FSX-MS Confirm I understand REX 2 and Active Sky Next.

[Poncho 19]

Easy question for somebody familiar with these programs, my memory is a little foggy.

 

Years ago I bought REX 2 on my old computer and if I remember correctly I got it because it made the clouds, fog, and water much more realistic looking. It also removed that default FSX white blanket that used to cover the terrain in the mornings. I can't remember if it had a weather engine or not as I just used the FSX real world weather until it started being crazy inaccurate. So then at that time (also years ago) I purchased Active Sky Next for accurate weather, but I don't think it made all the pretty clouds, fog and water.   

 

I am now re-installing FSX in my new computer and trying to decide what I need and don't need. I see at the REX website they have newer versions but I was perfectly happy with REX 2 so I might as well use it if I need it.  

 

So my question is are my thoughts above correct, and I should be re-installing both REX 2 and ASN?  Thanks.

 

 

[Airline2Sim 489]

Rex handles injection of the textures (sky colours, clouds etc) whilst ASN only handles generation of the actual weather in the sim. In the past Active Sky also provided textures à la Rex but the latest version (ASN) only handles weather generation. Think of Rex as the paint and ASN as the paintbrush and you're on the right lines. You'll get on fine with Rex 2 but I'd say the latest version along with soft clouds is a must have for any serious simmer.

[Poncho 19]

Great, thanks for confirming I need both. Before installing REX 2 I will look over the new REX and Soft Clouds and determine if I am a serious simmer or not. LOL

[pete_auau 1,159]

Before installing REX 2 I will look over the new REX and Soft Clouds and determine if I am a serious simmer

 

 

Since you already  have asn already, I suggest  to have a look at rex 4  which is only  a texture addon  and it installs textures much faster  than rex2  and if  you purchase  soft clouds you can combine  the 2  together

[Poncho 19]

Well I guess I'm a serious enough simmer as I got the new REX4, and yes it sure does install the textures much faster. I looked at soft clouds too, and although it's inexpensive I don't know if I really need it. I seem to be pretty happy with the clouds I have now. Am I missing something and it's a no brainer that I need to get?

[Airline2Sim 489]

It's worth it. I think they have redone the generation of the clouds to be more fluffy and lifelike - volumetric is the official title I believe. I've no idea of the science behind it but boy does it look good in the sim. For €10 or so just get it installed, but *after* you inject the Rex4 textures.

[Poncho 19]

Sorry, just one more question. Is soft clouds giving me even more cloud types to choose from, meaning that I may never use the ones that came with REX 4 because these look better? Or does it just add soft type clouds only, or just change the clouds I picked in REX 4 and make them look softer? Hope I made sense.    

[Airline2Sim 489]

I believe it's a replacement for the 'low level' clouds from Rex 4. Everything else stays the same as your Rex 4 selections. 

[Poncho 19]

Alrighty, just an update and I did get the soft clouds now and it does look more realistic at the low levels, glad I got it. Thanks.