Tactile Transducer Falling Flat in GT5?

  • Thread starter mikochu
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mikochu

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Hey folks,

I have a Pearl Throne Thumper (Buttkicker Gamer on steroids) and have been playing Forza 4 lately. However, today, I setup it up with GT5 using the PS3's multi-out and it doesn't seem to react much at all, even at max settings. Is this normal?

AV Multi-Out Audio (L/R) to a Edcor S2M Stereo to Mono Coupler to Throne Thumper

Thanks,
Mike
 
If it works with xbox, then you might try a different ps3 cable, or check the pins on both ends of the cable for breakage, usually cables are the first place to check. then jiggle the input jack to see if it has broken free and is loose... Try and test it with a differnent audio component like a radio with audio inputs to see if its receiving a signal. if signal is going out okay then get a voltmeter and check the line out of the buttkicker to the speaker (transducer). hopefully its not the amp but i wouldnt think so since you said it works if you plug it back into the xbox.
Ps. Also make sure your in game volume settings in gt5 are turned up. i dont own a ps3, is there a switch to mute volume somewhere? It sounds like something got muted
 
My tactile setup works with both FM4 and GT5. In my experience the sensations are stronger in GT5 then they are in FM4.
 
One added comment. Did you enable "AV Multi" on the PS3 audio settings? That is required to get the output.
 
Yeah, I have AV Multi enabled. I get feedback when I back out of menus in GT5 and in videos, but not in-game. If I can recall correctly, I have GT5 setup in DD 5.1, Small Theater, with the in-game sound effects set to 120. I'll try tinkering with it a bit more, but it's such a grueling process going through all those menus. Also, I usually drive using the in-car view and I've been using the rumble strips on Nordschleife to test. The feedback is there, but it feels very subtle compared to Forza 4 with similar settings. I can feel it in the grass a lot more than on rumble strips. Hmmmm...
 
I use the same set up as you with the addition of in race music "off". I don't like the bass in the music being amplified at the levels I have driving the tactile.

I use a graphic equalizer between the consoles and the low frequency amplifiers I use to drive the tactile system. I leave the equalizer and amplifier settings the same for both FM4 and GT5.

GT5 definitely drives my system harder than FM4 as based on the temperature I produce in both the amplifiers and the Aura Bass Shakers I use as tactile transducers.
 
The rumble strips on the ring in gt5 arent that strong for tactical. Try it on another track and all should be fine.
 
Yesterday i got my bass pump III ( bass shaker). I tested it in Gt5 and it is working good. I turned off music, otherwise bass goes all the time. I have normal audio amplifier, i would be better to have amplifier for subs, or some kind of equilizer.

But it is good like this. I just need to hardmount it somehow.
 
I tried it on Cape Ring Periphery and it seemed a bit better, but it didn't seem like rumblestrips have much tactile feedback in general. Maybe my audio settings aren't optimized? Sometimes, when I slam into a wall, I get no crash sounds at all. Is that normal? I found another thread with useful information, but I can't seem to find it right now.
 
I think I may have found the issue. The Pearl-branded ButtKicker amp has a low-pass of 50hz to 250hz while the regular ButtKicker amps have a low-pass of 5hz to 200hz.
 
mikochu
I think I may have found the issue. The Pearl-branded ButtKicker amp has a low-pass of 50hz to 250hz while the regular ButtKicker amps have a low-pass of 5hz to 200hz.
Click to expand...

It seems to me that the sounds in forza are higher and sound better (in regular sound systems) because they are more compressed (like mp3)
 
Just to clarify......

A low pass (filter) allows frequency through below the value chosen.

So, a lower settings allows less through the filter. A high setting allows more frequencys through giving the impression of a stronger effect and an easy way to increase "volume".

Hope this helps?
 
Absolutely...you dont really want anything above 80 otherwise you'll be getting much more feedback than you should.
I've just ordered a 50hz FMOD for my rig as I want to lower the range of what I get.. I added one to my movie setup last year and it was a great 'upgrade'

Mikochu - I'm a bit confused about your setup. Do you use HDMI out of the PS3, Optical or RCA's?
 
museumsteve
Absolutely...you dont really want anything above 80 otherwise you'll be getting much more feedback than you should.
I've just ordered a 50hz FMOD for my rig as I want to lower the range of what I get.. I added one to my movie setup last year and it was a great 'upgrade'

Mikochu - I'm a bit confused about your setup. Do you use HDMI out of the PS3, Optical or RCA's?
Click to expand...

I'm using HDMI for video, optical for surround sound headphones, and RCA audio (multi-out) to a stereo to mono adapter then to the throne thumper amp.

I kinda like having it setup with a higher low pass (150hz ish?) It really depends on the car, but I do enjoy it more. If I set it to 50hz, I barely feel anything at all...only when I crash into things really hard, I'd guess. I'll play with the settings more when I have the chance.

I thought about getting an FMOD filter, but with the amp only having a 50-250hz range, it'd probably be completely muted...?

Also, when I crash in GT5, I don't always hear crash sounds. Is that normal?
 
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Well the product you use isn't really made for gaming or typical home cinema tactile experience. The 50Hz should still give a decent response for low end effects as many EQ's only even start at around 60HZ.

A tactile setup that uses mixed stereo in mono or one that uses only the LFE both will have drawbacks or limits. Having both combined with their own settings gives in general a better all-round result.

Many game sounds with surround decoding may utilise bass effects that get routed to the LFE which do not necessarily go to the stereo sound output. It all depends on the surround decoding.


museumsteve
Absolutely...you dont really want anything above 80 otherwise you'll be getting much more feedback than you should.
I've just ordered a 50hz FMOD for my rig as I want to lower the range of what I get.. I added one to my movie setup last year and it was a great 'upgrade'
Click to expand...

Tactile works well into the 300-400Hz range and on Clarke Tactile units upto 800Hz.
Many of the engine/gear sounds use these frequencies over the 4k revs which you will find as the revs increase the bass effect reduces.

Id recommend you look at getting an EQ that supports 20Hz upwards.
If you also added a unit directly for the LFE and then boost its response you will get the best of both and have individual control of LFE/Stereo effects.

Personally can recommend:

Behringer 3102 FBQ (31 Band EQ with active freq LED monitoring)
Behringer Ultra Bass Pro (LFE Enchancement)
 
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IIRC, I have my settings for GT5 set to around 200hz and I'm content with it. However, I drop it a little for Forza 4...but I may keep it around 200hz and see how I like it.
 
So, I brought the knob all the way to 50hz and turned off all steering wheel shock vibration functions. Wow, still immersive...in both Forza 4 and GT5. I think I'm content. Thanks guys.

New setup. Each system goes to my TV (pos Westinghouse 32") via HDMI. I grab the audio from the TV's output. Optical for headphones and RCA for the Throne Thumper amp...no more swapping cables between systems!
 
So, you control your immersion by altering the volume output of your TV? It strikes me that this could easily confuse matters and also give odd feedback depending on the TVs volume setting.

There's a miss match between turning up the 5.1 but then also having to turn up the TV to balance the low end?
 
Nah, I just didn't know what to expect from GT5 versus Forza 4. I'm content with my setup, now... Set the Low Pass on the Throne Thumper amp to 50 hz.
 

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