X-Sim Software for Improved Tactile Feedback

[superbike81]

*note* This is not my guide, I'm taking this (with permission) from the person who posted it on the iRacing forums and posting it here, since the iRacing forums are private. ****

*The attached guide is specifically for iRacing, but it can be used to guide you through setup for other games as well*

http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/

This X-Sim software can do so many different things, but I use it currently only for improved tactile feedback (Buttkicker, Bass Shakers, etc) over just running the signal from the soundcard. The idea is, you are now using telemetry from racing and flight simulators on the PC to give you your feedback. So now instead of just feeling the vibrations whenever the soundtrack has a bass frequency, you actually directly feel bumps and engine rpms, speed, traction loss, etc. This is excellent for immersion and also can help you become faster once you learn how to feel for traction loss.

For me, the X-Sim software has increased my immersion just as much as when I first installed an Aura Bass Shaker into my rig. It really is incredible how much more "in" the game you feel.

Before you read the guide, this is basically what you will need:

- Tactile transducers such as the Buttkicker, Dayton Puck Mini-Transducers, or Aura Bass Shakers. The Dayton's are a little cheaper and give you some flexibility.

- Amplifier to run the transducer(s). I use a Dayton 70W that I paid $40 for from Parts Express (I think).

- X-Sim software from http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/ it's free. But it is quite difficult to setup if you are new to it, so that's where the attached guide comes in.

- Second sound card so you can isolate game sounds from telemetry output.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Very interesting, would be nice if other sims added support for this as well. I don't know how many could output telemetry like IRacing though. I see in the setup guide it says that you can use an old subwoofer as the subwoofer amp to drive the transducer simply by disconnecting the speaker and hooking up the aura pro, is there a thread about how to do this somewhere? I'd be afraid of blowing something up...

 

[superbike81]

There are a list of games that are supported by X-Sim and any big name games will be added, it supports the major titles now like iRacing, GTR2, rFactor, MS Flight Sim, etc.

If you have an old powered subwoofer around that is relatively low power (100 watts or less) you could use it run a couple shakers. Would just have to make sure you wired it correctly so you don't overload the amp. How you wire it all depends on the configuration of the speakers and amp.

I still run my audio through a surround sound receiver. Your typical setup would look something like this:

Sound Card (Game sounds) ----> Surround Receiver -----> Speakers

Second Sound Card (X-Sim Telemetry Data) ----> Amplifier ----> Bass Shakers


You leave the X-Sim software running in the background and adjust the strength and crossover frequency of each piece of data (speed, bumps, etc)


My setup is a little different and requires either 3 sound cards or a second computer.

Sound Card ----> Splitter ----> 1) Audio Receiver 2) Second Computer Mic-In
Sound Card 2 ----> Headset (for chat/spotter)
PC 2 ----> X-Sim ----> Amp for shakers

 

[Mr Latte]

Okay so who is using the best of both worlds then.
The guide only talks about "stereo tactile" from audio when many of us have expanded to using multichannel tactile.

1) "Force Sender" for accurate engine data converted to tactile effects
2) "Multichannel Surround Tactile" from using multiple units from the games audio utilising surround decoding
3) Secondary Av receiver for 5.1 or 7.1 speaker/subwoofer audio.

It seems clear for those wanting the very best tactile using "X-Sim Force Sender" combined with some configuration of "Surround Tactile" utilising the games audio is the way forward.

I am certainly looking to do experimentation with this in the near future.


Who all has used "Force Sender" and what are your thoughts guys?

 

[lemansfanatic]

Is that the name of the device that plugs into your usb port and decodes data/telemetry into multiple subwoofer channels. Or is that not a thing yet?

 

[edgley]

I am trying!
I followed the pdf, get the test tones to work and everything to look right, but no tactile sound when running iracing.

ispeed is working so i know there is tele coming out.
wonder if it has to do with x-sim going to version 3

 

[TommyboyHD]

Tried this too and got as far as edgley but unfortunately I just can't get even a hint of tactile from iracing ( frustrating seeing as that's what I bought it for ) Get tactile on all other PC games but iracing is a mystery to me,any thoughts or suggestions much appreciated ;-)

 

[TommyboyHD]

Just a quick update I finally got this working I will do my best to explain how for any others who have come into issues not covered by the PDF file doing the rounds

I run an asus rampage III mb with an Asus essence ST PCI soundcard+H6 daughtercard and l had almost given up hope till the latest versiuon of x-sim and an updated pdf appeared even so following the guide got me a test tone but everytime I tried to test send between the extractor and the converter it crashed referring the some "data collector.exe" I traced this problem to running iwrap so after an uninstall of that the programs saw each other success I thought but still no iracing rumblings ? I went and downloaded realteks drivers for on board audio ( I run main sound through Essence ST and use onboard for tactile ) in case ASUS software was at fault still no joy ? I then switched the center and subwoofer on the onboard and started getting rumbles on the test hardware screen and tried again no joy ? What finally started getting results was to take the signal for buttkicker from the front main speakers on the onboard rather than the subwoofer out ? As frustrating and problematic as it was the ends justify the means as it adds a whole new level to iracing,I downloaded all the profiles from the x-sim forums and settled for the "iracing.bassshaker" prolfile as the iracing.bassshaker3 profile was too aggressive for 25 laps of racing and the other profiles were a bit tame I hope my ramblings may help out others in the same predicament :-)