Forza 4 - Improve Your Audio Experience - A Guide To Tactile Immersion

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Mr Latte

Mr Latte

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Quick note:

This is a thread I have been waiting to do for sometime from my own Buttkicker/tactile experience that goes back 3 years and having invested over £2000 throughout that period for my own audio/tactile cockpit which will use a highly technical combined configuration of 7 channel audio / 5x subwoofers / 14x tactile units. :drool:

This isnt a blagging thread though as I want to contribute to what I have learned regards "Tactile Products" and share how you can improve your own entertainment and simulation experience for quite a lot less than you may expect. Alternatively really take it beyond the typical "Buttkicker Gamer" experience if desired.

It seems perfect to now do this within "Forza Planet" and I wanted to wait to FM4 released. Thankfully with it's ingame audio getting such great attention what better game to use as a benchtest. The reason for doing this thread here and not in a "Hardware Thread" is that FM4 will be used throught testing and analysis to enable others to extend and reflect their own input regarding different cars and tracks using their own tactile. This way not only will the thread act as a good guide but also enable people to share their expereince and compare/tweak their setup accordingly.

Having like some of you, just got the game I feel it has some of the best car/audio effects on any console or racing game ever to date. Therefore because of that it also offers a very high end "Buttkicker/Tactile" expereince with appropiate products.

This thread will be very indepth and will become a useful resource going into great detail over the coming weeks and months to cover:

Buttkicker Products:
Aura Pro Tactile:
Clarke Synthesis Tactile:

Why use it and what it does
Understanding different frequencies
Subwoofer Vs tactile
Subwoofer & tactile combined
Equalisers & bass enchancers
Setup configurations from single to using multiple units
 
The thread will be updated in due course.
Links will be added etc

If you want, you could search on "GT Planet" for "Buttkicker" or "Tactile" where Im sure you will find many previous posts regards those.
 
I use a buttkicker gamer 2 and I run it from the headphones out of my Turtle Beach X41 tower. I have my PC/360/PS3 audio running to a 3-way Toslink switcher ($1.86 at monoprice) and out to my Turtle Beach tower and the tower pass-through out to my surround amp. This way I only need to turn a switch and everything is done and I can run my buttkicker without the need to fire up my amp!
 
I really am being blown away with how good the tactile is on this game and at present only using a temporary setup of 3 Aura Pro sitting on a board on the floor and my seat resting on that.

Hopefully some comments from other "Buttkicker" / "Tactile" owners will be coming. So I welcome other peoples experiences so far.

This is Brill on FM4

Highlights:
Offtrack you can feel the difference in surface
Rumble strips, good even at high speeds
Bumps in the road or paving
Engines = OMG GTO 599
Bangs from other cars
Crashes into walls and barriers

* Menu Music can be lowered so isnt annoying.
** Option to enchance the car or tyre noise via ingame menu and save.
This might be good for tweaking some cars and is easily changed while pausing the game.

I turned my tactile off for a few games and thought it was so bland without it.

Anyone that is even remotely interested in at least doubling how good the audio entertainment is and enjoys this game needs to consider getting into tactile immersion.

Busy with work but will get around to helping with a tutorial and info as planned for this thread.
Anyone is welcome however to PM me with queries or questions.
 
I must not have my audio set up right. I have my subwoofer cranked all the way. The bass kicks in the menu music. But when driving the cars there is no bass coming from the subwoofer. I was really hoping to hear the custom exhaust from the subwoofer. Please help!
 
yakapo
I must not have my audio set up right. I have my subwoofer cranked all the way. The bass kicks in the menu music. But when driving the cars there is no bass coming from the subwoofer. I was really hoping to hear the custom exhaust from the subwoofer. Please help!
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Make sure the audio slider in game is all the way to the right. Then you can experiement with the other audio settings. There is also a setting that sets the focus on the engine, tires, or everything. That makes a huge difference. And to answer your question about the sub kicking, my entire house shakes when I am using a muscle car. Especially the Dodge Dart with full racing exhaust and full weight reduction
 
CAMAROBOY69
Make sure the audio slider in game is all the way to the right. Then you can experiement with the other audio settings. There is also a setting that sets the focus on the engine, tires, or everything. That makes a huge difference. And to answer your question about the sub kicking, my entire house shakes when I am using a muscle car. Especially the Dodge Dart with full racing exhaust and full weight reduction
Click to expand...

I haven't done weight reduction. That could be the problem. I've got an extra sub I can hook up. I've got a Pioneer VSX1120k receiver. The sad thing is that when I was younger I knew every detail of how to use electronic stuff I had. Now I can hardly figure out my car. *sigh*

Ok I'm going to buy the Dodge Dart and do the mods. I'll hook up my other sub too.
 
yakapo
I haven't done weight reduction. That could be the problem. I've got an extra sub I can hook up. I've got a Pioneer VSX1120k receiver. The sad thing is that when I was younger I knew every detail of how to use electronic stuff I had. Now I can hardly figure out my car. *sigh*

Ok I'm going to buy the Dodge Dart and do the mods. I'll hook up my other sub too.
Click to expand...
The weight reduction helps increase the audio inside using the cockpit view. On the outside view the Dodge Dart with full exaust should knock your bowels loose at WOT. :lol:
 
I did the weight reduction on one one the muscle cars also the biggest cam and best exhaust. That was the best sound I've ever heard from a video game.
 
yakapo
I did the weight reduction on one one the muscle cars also the biggest cam and best exhaust. That was the best sound I've ever heard from a video game.
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Exactly. Those are the 3 items I always suggest for best audio especially if racing in cockpit view.
1. Most expensive exhaust
2. Most expensive cam
3. Most expensive weight reduction (this removes the carpet and makes the interior view much louder just like in real life)

The Dodge Dart works the best for testing this. If you hold the car WOT and it doesnt create the best muscle car audio you have heard, then your audio system needs a serious upgrade.
 
I'm sure that I'm not the only one in this regard - accurate engine/exhaust sound is the most important thing to me in a driving game (tied with driving physics).

I was disappointed with the sound in every Gran Turismo game and just about every NFS game. GTR2 for the PC had some decent sound as well as some other PC games.
 
yakapo
Back on topic - why opt for a tactile bass shaker over an 15"-18" velodyne sub?
Click to expand...


Various reasons, size for a start.
You may need a really large sub in a room to get a good degree of tactile bass from it.
Tactile can be placed directly into the area or seat you want to get the effect.

Tactile at its best isnt a substitute for subs, while it can be used as such. Combining tactile with a sub gives the impression your sub has just become 2x as strong in the bass you feel.

Having both the audible bass you hear combined with the added tactile bass you feel improves games,movies,music in a great way. Consider it like what 3D is to video tactile is to audio.

Subs work over a wider frequency range, tactile is limited but gives a kick to low frequencies in how your bass feels.
 

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