This sounds really interesting.
So I understand that if shakers are added, then they are attached to the free objects, in our case, the seat, pedals etc, and isolated from the rest of the chassis through dampeners of some sort?
So we have the shakers, amplifiers, isolation system.. what else?
What is the added cost for all the needed parts for having shakers on the rig? You actually got me intrigued.
Can you share how your whole setup looks like and how it's designed?
Thanks for the valuable info!!
Sure. There is no typical install but there are typical elements. If you really want to get into this I advise you read the last 10 pages of the other thread at a minimum. So many people do this badly!
Here is the basic theory, then I'll explain what I have.
1) Telemetry vs Game audio
Many games (even some console games like Forza) push live feeds of telemetry information. It's often sent to e.g. a phone that displays a dashboard with speedo / revs etc. but the payload of data is significant. Speed, tire pressure, suspension, revs etc. For this kind of game you can use telemetry software (more in a sec). For other games or just to be generic, you use a split of the game audio, and peel off the lower frequencies like you would if you were attaching a bass woofer.
2) Software for tactile.
Simhub is amazing, and freemium. If you buy a license you get a few more features, and it's really affordable (and the right thing to do). This is where things get sophisticated. You use a specific sound card just for the purpose of tactile feedback on your rig. a 5.1 sound card can send different signals to 6 shakers. 7.1 can handle up to 8. So that gives the ability to create zones of spacers on your rig that do specific things. Rear left suspension compressed on the car? Send a "thump" to the appropriate shaker. Want to feel speed? Send a growing wave of sound to specific shakers. There is no limit. Even if you only have 1 shaker it's still worth doing this over game audio.
3) Bass shakers (transducers) & Exciters
Bass transducers are like the driver of a bass woofer speaker without the paper cone. They react to signals down on the low end of the spectrum, just like a bass shaker. Most amps, and typical speakers (even bass speakers) are designed to handle down to 20hz. A really good shaker can handle 5hz. If you read that thread you'll see the opinion that being able to create 5hz-200hz in your rig is ideal. Many shakers are more in the 20-120 range, so going hardcore gets more expensive amps and more expensive shakers. I haven't gone there yet.
Exciters are slightly different. They are also like the driver of a speaker but they are designed to stick to something and turn IT into a speaker. Exciters are good for higher frequencies, so if you're going for strong high frequencies these are good tool. They are also ideal if you have a fiberglass seat as:
1) they stick to the back and transmit vibration really well
2) a guy who is really into tactile has done a bunch of research on this, and if you mimick his setup you can benefit from using his effect settings
3) it can be a cheap way to go if you have a fiberglass seat. These things are cheap, so if you're using 6 of them to get the "detail" of the effects, and just laying out serious money for one beefy shaker, that can be good.
If you look at all the people using shakers, you'll probably find about half of them use Buttkicker products, and of those a vast number will use the buttkicker Gamer 2, which is a single shaker that bolts to your chair. It's the most talked about shaker and it's better than nothing but for the same money you can do better. Again.. that thread is important to digest somewhat.
4) Isolation
You kinda got that theory already. It's super important. The more you are limiting what is shaking the more efficient the setup. In the early days of tactile and software there as a while where the "4 corners" setup was considered the ultimate experience.. but just sticking a shaker at each corner and configuring the software for 4 corners is just so inefficient. Great in theory, but without isolation it's a waste of energy.
I use stuff like these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0X2UCF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
5) Amps
Also big discussions around this. Each shaker needs an amp, although of course 2 can be run off the same stereo amp. Personally I got obsessed with finding the ultimate CHEAP amp, and the only amps I use cost $4 each on ebay and they rock. They wouldn't work for a 5hz bad boy shaker, but they are fine.
https://www.vanagony.com/buttkicker-amps-bass-shaker-cheap-amp-alternatives-driving-chair-sim/
I am NOT in the majority here. A lot of people use cheap stereo amps in a case from Amazon or eBay. I tried one.. and didn't like it and it cost more than all my other amps put together. People getting more serious buy rack gear amps.
6) Headphone Mixer
It's not essential but it really is useful. Berringer 4 and 6 channel headphone amps and is a useful "mixing desk" for your tactile setup. Not essential, but nice. Makes it easier to dial stuff in, and also adds the ability to easily inject game audio into all your shakers in stereo for the games that don't have tactile.
My setup is not normal by any means because I am an odd duck in that I find myself to be a driving enthusiast more than a racing enthusiast, so I spend much of my chair time playing Forza Horizon. Most people don't invest serious money to do that, but it brings me joy. With that in mind, my setup is fairly specific.
- Xbox Sending telemetry info to a laptop
- Laptop running Simhub
- Simhub sending sounds out through external 7.1 soundcard
- Soundcard outputs going to Headphone mixer
- Mixer sending signals to amps
- Amps driving shakers
- Game sound split into small mixing desk
- Android Car stereo (on rig) sending signal to mixing desk for music and hands free phone
- Mixing desk sends signal into headphone mixer through two mono sub bass preamps to remove high frequencies so I can blend into specific shakers ( feeling the car stereo music drastically increases immersion)
- Headphone mixer feeding game audio into laptop (for streaming)
- Microphone on boom into mixing desk.. along to laptop (for streaming)
- Headphones from mixing desk for gameplay
In terms of shakers, it's what you saw on that link I sent you for the chair.. so that's 1 buttkicker at my upper back / neck. 2 Aurasounds under the chair mounts, and another one mounted to the chair. I then have two Aurasounds under my pedalboard (that is mounted to the rig with isolators). They are configured in stereo but pedal setups are so rigid the stereo effect isn't strong.. always the problem with pedal board shakers.
The result is pretty damn good. With the family locked in the house all the time I've had to dial down the volume a lot and it's actually been fine. A different challenge trying to dial in nuances rather than full on kick in the face. My rig is about 15-120hz with the Buttkicker Mini at my neck giving the lowest response.
I've gone through a bunch of stuff on the way to getting here including exciters and smaller shakers but I blew them up trying to make them compete. If you're going down this path good to know that 1 just isn't enough, but ok to start with 1.. just know you'll probably buy more, so have a strategy where the first one you buy later gets a match, so you can add stereo with two shakers that are the same. i started with the Buttkicker and honestly I don't love it enough for $90 to buy another one and have struggled with where to put it, although it was pretty damn decent on the pedal boards in mono.
I think that's about all I've got!
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