Poor sounds?

[icaruss 18]

Steve was only expressing an opinion/question about something via a forum. No reason to feel dissapointed or baffled about it.

[scandinavian13 5,192]

Steve was only expressing an opinion/question about something via a forum. No reason to feel dissapointed or baffled about it.

 

Except that I care about the product we delivered, and I want to know where the source of this criticism can be found. I'm not sure why one would think someone on a development team would stand idly by...

[Tiger6k 13]

Except that I care about the product we delivered, and I want to know where the source of this criticism can be found. I'm not sure why one would think someone on a development team would stand idly by...

 

We all care about the product you delivered. If we didn't, I don't think we'd be here.  This is the most active I've ever been on this forum, and it's strictly because I love PMDG, and X-Plane.  

 

I think why some people are disappointed about the sound is this:  If you're in the cockpit with the windows closed, everything is AMAZING.  But when you open the window, or go to an exterior fly-by view, the amazingness (is that a word?) of the sounds end there.  That's all it is, and that breaks immersion for some people.  Other aircraft do directional sounds, and raise and lower the volume/wind noise depending on the windows that are open (Dreamfoil's Bell 407), so the bar has already been set, this is one bar PMDG didn't reach.  I'm not "ravenous" about it, in fact, I just won't open the window or use fly-by view in this plane.  But it's an observation that I made.

[Don Quixote 76]

We recommend the following settings:

 

Engines                          50%

Com Radio (AFE)          80%

Avionics Fan (Panel)    50%

 

Thanks for posting this information! I've now uninstalled the DC-6, re-downloaded and reinstalled it and set up these recommended settings. Unfortunately, without any noticeable changes.

 

 

 

 

I'm kinda baffled that we can provide one of the most realistic sound sets out there for an aircraft, but we're catching flak for not setting up the sounds for some kitschy fly by stuff. Having flown in radials of the Douglas ilk for a few years now, I can honestly say that there is no better sound set available.

 

 

Having flown in a real DC6 for 1 time 4 years ago (behind the engineer). Believe me... you think the soundset is bad because you know it better? Think of like "the other's do it bad"! Imagine a american on a english street "One ghost driver in news? I see MANY of them"...

I love it. Hearing the wind of change while in cruise? The prop's doing it's work? It's amazing.

 

Guys, have you actually read my posts? Nowhere did I state that the sounds were bad, that they were not realistic, or that I knew better how it should sound. I did express my disappointment that they were non-directional, because that has been a standard feature in addon aircraft for years, but it's a detail and irrelevant to my main issue.

The main issue is that what I'm hearing in the sim is markedly different from the "sound preview" video linked in the first post.

Not worse, or better, or any other qualification was applied.

 

 

What I did was this: After reinstalling the DC-6, setting up the sounds as recommended and checking my sound settings in Windows, I matched my altitude, speed and engine settings to the ones used in the sound preview video. No open windows, no flyby sounds, just the sound as heard in the VC. After doing so I again compared the two, and the differences are obvious.

 

In the sim , the engine sounds are fairly quiet in relation to the prop and wind noise. This results in a fairly thin, whirring noise.

 

In the video, the engine sounds are much louder, but the prop and wind noise is still audible - in my opinion, it sounds very good and well balanced. I was hoping to achieve the same in the sim. To do so, I modified some of the corresponding wav files until the result more or less matched the video, and now I'm satisfied with the result.

[scandinavian13 5,192]

 

 

Guys, have you actually read my posts? Nowhere did I state that the sounds were bad, that they were not realistic, or that I knew better how it should sound.

 

I've read all of them, clearly. I think it's also very clear that I've been responding to multiple people's commentary on the sounds.

 

I'd be interested to hear your responses to the questions here:

http://www.avsim.com/topic/489592-sound-issues/

[rsrandazzo 6,353]

Thanks for your reply Kyle.

 

 

Well that's disappointing.

 

Steve-

 

I am curious...

 

When I pull my headset off while flying the DC-3 (or the DC-4 for that matter) and turn my head... The sound does not change.  It is not stereoscopic...  It is so loud and so overwhelming that you cannot change it by rotating your head around on a swivel...

 

Now- if I shut down #2 (which would arguably be a dumb thing for me to do while flying around for fun- but lets just pretend for a moment!) THEN i will definitely hear a difference because only the left engine is running.

 

(You will also hear Aaron leaning into the cockpit to ask ##### the problem is- because he takes such things very seriously... but that is another story for another day...)

 

Now- if you take the DC-6 and run the same exercise (shutdown 3/4 in this case- just for argumentative consistency) you will hear that the sound is coming from your left...

 

What else are we trying to accomplish, precisely?

Gents-

 

I just removed 4 posts from 2 users in this thread because they were unsigned.

 

As is stated clearly in our main forum- users must sign their posts here if you want to contribute to the conversation. 

[sizziano 172]

Steve-

 

I am curious...

 

When I pull my headset off while flying the DC-3 (or the DC-4 for that matter) and turn my head... The sound does not change.  It is not stereoscopic...  It is so loud and so overwhelming that you cannot change it by rotating your head around on a swivel...

 

Now- if I shut down #2 (which would arguably be a dumb thing for me to do while flying around for fun- but lets just pretend for a moment!) THEN i will definitely hear a difference because only the left engine is running.

 

(You will also hear Aaron leaning into the cockpit to ask ##### the problem is- because he takes such things very seriously... but that is another story for another day...)

 

Now- if you take the DC-6 and run the same exercise (shutdown 3/4 in this case- just for argumentative consistency) you will hear that the sound is coming from your left...

 

What else are we trying to accomplish, precisely?

Gents-

 

I just removed 4 posts from 2 users in this thread because they were unsigned.

 

As is stated clearly in our main forum- users must sign their posts here if you want to contribute to the conversation. 

 

Robert no one is saying that sounds should be 3D while the camera is more or less static in the pilots seat but when you move it around the cockpit or outside for that matter. Right now the DC-6 sounds the same if you are in chase view right behind it or in runway view several miles away. This is something that is found in even the default aircraft (doppler effect, not 3D sounds in the VC) so not having it in a $70 addon is rather surprising.

[rsrandazzo 6,353]

Felipe,

 

That isn't how I read Steve's comments- so you can see why I am confused as to what he is asking for...

 

I think Kyle mentioned earlier that we noted the feedback you just pointed out- and added it to the list of items for an update. 

 

One of the things we are trying very hard to do is sort out some of the norms that are interesting to X-Plane users that aren't interesting to our MS based customers.

 

So- give us feedback- and we shall see what we can whip up for you!

 

In the meantime- enjoy the airplane... 

[sizziano 172]

Felipe,

 

That isn't how I read Steve's comments- so you can see why I am confused as to what he is asking for...

 

I think Kyle mentioned earlier that we noted the feedback you just pointed out- and added it to the list of items for an update. 

 

One of the things we are trying very hard to do is sort out some of the norms that are interesting to X-Plane users that aren't interesting to our MS based customers.

 

So- give us feedback- and we shall see what we can whip up for you!

 

In the meantime- enjoy the airplane... 

 

Thanks Robert. I realize it's a bit akward getting used to the sim and it's community to boot. We appreciate the hard work and look forward to any improvements in the future. And yes, somethings that FSX/P3D users would not think twice about can cause quite the stir if ommited in an XP addon. Best advice I can give is to take a look at the other high quality add ons in the market and see what people are willing to pay for and expect. But I'm sure you know what your doing

[rsrandazzo 6,353]

Thanks Robert. I realize it's a bit akward getting used to the sim and it's community to boot. We appreciate the hard work and look forward to any improvements in the future. And yes, somethings that FSX/P3D users would not think twice about can cause quite the stir if ommited in an XP addon. Best advice I can give is to take a look at the other high quality add ons in the market and see what people are willing to pay for and expect. But I'm sure you know what your doing

 

Filipe-

 

Thanks.  We will power through the drama- we have pretty thick skin after almost 20 years of doing this...

 

There is a HUGE amount of tribalism in the sim community- which I've never quite understood.  People are very emotional about their sim choices- and why they will or will not support products and developers- and those emotions often have nothing whatever to do with the product or the product quality....  Usually the loudest voices are the least informed and the most toxic- so we become quite good at separating wheat and chaff.

 

In the mean time- we have some interesting updates planned- nay-sayers and all. 

[pryoski 84]

Thanks for the feedback. All the same, I challenge you to find a better soundset for a radial out there with such dynamic independent mixing for prop and power...

 

Khamsin Studio's HU16 Albatross

LES DC 3

DDENN Grumman Goose 

 

Sir, I'm ex military & I flew a lot in Caribou's in SEA.  I would imagine that the 4 rotary's on the DC 6 would've made a right racket .. the Caribou did with 2.

 

The main issue for me is that the sounds don't feel dynamic .. they feel flat (I'm not a sound engineer).

 

Otherwise I love the PMDG DC 6 and am really happy it's here .. that you guys (PMDG) are here!

[rsrandazzo 6,353]

Kris,

 

If you spent much time in the 'Bous.... might want to get the hearing checked.  Radials have a way of flat-spotting the "spousal sonic transucance zone" on us old guys.... 

 

I own and fly a DC-3... and I disagree with your assessment above. 

 

MY primary "want" in the sound system for the DC-6 is that the volume should about double as prop rpm increases...  That is where the real noise comes from.  We have to be a bit careful however- as most users will really howl if we dynamically change volume of the sounds as they would in an airplane.

 

It seems like a good idea until you do it...  Then we get screamed at because users are constantly having to adjust their audio volume while flying the airplane...

 

Anyway- look for some updates to add a few features that users are asking for.  It will be interesting to see/hear how it comes together.

[pryoski 84]

Kris,

 

If you spent much time in the 'Bous.... might want to get the hearing checked.  Radials have a way of flat-spotting the "spousal sonic transucance zone" on us old guys.... 

 

I own and fly a DC-3... and I disagree with your assessment above. 

 

MY primary "want" in the sound system for the DC-6 is that the volume should about double as prop rpm increases...  That is where the real noise comes from.  We have to be a bit careful however- as most users will really howl if we dynamically change volume of the sounds as they would in an airplane.

 

Thank you Robert, it's wonderful to see you mixing it up in the trenches sir.  Congrats on a beautiful aircraft for X-Plane.

 

Re - that flat spot; the trick is to keep 'em guessing! 

 

Re - sounds, I probably weighed in where I shouldn't have due to the fact that I have high frequency hearing loss and tinitus ... so if you're happy with the sounds (as a RL DC 3 owner/pilot) than count me as convinced! 

 

Actually there's a terrific bloke on the X-Plane forums known as JetJerry who used to be an experienced Caribou pilot and he seems more than happy with the sounds.

 

The Edit:

Now using Mr. Chiswicks recommendations and (almost embarrassed to say this ...) turned my volume up. Happy with sounds! lol

[dbvetter 1]

How do you sign the post?  Just put your name like this?

 

Test sign ---

 

Dan Bounds 

[pryoski 84]

Dan, if memory serves me, you update your Signature in profile settings to show your first name and surname.