimulating immersion.
