yeah i'll be careful with using your buttkicker with fsx -- i had 2 units burn out within 1 year. I'm on my third amp now; thank goodness for warranty.

 

Supplier is no longer stocking the buttkicker gamer 2 amp b/c of all the failures. 

Did you have yours operating all the time responding to engine noise, or does the amp burn out when just left switched on with no audio ?

 

Stephen

Did you have yours operating all the time responding to engine noise, or does the amp burn out when just left switched on with no audio ?

 

Stephen

 

I've been really careful with it since my first one burned out. I only turned it on about 1-2 times/week for 1-2 hours for exclusive use with FSX. 

The unit would be turned off completely after use. 

 

One year later it fails to turn on. 

Sounds like the Amp has overheating problems and could do with a few more fans to cool it down. Perhaps try using a desk fan to blow air over the amp, keep it coolish.

 

Stephen

Sounds like there will definitely be an advantage to isolating the FS sounds and using a dedicated USB sound device dedicated to BK. That way it will only be responding to our controlled inputs, but if the cutoff can isolate all the FSX sound it should be OK.

 

It sounds like it might still be a good idea to blow air over the amp, especially if it is getting fairly hot.

 

In flight we will most likely be pulsing the BK rather than leave it dumpling all the time, difference once on the ground but any continuos rumble will be pretty low level.

 

Stephen

Mine has seen heavy use in FS9/FSX and racing sims. When I'm out of the country a friend uses it hooked up to his couch for movies and PS3. It has worked perfectly for well over a year, fingers crossed it stays that way

I think some people reporting problems are driving multiple BKs or might have the Amps set up where there is inadequate ventilation, or perhaps they have the volume so loud that the Amp unit is maxed out all the time, or just plain bad luck.

 

Stephen

Maybe, what settings do you guys use on your amp? I keep my amp upright to make sure it has the required ventilation. 

My is upright too for best ventilation. I use it every day averaging 6 hrs per day. And week end I use almost 30 hrs in 48 hrs. So far so good, no heat problem. I think what game you use it for also play a part in the burnt out. I only use it for FSX and NBA basketball game. So I am just a mild user, but for long hour. If your a racer gamer and do it for long hr in intense piston rocking round the clock, that could be hazardous for the BK. Just my opinion.

Update ...

 

We continue to make good progress with the BK control software, the initial configuration options have now been completed and all wave data is now generated during program initialisation. This process only takes a fraction of a second as only one cycle of wave data is needed for each frequency in the BK range.

 

We have now included options and configuration data to support up to three BK devices, each assigned to an audio device and a DHM XYZ axis. The control configuration now includes options for,

 

Taxiing effects,

Landing and rollout effects,

Turbulence effects,

Various vibration type effects including,

Engine vibrations,

Landing gear operation,

Flaps deployment,

Spoiler or speed brake deployment.

 

Where appropriate min and max frequency and volume levels can be specified, or a base frequency and volume. Aircraft bumps include a base frequency, pulse duration in milliseconds, and volume range. Test and Default buttons are provided for each BK effect or category. I have also included a general Test mode where the audio frequency and volume can be adjusted with sliders to help determine how the BK responds.

 

We are now starting to work on coordinating the control with the DHM effects starting with the taxiing effects. A beta will be released as soon as we have the taxiing effects completed.

 

We have also ordered a USB audio device (see below) to test with and check out both audio options. That is either adding the sound to the FSX sound or separating out the BK sound using a dedicated audio device.

 

Creative Labs, Sound Blaster X-Fi Go PRO USB Sound Card

 

Stephen

I am anxiously awaiting the Buttkicker enhancement to Opus. Just Stephen’s mentioning that this was in the works led me to purchase the device. 

 

I am unclear about just how one of the audio options that has been discussed will be setup. In particular, I was wondering what the cabling setup will be if the Opus BK data is not added to the FSX sound and is instead separated out to a dedicated USB audio device.

 

I, for example, use only headphones when flying in FSX. I use the Sennheiser 363D headphones and its in line USB sound card. I use the splitter that came with Buttkicker to split the FSX sound (which comes from the Sennheiser Dolby Digital USB sound card) between my headset and the BK unit. 

 

I do not understand how I would incorporate the Opus BK sound if it were to be channeled using a dedicated USB audio device? Would Opus somehow (and I don’t know how) channel its BK sound to its dedicated USB device while allowing the FSX sound to continue to pass to my existing USB audio device? And then, would I add a splitter to the BK audio input so that the BK input received both the FSX sound and the Opus sound?

 

This may all be beyond my level of understanding. And if I’m all mixed up about what will be happening, please let me know. But I couldn’t help but be curious about how this would all work.

 

Thanks,

Robert

Great you guys are doing this! I have a buttkicker getting on to about 5 years now, and this enhancement is definitely going to make it better.

 

There was recently Simvibe (http://simxperience.com/Products/SimVibe/SimVibeSoftware.aspx) which does a similar thing, but it doesn't support FSX or Preapr3d, only X-Plane10 and a bunch of car racing sims. They use each analog output of a 5.1 card to drive several buttkickers if you've got them.

 

Don't know if this was answered, but will this be included as an Opus update, or will it be sold as a seperate utility?

 

Thanks,

Danny

Firstly, you can opt to either superimpose the Opus BK sounds with the simulator sounds by selecting the same audio device, or if using a dedicated audio device simply connect that to the ButtKicker. In the case of a USB audio device simply plug the BK audio lead into the device's headphone output.

 

The BK control software will be included as part if the standard OpusFSX software.

 

Stephen

Firstly, you can opt to either superimpose the Opus BK sounds with the simulator sounds by selecting the same audio device, or if using a dedicated audio device simply connect that to the ButtKicker. In the case of a USB audio device simply plug the BK audio lead into the device's headphone output.

 

The BK control software will be included as part if the standard OpusFSX software.

 

Stephen

Good amount of flexibility it sounds - and great that it will be included as standard. You guys keep on giving which makes it a great investment.

 

Thanks,

 

Danny

ButtKicker Update ...

 

We are now in the final testing phase prior to releasing the first beta including support for up to three ButtKicker devices. The configured default audio control of the BK devices results in very subtle rumble effects or a slight trembling of the pilot's seat, all coordinated with the DHM taxiing, landing roll out, and engine vibration effects. Subsequent betas will also include accumulated effects for landing touchdown effects, landing gear deployment, flaps deployment, speed brakes or spoilers, turbulent motions and of course those sudden turbulent bumps or jolts. We are testing using the shared simulator's audio output and also using a dedicated USB audio device. In our case we have purchased the low-cost Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Go PRO USB Sound Card, this plug-in device is about the same size as a USB pen.

 

These BK controlled effects certainly add another dimension to the sim flying by providing subtle feedback through the pilot's 'seat of the pants'. We should be able to post the beta in a few days time.

 

Stephen :smile:

 

P.S.

 

I am beginning to love flying with the ButtKicker, with our subtle audio control and volume settings, just as in real life, you can tell what the throttle position you have set just though the vibrations in the seat. This really adds to the realism and immersion. :biggrin: