I've just started to get into using FS2Crew for the Q400, and so far I'm very impressed.

 

However, I do have one puzzling issue that's specific to my headset setup.  I have an Astro A50, which allows two separate audio channels - one is purely audio output over an optical cable, and the other is both audio output and input over USB.  On the headphones themselves, in addition to a volume dial, I have a balance paddle switch that allows one channel volume to be raised or lowered in comparison to the other.

 

The setup works excellent with default FSX; I set the sounds to the optical output, and the voice to the USB.  Both work, and it allows me to balance ATC against everything else very nicely - at a touch, I can make ATC louder while making the plane quieter if I'm having trouble hearing commands.

 

However, regardless of what I set the sound configuration to in the main FS2Crew panel (Optical or USB Headset are the two relevant options), the volume of FS2Crew rises and lowers in tandem with the volume of the plane. Which is puzzling, since if I set it to use the USB Headset (the plane is using Optical), it should get louder while the plane gets quieter.

 

This isn't a deal breaker, as I'm able to get a comfortable balance between the two (FS2Crew an the Q400) without using channel mixing, but I'm very curious as to why it's overriding the regular behavior.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Jim,

 

That's odd because the crew volume is on its own separate sound stream, and is independent of FSX.

Bryan, thanks for responding back to me so quick!

 

I thought it quite odd too.  I was trying to wrap my head around it, but it starts to give me a headache. ^_^

 

It's almost as if changing the config setting as to which device it uses for playback isn't taking effect, and it's only using the optical out, the same as the Q400 is.  I'm going to test a few other things and let you know.

Well, I did a bit more testing.

 

I have three functioning playback devices:

- Headset Earphone (ASTRO Wireless Transmitter); Connects via USB.

- Realtek Digital Output (Optical); Connects via optical cable, signal is transmitted wirelessly to earphones.

- Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio); Connects via 3.5mm output.

 

All three devices are functioning concurrently and can be used in other windows programs.  FSX can use two of them at the same time.  The first two devices are both played through the earphones, and can be heard at the same time.

 

Now, for the fun bit.  I tested two different combinations of settings in FSX and in FS2Crew, and tested using the Speakers as the windows default device, and using the Optical output as the default device.

 

What I found was that FS2Crew played on the default device, irregardless of what I specified in the config options available from the panel (all three options were available).  If I set the default device as Optical, FS2Crew plays through the earphones, and indeed it's obvious that it plays on the Optical device, since it's volume raises and lowers in tandem with whatever else I have playing on the Optical device.  If I set the default device to Speakers, the FS2Crew playback plays through the speakers.  This is despite setting it, in the config panel options, to either Optical or Headset.

 

Not sure what to make of it, but I hope it helps.

After selecting the Audio device in FS2Crew, you're pressing HS on the main panel, right?

 

And you're aware that not all FS2Crew sounds will play through the  headset.

 

Only the checklists and FO callouts will go through the headset.

 

Cheers,

And you're aware that not all FS2Crew sounds will play through the headset.

Only the checklists and FO callouts will go through the headset.

 

Now that I wasn't aware of.  I was using the audio check as well as the briefing panel to test this.  I'll check it again.

 

Edit.  Checked.  Thanks Bryan for making me aware of this.  This is my first FS2Crew product, and I wasn't aware that you send audio through both playback channels.  I must not have had something not set up right when I checked the briefing panel, since indeed it plays properly though the usb headset, while the audio check (which is what I was using most of the time to test this) is playing on the optical playback through the headset.

 

Sorry to have wasted your time; I really appreciate the customer service!!!

 

 

Sorry to have wasted your time; I really appreciate the customer service!!!

 

No worries, amigo :-)