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General => Custom hardware => Topic started by: teeds on September 05, 2017, 01:57:14 PM

Title: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 05, 2017, 01:57:14 PM
I can recommend this DIY body-shaker kit.

Using this shaker -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002LQAHPE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002LQAHPE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

And this amp -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SATAEEA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SATAEEA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

You'll need a spare sound card output and a few leads. Also a way to attach the shaker to the underside of what you sit on which is an office chair in my case. Attach it with some spacers to provide a bit of a gap between the chair and the face of the shaker.
I was using it on one channel only but to get around this you could either use 2 shakers or, like I've just done, merge the 2 stereo feeds into one with a few resistors - http://www.rane.com/note109.html (http://www.rane.com/note109.html) Figure 2 for your average sound card output.

Feels really good with the bike ticking over and going over kerbs etc. Will also work with any other game or music, BF4 is amazing  ;)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: doubledragoncc on September 05, 2017, 02:03:14 PM
EdTracker Pro wireless is a better option I think and noy so bulky

Will be intresting to see a video of this setup

DD
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 05, 2017, 02:40:48 PM
I don't think the EdTracker and this shaker are alike DD? Also can't really make a video of a feeling ;) Maybe I can take some pics of it mounted to my chair to show you.
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: matty0l215 on September 05, 2017, 02:49:59 PM
This is a But kicker DD :P

And a cheap one at that! :o

May just give it a go myself :)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: matty0l215 on September 05, 2017, 03:02:09 PM
What guage wire are you using Teeds?
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 05, 2017, 03:31:08 PM
Quote from: matty0l215 on September 05, 2017, 03:02:09 PM
What guage wire are you using Teeds?

Just some old but fairly chunky speaker wire, about 18-16awg I think.
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: h106frp on September 05, 2017, 04:09:07 PM
This was my version - similar concept but a bit OTT  ;D
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 06, 2017, 12:47:30 PM
Quote from: h106frp on September 05, 2017, 04:09:07 PM
This was my version - similar concept but a bit OTT  ;D

Was there supposed to be a pic with this?
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: h106frp on September 06, 2017, 06:52:04 PM
Whoops;

http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=2632.0 (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=2632.0)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 06, 2017, 06:56:04 PM
Quote from: h106frp on September 06, 2017, 06:52:04 PM
Whoops;

http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=2632.0 (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=2632.0)

Nice, I missed that.
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: matty0l215 on September 06, 2017, 08:46:41 PM
Very nice H!

I've ordered the stuff needed just to give it a go. Ill give an update when i've got it working :)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: matty0l215 on September 07, 2017, 06:21:19 PM
Right, so i've got it set up (I think :P)

Do you have the amp on a soundcard output? I've got mine set up on the motherboard output as thats all i've got.
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on September 07, 2017, 07:38:25 PM
Yea mine is on 1 of the surround outputs on my mobo and I selected the output as headphones to feed the amp.
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: h106frp on September 07, 2017, 08:17:20 PM
Ideally you should configure the channel to be 'subwoofer' channel either from the soundcard OP or amp.

The seismic shaker is designed to work at very low frequency and pushing a lot of high frequency into it is just a waste of amplifier power that could be focussed into the low end and causes the driver to run hotter.  This is also why you need a beefy power amp as you require plenty of power available to 'fill' a low frequency waveform (power=area under the curve)

Lots of simple circuits on the web to make a sub output from normal L and R stereo, its just a summing amp and low pass filter, or at least set the power amp to cut the mids and treble and 'pump up the bass'  :)

This is OK for those who do not like soldering stuff, just run it from a 12volt DC wall-wart supply;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-pcs-Circuit-car-subwoofer-active-filter-12VDC-sound-effects/112507032223?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D9865414dbe76421bbf28ce1929791d17%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D172804311448&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-pcs-Circuit-car-subwoofer-active-filter-12VDC-sound-effects/112507032223?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D9865414dbe76421bbf28ce1929791d17%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D172804311448&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on October 24, 2017, 10:33:00 AM
When I set my output to sub-woofer the shaker constantly made some strange noises, no idea why? Impedance issues maybe. But as headphones it seems fine.

Also found that the vibes faded out as a bike revved up and i'd like to feel them throughout, so I whacked up the treble. I can now hear sound from the shaker but I can just about feel the bike at higher revs, think the cushion on my chair is soaking this up a bit unfortunately. Maybe another shaker attached to my handle bars might work, hmmm...
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: h106frp on October 24, 2017, 10:54:42 AM
Problem you have is limited audio 'stage' in the game, the only bits that ''rumble' are the kerbs, the weird LF is possibly the wind noise or a noisy output from the amp. Your seismic shakers will not like driving higher frequencies for long and might get a bit warm.
This is why I started to use the telemetry accelerations to drive the shakers in a more realistic way.

I did start a shaker circuit (eccentric motor) that ran off the rpm signal  for engine vibes:)
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on October 24, 2017, 11:24:54 AM
When I got this constant hum/buzz/noise when selecting a sub-woofer output, it was while not in game and also while no noises were being generated by windows? Not checked for heat but nothing has stopped working yet, fingers crossed.

Quote from: h106frp on October 24, 2017, 10:54:42 AM
This is why I started to use the telemetry accelerations to drive the shakers in a more realistic way.

I did start a shaker circuit (eccentric motor) that ran off the rpm signal  for engine vibes:)

Would be good but I imagine starts getting a bit more complicated.

Maybe one day sound cards will get a dedicated shaker output usable by applications.



Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: h106frp on October 24, 2017, 02:12:47 PM
SimVibe is the only API driven system I know of... but pricey
Title: Re: If you want more immersion...
Post by: teeds on October 27, 2017, 02:01:27 PM
Variable simulated wind would be another great addition to the immersion level. Just a standard fan in front of you works to some degree, as i found out on a hot day in summer  8)