Please, can you tell which sound format can FSX handle ?

[mgamba]

Hi gents,

I need help to understand why some modified sound files don't play in FSX.

My purpose is to make 3D files from stereo files to be able to send the engines sounds at the rear speakers of my 5.1 system.

It is unclear if FSX can handle surround sound. In some forums I have read that it can, if the sound card is well configured.
Ad also some add ons sometimes have a 3D sound.

So I modifyed the engine sounds with audacity, changing them from PCM audio to extensive wave format.

When read by the Windows Media Player, the sounds work and go on the desired speaker.

But I can't hear them in FSX.

So I Wonder which 3D sound format can be used by FSX ?
Does anyone know the answer ?

I also found here that sound files should be in 16 bits and not 32 bits.
That's a point I should check with my modifyed files.

Thank you and regards.

 

[GaryGB]

Hello:

MSFS uses the Windows *.WAV file format, and does so via the Windows DirectX "DirectSound" sub-system.

IIRC, the DirectSound API implementation used in MSFS requires Monaural (aka "MONO") *.WAV files to achieve "positional" sound placement relative to the central 3D model datum of a aircraft.

For all practical purposes, the "positional" sound is then played via the Windows sound sub-system as (ex: 4.1 or 5.1) "surround sound" if one sets both Windows sound properties and ones' integrated sound chipset / discrete sound card drivers for ex: 4.1 or 5.1 surround sound mode.


NOTE: Be sure to connect a speaker to the "Center" channel of a surround receiver / amplifier unit, or you won't hear engine sounds in FS Tail / Spot view modes at run time !

Also, if your computer audio output and surround receiver / amplifier unit input do not have matching optical fiber (TosLink) or coaxial wire analog or S/PDIF digital connectors, see if each device has 6 channel I/O ports via ex: RCA-type phono connectors, and set your input mode accordingly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSound

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaural



6 - Channel (aka "5.1") audio mode enables:

* Front (L)

* Front (R)

* Rear (L)

* Rear (R)

* Center

* Sub-Woofer


IMHO, when 3D positional sound (aka "surround mode") is set up correctly, it makes FS even more enjoyable, and even enhances Multi-Player mode via positioning of other aircraft engine sounds relative to one's own aircraft location; TeamSpeak3 also offers a comparable positioning of Multi-Players' voice sounds relative to one's own aircraft.




FYI: If you open the Sound.Cfg file of the FS default Baron aircraft you will see an example of how to implement the FSX SDK "SoundCone" parameter for positional sound.


You may wish to review this thread (and the linked threads) for more info:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15956&highlight=Sound



Also, this latter thread discusses important considerations for working with more than (1) engine sound position in an aircraft to prevent "phasing" of multiple sound streams via DirectSound at run time in FS:

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/334695-reason-for-3rd-party-aircrafts-phasing-sound-fsx/


PS: To preserve audio fidelity, always up-sample sounds to a much higher sample rate before editing, then down-sample prior to use in MSFS.


Hope this helps !

GaryGB

 

[mgamba]

Thank you very much Gary for your research of informations.

Excuse me, English is not my native language...

You mean that 5.1 options have to be set at Windows sound properties (accessed by the speaker icon in the task bar ?) and the audio card software itself ?
Or for Windows is it another way ?

I can play my modified sound with Media Player and they go at the right speaker so I guess the settings are correct ?

Another thing :

The cone effect is for the external views, not the cockpit views if I remember well.
So how could I use a mono format engine sound and send it to the rear speaker when in cockpit view mode ?

Thank you very much for your help.

Best regards.

 

[GaryGB]

You mean that 5.1 options have to be set at Windows sound properties (accessed by the speaker icon in the task bar ?) and the audio card software itself ?

Or for Windows is it another way ?

Windows sound properties and those for the audio card via its driver configuration software ...must match (for ex: 5.1 surround)

I can play my modified sound with Media Player and they go at the right speaker so I guess the settings are correct ?

This must always be tested in FS from the desired view at run time (ex: cockpit versus external)

Another thing :

The cone effect is for the external views, not the cockpit views if I remember well.


So how could I use a mono format engine sound and send it to the rear speaker when in cockpit view mode ?
Best regards.

IIUC, MSFS via Windows DirectSound can "pass through" sounds from a *.WAV file that is created with special software for surround sound encoding (ex: via AC3 or DTS Surround), but it plays as 'white noise hiss' ...rather than as a discrete aircraft sound effect.


AFAIK, in order to achieve greater control over sound position in the FSX cockpit, one must use a custom programmed Gauge or Module ...such as the freeware sound gauges from Doug Dawson:

http://www.douglassdawson.ca/



Also, some user controlled sound functionality can be achieved via Lua scripting with FSUIPC using "Lua sound library functions"

http://www.google.com/#output=searc...060,d.aWc&fp=be945dcd5b7bcd58&biw=853&bih=579



Alternatively, one may consider:

* Aerosoft "ASC.dll" (installed by default for 'certain' purchased Aerosoft add-on aircraft)

...or:

* Aerosoft FS Flight Keeper "Cockpit Sound Environment"

http://en.shop.aerosoft.com/eshop.p...r_category=Flight Simulation&s_design=DEFAULT


Hope this helps a bit more !

GaryGB

 

[mgamba]

IIUC, MSFS via Windows DirectSound can "pass through" sounds from a *.WAV file that is created with special software for surround sound encoding (ex: via AC3 or DTS Surround), but it plays as 'white noise hiss' ...rather than as a discrete aircraft sound effect.

Thank you again Gary for those informations.

Do you mean that played as a white noise, a sound would only be heard as noise and loose his characteristics?

In a french forum, one member answered me that he had succeeded to read in FSX some 3D encoded sound files, allowing to choose which speaker would play the sound when encoding.
I wait for more details about that, if it works it could be a nice solution.

At this moment I encoded the aircraft engine sound files into mono files. They play nice and seem to come mostly from the rear speakers when in cockpit view, so that's already a big step.

Best regards.

 

[trucker17]

I have a home set cockpit system setup for my FSX....
This includes 2 for each for Heli, single engine aircraft, twin engine aircraft, and 4 engines.
When we set up the system at home, we did the same thing Gary is talking about.....
System worked great for this.....I found it to be IMPORTANT to have the center speaker set up, as well as one to each of the 4 corners, and one set to the front, rear, and both side center.....I run a total of 8 speakers, and get an unbelievable sound....And best of all it sounds just the way it would if you were sitting in the cockpit......The PLUS TO THIS IS.....Fly bys sound awesome as well......And it takes less volume to get great sound
Mine is made up of 2 old solidstate stereos I found at the local thrift store.....

It took 2 weeks to set up with help from my neighbors son.....

Thanks for the advice Gary.....This is something many would have no knowledge about, including myself.....For me at the time I built my system I had a great neighbor who helped me out.....

P.S. On a lighter note.....My neighbor has since gotten into FSX and now has his own system up and running.....

 

[BASys]

Hi Folks

When read by the Windows Media Player, the sounds work and go on the desired speaker.

But I can't hear them in FSX.

I can't remember the specifics,
but FSX cannot render certain WAV formats.

ISTR problems with PCM and/or at some data rates.

Whatever they were,
the specific format/type played ok in WMP, but not FSX.

HTH
ATB
Paul