ButtKicker Control

ButtKicker Control ...

We are now in the final testing phase prior to releasing the first beta including support for up to three ButtKicker devices. The configured audio control of the BK devices results in very subtle rumble effects or a slight trembling of the pilot's seat all coordinated with the DHM taxiing, landing roll out, and engine vibration effects. Subsequent betas will also include accumulated effects for landing touchdown effects, landing gear deployment, flaps deployment, speed brakes or spoilers, turbulent motions and sudden turbulent bumps or jolts. We are testing using the shared simulator's audio output and using a dedicated USB audio device. In our case the low-cost Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Go PRO USB Sound Card which is about the same size as a USB pen.

These controlled ButtKicker effects certainly add another dimension to the sim flying by providing subtle feedback through the pilot's 'seat of the pants'.

Stephen

Ideally you buy a ButtKicker Gamer 2 and Sound Blaster X-Fi Go PRO USB sound card (the same size as a USB stick), or make use of your current audio output, and the Opus BK control software does the rest, using synthesised audio waves to control the unit directly. Up to three ButtKickers can be controlled, all control being coordinated and synchronised to the DHM.

There is nothing random about this control, as mentioned above Opus generates audio signals to result in subtle seat vibrations providing additional 'seat of the pants' feedback to the pilot.

Stephen

http://www.buttkickergear.com/ButtKicker_Gamer2_p/bk-gr.htm

http://uk.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x-fi-go-pro

Early Christmas present on order now!

Beta Version 3.34.5 has been posted which includes the initial ButtKicker Audio Control software.Please refer to the latest OpusFSX_ButtKicker.pdf supplied with the software installation.

Thanks for the feedback Richard, should be plenty more good vibrations to come very soon.

You're right about the Legacy, I just love flying with the seat vibrations to, once experienced you just don't want to fly without it.

I left my BK amp set to all defaults, no increased volume or anything else and set the Master Volume in the BK Options to 70 and the Assigned All Defaults. For me that gave a nice seat rumbling and smooth vibrations. I think I did have the switch on the X-Fi Go PRO set to headphones, perhaps that resulted in too much default volume when set to the other position. I will give it a go tomorrow.

Really pleased you like the vibrations.

Stephen   

The settings are global but the BK should be independent of the aircraft. Use the Master Volume setting in the BK Options dialog and click Assign Default Volumes as per the OpusFSX BK pdf doc. There will obviously be many betas as we include and enhance all the effects.

Adjust the Opus Master Volume to produce smooth vibrations for the taxiing/roll out and engine vibrations. No need to tweak the other options yet as things will no doubt change.

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

Latest beta installed and the flaps and u/carriage vibes are great.

I know you test bed with the Legacy but if you really want a protracted sensation try the wheels up and down on the Carenado 337H. Seem to go on forever but you definitely know when you cleaned up after take off!

BTW, having the BK remote handy is useful to make the minor adjustments along with the BK volume about 70% as you advised.

More when you're ready, just can't get enough of this.

Richard.

I didn't feel a pronounced bump as such, more of a fair deep rumble, certainly on the 337.
I'll fly the Legacy again and report back.
I think I meant the volume set at 70% was for the X Fi Go Pro and not the BK. Bit miss leading there I'm afraid.

Richard.

To me there isn't a pronounced bump,the rumble simply ends and the engine vibration takes over. I've increased the volume on the remote and there still isn't what I would consider a 'thump' if that is what is meant to be felt.
That's in the Legacy but,as I said earlier, the 337H has a slightly different and more prolonged rumble due to the complexity of the gear I suspect,so yes, maybe there should be a defined bump.

Richard.

The rumble in the 337 is more subtle than the Legacy but no defining bump which would indicate gear up and locked, if indeed that is the intention.
The flaps rumble the duration of each setting at a volume more than I would have expected. However, that's my settings at default so I've not dabbled with that yet.

The 337 has more engine vibration ( being a twin of course) which is very effective indeed.

Richard.

Thanks Ian,Please read and follow the instructions in the OpusFSX_ButtKicker.pdf regarding adjusting the Opus Master Volume and using the Assign Default Volumes. Also do not increase the volume on the BK power amp, leave it set as default.If you are splitting the audio output and using the same audio device as the sim then you may need to adjust the power amp cutoffs and even reduce the Windows Mixer Volume level. It could be the FSX sound causing the clipping.

Hi RobertThe Spoilers/Speed Brake effects haven't been implemented yet (re: OpusFSX_ButtKicker.pdf and Announcements).

Nothing to do with BK and all to do with not uninstalling before upgrading.

Uninstall all versions of OpusFSX using the Windows Control Panel Uninstall Program's option (not some Cleaner type package). Make sure all OpusFSX versions are uninstalled. Then check your OpusFSX folder and make sure no EXE or DLL files remain, then install the new beta.

All your OpusFSX EXE and DLL files should now have the same date.

Stephen

You only need a single ButtKicker Gamer 2 and possibly a Sound Blaster X-Fi Go PRO USB sound card to separate the ButtKicker audio control signals from the simulators sound output. The ButtKicker device simply clamps to a leg or the upright of your chair.

There is a picture on their website,

http://www.thebuttkicker.com/gaming/

Stephen

You keep mentioning the Butt Kicker 2, but my chair has no rails to mount, so my question is will the ButtKicker Simulation Kit (BK-SK) work the same..My chair is custom built seat and has a space to mount the transducer flat to the bottom of the chair.

Just wondering if the software is different between the 2 units?

Terry

Hi Stephen,

I've set up a BK system using the integrated motherboard soundcard for the BK device and my internal Asus PCIe soundcard for my P3D audio.

I have ButtKicker No. 1 plugged into the Front L/R channel of the soundcard and I have assigned the DHM X axis to this device.

Rather than installing 2 more soundcards to designate the DHM Y axis to ButtKicker No. 2 and the DHM Z axis to ButtKicker No. 3, might there be a method to assign them to say the Center and Side channels on the same soundcard?

BTW, this is an awesome feature and it works great!

Thanks,

Peter.

Stephen,

Apparently a dedicated ButtKicker soundcard will output the DHM data on it's Front L/R channel exclusively. I just mention this in case your readers would want to know. I believe this is where the ButtKicker amp needs to be connected.

Separately, I have noticed that the engine rumble gets turned off as the rollout rumble begins and then gets turned back on milliseconds after the plane leaves the ground. In other words, the engine rumble and ground rumble seem to be mutually exclusive. Is this the case, or do I just have my volumes set wrong?

Thanks

Peter.

Stephen,

Stephen,

Just a quick post opusFSX 3.34.9 is crashing after about 10 seconds.

I am running to P3D V1.4.

I am using virtual audio cable (VAC)to send output from prepar3D to virtual cable one and then virtual cable LINE 1 one to my USB headset and ANOTHER ITERATION of VAC Line 1 TO MY SPEAKERS.

The effects are amazing while they're there, I had it up and running for what seemed to be 30 or more minutes at one point, paused, had dinner, unpaused, and then it started crashing.

I'm using all three butt- kicker axes as input to one physical butt kicker.

No error messages, I'm just FSX server stopped responding.

It's so cool that you're supporting the butt kicker ...I hope you're having fun as will I when we get this problem resolved... I am still loving to opusfsx without the butt kicker effects, cause I still have my track IR effects working even after opusfsx server has crashed… Interesting huh?

Chas

The way it is tied into, coordinated and synchronised with the DHM and Bump Aircraft turbulence, both the LWE and DHM must be enabled and in use. Hence it has to stop and restart when you change camera views to re sync with the DHM data.

Stephen