Soundcard Setup and Software Discussion

#1 · December 18, 2017, 9:55 am

Quote from Hangar45 Admin on December 18, 2017, 9:55 am
(Original thread started on 09-29-09 by DonnyRay Jones)

I'm using Baker 1035 audio panels. Those were popular in a variety of bizjets including the Lears and these days you can pick them up on eBay pretty cheap. I have them wired more or less EXACTLY the way you would install them in the real aircraft. They operate the cockpit speakers, the headphones, hand mics, etc, and provide intercom functionality for the headsets. They also provide a crew mic output for a CVR which I intend to add one day. If you sat down in a real Lear with 1035 panels it would operate EXACTLY as mine does, with a few exceptions that are driven by the limitations of MSFS.

In a real aircraft you typically have two Coms, two Navs, a glideslope, marker beacon, VOR, DME, HF, etc. EACH of those radios provides an output which goes to separate inputs on the audio panels. The crew selects the radios they want to hear, and the mode in which they wish to operate those radios, by using the controls on the audio panels. MSFS doesn't provide individual audio outputs from EACH radio that it simulates, but you can at least separate all the "comm" sounds from all the "Nav" sounds. You need at least a 5.1 audio card with separate outputs and a driver that allows you to assign MS sounds to the various audio channels. I put all of the comm radios on the "left rear" channel, all the Nav radios on the "right rear", and left everything else on the main Left and Right outputs. Having "separated" the sounds produced by MSFS in this manner, I now have separate wires on which to feed them into the audio panels.

In my Lear45 I have also installed a working Clearance Delivery Radio. In the 45 the control head for this is on the pedestal - in mine the whole radio is mounted there. I used a Radair 360, now obsolete for real flying (due to the channel spacing), but perfectly workable for receiving local ATIS broadcasts from the nearby airport. e-bay again, and cheap again. So that's another audio source. This radio, BTW, would work exactly like the real aircraft EXCEPT that I have not connected the key lead to it as a positive means of preventing any real transmissions from that radio. It's connected to a Collins "shark fin" com antenna on top of the fuselage, and works very well.

MSFS, via the 5.1 sound card outputs, feeds "comm" audio to the "Com1" position on the audio panels. The Clearance Delivery Radio is "Com2". MSFS feeds "Nav" audio to the "Nav1" position. So this gets all of the "radio sounds" into the cockpit via the Baker 1035 panels, and they work just like in the real airplane within the limitations imposed by MSFS. All the other sounds come out of the 5.1 card on the main Left and Right spigots, and those feed a separate set of powered speakers mounted on the Left and Right sides just behind the cockpit bulkhead. So when you are seated in the cockpit and you start the left engine, you hear it coming from "behind" and to your "left". Same for the right engine. I'm also feeding a pair of Butt-Kickers (one under each seat) from the main Left and Right outputs.

This bit of audio fakery took quite a bit of tinkering to get working in MSFS 2004, but I believe that assigning certain sounds to specific audio outputs is actually a configurable item in FSX. I'm not running FSX yet, so I dunno yet.

The last bit of audio in mine comes from the APU. Remember that the APU is started with the essential DC busses unpowered, so you wouldn't have audio panel operation at that time. So my APU panel is a completely stand-alone thing that drives an external speaker mounted under the floor pan behind the cockpit. It emulates the functions of the APU and provides the APU sound independent of all the other audio. The APU panel provides logic outputs that work with the DC buss logic. For example, when the APU comes up to 92% a logic signal basically tells the electrical system that "APU power is available", and the electrical system responds just as the real aircraft. I have not figured out any way to get MSFS 2004 to ACCEPT an external APU command (stop draining the batteries), but I intend to work on that once I move to FSX. The APU is a conversation all by itself. I mention it here because it's part of the "audio".

Other ambient sounds come from the avionics bay cooling fans and a little bit of deliberate cross talk from the panel dimmers. You hear all this stuff in the real cockpit and in your headset, so it's important to have it in your sim. Remember: It's mostly in the SMALL DETAILS - not the big ones - where the human mind agrees to accept the simulation or not. So I put as much of that in mine as was practical and the end result is very very good. Better than I expected.

(Posted by Eric Williams on 12-05-12)

Just thought I would share this as it was a pretty big advancement for me tonight. A bit of background, my current audio setup consists of:

Main FSX PC outputting FSX sounds, PM Sounds, DBS TCAS & RAAS Pro. This is emitted by my PC style speakers up front and amplified sub for bass, and a household receiver piping the rear via household rear surround speakers.

FSX Voice is via another soundcard outputted to a headphone cable which is Y'd out to two sets of headsets for ATC. I also checked the option in windows sound management to "listen" to the microphones and replay them via the headsets- this gives an intercom capability between the pilot and FO.

Noteworthy change tonight- I now have live ATC played through my headset ONLY and not the main speakers. previously I have used the program LiveATCChatter which uses COM2 to select a live feed/stored chatter files but I couldn't configure this for my audio- it could only be outputted via the main sound speakers (maybe this has been fixed in a newer release than I use?) Regardless- I stumbled across a workaround that I really like. For the Live-ATC streaming tutorial for flight sim ambiance click HERE

In a nutshell you go to liveatc.net and select the feeds you like, save them as a Windows Media Player Playlist, change your sound output in media player to whatever device you like (this is the key) and open the stream. Voila you now have live ATC on any device.

I actually went a step further and saved the playlist as a shortcut then added it to my startup menu. As soon as I boot the main SIM PC I have live ATC on my headset.

(Posted by David Gutierrez on 12-05-12)

LiveATC chatter supports WideFS, so to get the audio directly through your headphones you have to install chatter on the secondary PC, and with a dual plug you and with some extra cables could get two inputs on your headphones, 1 coming from your main PC ( maybe for squawkbox or ivao if you are using them on the main PC) and the second input coming from your secondary PC (chatter).

(Posted by Eric Williams on 12-05-12)

Yep for sure, but I still couldn't select the audio device (last time I tried). In the case for me- my console PC (over WideFS) has SquawkBox for Vatsim outputting via a USB soundcard which I mix with my main, but the main PC sounds are outputted to my console monitor speakers (which I don't want ATC on). I use Squawkbox on this PC so I don't have the GUI on my main display, just on my console touchscreens.

Anyhow, thought I'd share the little hack in case it helps someone downrange. So far it works good for my setup!

(Posted by Alan Norris on 05-30-13)

Are there any programs that include cockpit sounds like:

MINIMUMS

80 KNOTS (on takeoff roll)

ONE HUNDRED, FIFTY etc (on landing approach).

(Posted by Eric Tomlin on 05-30-13)

You need to use the program PM Sounds for that. However, it is now payware and not available for free download any longer. If I can find it I will be glad to send it.

(Posted by Alan Norris on 06-14-13)

How do we program sounds into switches such as the Test switch which I'm sure has several? I would think it would have to be programmed via an offset. Also where are the appropriate sound files available -- such as Stall, Stall, Stall for the stall test switch?

(Posted by Eric Williams on 06-15-13)

You may find this has not been commonly completed thus far on most builds. You could do some custom programming or, in the interim, use something like LiveCockpit to trigger the sound files via a keypress cue (not likely to be very suited for this)

You my want to learn about LUA or SIOC to program these. There is a post by Jaap (I think) on turbulence sound files- I would look there to adapt a script to output soundfiles (just change the input from the turbulence trigger to a switch logic trigger)

(Original thread started on 09-29-09 by DonnyRay Jones)

I'm using Baker 1035 audio panels. Those were popular in a variety of bizjets including the Lears and these days you can pick them up on eBay pretty cheap. I have them wired more or less EXACTLY the way you would install them in the real aircraft. They operate the cockpit speakers, the headphones, hand mics, etc, and provide intercom functionality for the headsets. They also provide a crew mic output for a CVR which I intend to add one day. If you sat down in a real Lear with 1035 panels it would operate EXACTLY as mine does, with a few exceptions that are driven by the limitations of MSFS.

In a real aircraft you typically have two Coms, two Navs, a glideslope, marker beacon, VOR, DME, HF, etc. EACH of those radios provides an output which goes to separate inputs on the audio panels. The crew selects the radios they want to hear, and the mode in which they wish to operate those radios, by using the controls on the audio panels. MSFS doesn't provide individual audio outputs from EACH radio that it simulates, but you can at least separate all the "comm" sounds from all the "Nav" sounds. You need at least a 5.1 audio card with separate outputs and a driver that allows you to assign MS sounds to the various audio channels. I put all of the comm radios on the "left rear" channel, all the Nav radios on the "right rear", and left everything else on the main Left and Right outputs. Having "separated" the sounds produced by MSFS in this manner, I now have separate wires on which to feed them into the audio panels.

In my Lear45 I have also installed a working Clearance Delivery Radio. In the 45 the control head for this is on the pedestal - in mine the whole radio is mounted there. I used a Radair 360, now obsolete for real flying (due to the channel spacing), but perfectly workable for receiving local ATIS broadcasts from the nearby airport. e-bay again, and cheap again. So that's another audio source. This radio, BTW, would work exactly like the real aircraft EXCEPT that I have not connected the key lead to it as a positive means of preventing any real transmissions from that radio. It's connected to a Collins "shark fin" com antenna on top of the fuselage, and works very well.

MSFS, via the 5.1 sound card outputs, feeds "comm" audio to the "Com1" position on the audio panels. The Clearance Delivery Radio is "Com2". MSFS feeds "Nav" audio to the "Nav1" position. So this gets all of the "radio sounds" into the cockpit via the Baker 1035 panels, and they work just like in the real airplane within the limitations imposed by MSFS. All the other sounds come out of the 5.1 card on the main Left and Right spigots, and those feed a separate set of powered speakers mounted on the Left and Right sides just behind the cockpit bulkhead. So when you are seated in the cockpit and you start the left engine, you hear it coming from "behind" and to your "left". Same for the right engine. I'm also feeding a pair of Butt-Kickers (one under each seat) from the main Left and Right outputs.

This bit of audio fakery took quite a bit of tinkering to get working in MSFS 2004, but I believe that assigning certain sounds to specific audio outputs is actually a configurable item in FSX. I'm not running FSX yet, so I dunno yet.

The last bit of audio in mine comes from the APU. Remember that the APU is started with the essential DC busses unpowered, so you wouldn't have audio panel operation at that time. So my APU panel is a completely stand-alone thing that drives an external speaker mounted under the floor pan behind the cockpit. It emulates the functions of the APU and provides the APU sound independent of all the other audio. The APU panel provides logic outputs that work with the DC buss logic. For example, when the APU comes up to 92% a logic signal basically tells the electrical system that "APU power is available", and the electrical system responds just as the real aircraft. I have not figured out any way to get MSFS 2004 to ACCEPT an external APU command (stop draining the batteries), but I intend to work on that once I move to FSX. The APU is a conversation all by itself. I mention it here because it's part of the "audio".

Other ambient sounds come from the avionics bay cooling fans and a little bit of deliberate cross talk from the panel dimmers. You hear all this stuff in the real cockpit and in your headset, so it's important to have it in your sim. Remember: It's mostly in the SMALL DETAILS - not the big ones - where the human mind agrees to accept the simulation or not. So I put as much of that in mine as was practical and the end result is very very good. Better than I expected.

(Posted by Eric Williams on 12-05-12)

Just thought I would share this as it was a pretty big advancement for me tonight. A bit of background, my current audio setup consists of:

Main FSX PC outputting FSX sounds, PM Sounds, DBS TCAS & RAAS Pro. This is emitted by my PC style speakers up front and amplified sub for bass, and a household receiver piping the rear via household rear surround speakers.

FSX Voice is via another soundcard outputted to a headphone cable which is Y'd out to two sets of headsets for ATC. I also checked the option in windows sound management to "listen" to the microphones and replay them via the headsets- this gives an intercom capability between the pilot and FO.

Noteworthy change tonight- I now have live ATC played through my headset ONLY and not the main speakers. previously I have used the program LiveATCChatter which uses COM2 to select a live feed/stored chatter files but I couldn't configure this for my audio- it could only be outputted via the main sound speakers (maybe this has been fixed in a newer release than I use?) Regardless- I stumbled across a workaround that I really like. For the Live-ATC streaming tutorial for flight sim ambiance click HERE

In a nutshell you go to liveatc.net and select the feeds you like, save them as a Windows Media Player Playlist, change your sound output in media player to whatever device you like (this is the key) and open the stream. Voila you now have live ATC on any device.

I actually went a step further and saved the playlist as a shortcut then added it to my startup menu. As soon as I boot the main SIM PC I have live ATC on my headset.

(Posted by David Gutierrez on 12-05-12)

LiveATC chatter supports WideFS, so to get the audio directly through your headphones you have to install chatter on the secondary PC, and with a dual plug you and with some extra cables could get two inputs on your headphones, 1 coming from your main PC ( maybe for squawkbox or ivao if you are using them on the main PC) and the second input coming from your secondary PC (chatter).

(Posted by Eric Williams on 12-05-12)

Yep for sure, but I still couldn't select the audio device (last time I tried). In the case for me- my console PC (over WideFS) has SquawkBox for Vatsim outputting via a USB soundcard which I mix with my main, but the main PC sounds are outputted to my console monitor speakers (which I don't want ATC on). I use Squawkbox on this PC so I don't have the GUI on my main display, just on my console touchscreens.

Anyhow, thought I'd share the little hack in case it helps someone downrange. So far it works good for my setup!

(Posted by Alan Norris on 05-30-13)

Are there any programs that include cockpit sounds like:

MINIMUMS

80 KNOTS (on takeoff roll)

ONE HUNDRED, FIFTY etc (on landing approach).

(Posted by Eric Tomlin on 05-30-13)

You need to use the program PM Sounds for that. However, it is now payware and not available for free download any longer. If I can find it I will be glad to send it.

(Posted by Alan Norris on 06-14-13)

How do we program sounds into switches such as the Test switch which I'm sure has several? I would think it would have to be programmed via an offset. Also where are the appropriate sound files available -- such as Stall, Stall, Stall for the stall test switch?

(Posted by Eric Williams on 06-15-13)

You may find this has not been commonly completed thus far on most builds. You could do some custom programming or, in the interim, use something like LiveCockpit to trigger the sound files via a keypress cue (not likely to be very suited for this)

You my want to learn about LUA or SIOC to program these. There is a post by Jaap (I think) on turbulence sound files- I would look there to adapt a script to output soundfiles (just change the input from the turbulence trigger to a switch logic trigger)

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