FFB and Steering wheel settings for GTL

[Knut Omdal Tveito]

Steering wheel maximum rotation and wheel lock
When it comes to steering wheel rotation and wheel lock (in-game car setting) it is important to remember that it is the ratio between these two that is important. If you use 400/15 or 800/30 it will feel exactly the same (because the ratio is the same), the only difference is that you can turn the wheel further for the latter case. On the other hand 400/30 and 800/30 will be very different and the first setting will be much more responsive (car wheel turns twice as much for a given steering wheel rotation).

The definition of the steering ratio is the following
SR=(steering wheel rotation, lock to lock) / (car wheel rotation, lock to lock)

For GTL, you can then calculate the steering ratio as follows:
SR=(steering wheel maximum rotation) / (2*lock)

Some examples of real cars (quick google, some of them seems a little fishy):
..................................SR ..........(sw max/lock)
2012 VW Golf ............15.6
BMW E46 M3: ...........15.4
Subaru Sti: ................15.2 ..........(972/31.5)
Caterham: ..................10.5 .........(800/38)
Radical: .....................10.5 .........(800/38)
mk1 Ford Cortina ........16.4
65 Corvette .................17.0
66 Mustang ................16.0 (Non-power steering: 19.9) (Shelby,Boss etc is 16)
66 Falcon ...................16.0 (Non-power steering: 22)
Porsche 914 ...............17.8
57 Ferrari 250 .............20.0

I usually have 800 degrees maximum rotation (2.2 turns lock to lock) and a ratio of 14-16 (25-30 degrees lock in-game).

FFB settings
A guide for customizing the FFB settings can be found here. I use the FFB settings of Warren Dawes:

FFB Device Type="4" // Type of FFB controller: 0=none 1=wheel, 2=stick/custom, 3=rumble pad.
FFB Effects Level="1" // Number of FFB effects to use: 0=No Effects, 1=Low, 2=Medium, 3=High, 4=Full, 5=Custom.
FFB Gain="1.00000" // Strength of Force Feedback effects. Range 0.0 to 1.0.
FFB Throttle FX on steer axis="1" // 0 = Throttle effects on throttle axis, 1 = throttle effects on steering axis.
FFB Brake FX on steer axis="1" // 0 = Brake effects on brake axis, 1 = brake effects on steering axis.
FFB steer vibe freq mult="0.07000" // Controls frequency of steering vibration. Recommended: 0.5 to 1.0, 0.0 disables steering vibration.
FFB steer vibe zero magnitude="0.03500" // Magnitude of steering vibration at 0mph (reference point).
FFB steer vibe slope="0.00000" // Slope of line defining magnitude as a function of frequency (used with FFB steer vibe zero magnitude).
FFB steer vibe wave type="0" // Type of wave to use for vibe: 0=Sine, 1=Square, 2=Triangle, 3=Sawtooth up, 4=Sawtooth down.
FFB steer force average weight="0.30000" // How much weight is given to new steering force calculations each frame (0.01 - 1.0). Lower values will smooth out the steering force, but will also add latency.
FFB steer force exponent="0.75000" // Steering force output "sensitivity". Range 0.0 to infinity. 0.0 to 1.0 = higher sensitivity, greater than 1.0 = lower sensitivity.
FFB steer force input max="-11500.00000" // Recommended: 11500 (-11500 if controller pulls in the wrong direction).
FFB steer force output max="1.70000" // Maximum force output of steering force, recommendation 0.8 to 2.0
FFB steer force grip weight="0.25000" // Range 0.0 to 1.0, recommended: 0.4 to 0.9. How much weight is given to tire grip when calculating steering force.
FFB steer force grip factor="1.00000" // Range 0.0 to 1.0, recommended: 0.2 to 0.6. How much of a factor the front wheel grip is on the steering weight.
FFB steer update thresh="0.0001500000" // Amount of change required to update steer force/vibe (0.0 - 1.0). Lower values = steering force updated more frequently = lower frame rate.
FFB steer friction coefficient="-0.15000" // Coefficient to use for steering friction. Range: -1.0 to 1.0
FFB steer friction saturation="1.00000" // Saturation value to use for steering friction. Range: 0 - 1.0
FFB steer damper coefficient="0.20000" // Coefficient to use for steering damper. Range: -1.0 to 1.0
FFB steer damper saturation="1.00000" // Saturation value to use for steering damper. Range: 0 - 1.0
FFB throttle vibe freq mult="0.40000" // Scales actual engine frequency to force FFB vibration frequency. Suggested range: 0.10 to 0.50
FFB throttle vibe zero magnitude="0.09000" // Magnitude of engine vibration at 0rpm (reference point).
FFB throttle vibe slope="0.00000" // Slope of line defining magnitude as a function of frequency (used with FFB throttle vibe zero magnitude).
FFB throttle vibe wave type="0" // Type of wave to use for vibe: 0=Sine, 1=Square, 2=Triangle, 3=Sawtooth up, 4=Sawtooth down.
FFB throttle vibe update thresh="0.02000" // Amount of change required to update throttle vibe (0.0 - 1.0)
FFB brake vibe freq mult="0.90000" // Scales actual brake rotational frequency to force feedback vibration frequency.
FFB brake vibe zero magnitude="0.09000" // Magnitude of brake vibration at 0mph (reference point).
FFB brake vibe slope="0.00000" // Slope of line defining magnitude as a function of frequency (used with FFB brake vibe zero magnitude).
FFB brake vibe wave type="0" // Type of wave to use for vibe: 0=Sine, 1=Square, 2=Triangle, 3=Sawtooth up, 4=Sawtooth down.
FFB brake vibe update thresh="0.02000" // Amount of change required to update brake vibe (0.0 to 1.0)
FFB rumble strip magnitude="0.25000" // How strong the rumble strip rumble is. Range 0.0 to 1.0, 0.0 disables effect.
FFB rumble strip freq mult="0.50000" // Rumble stip frequency multiplier 1.0 = one rumble per wheel rev.
FFB rumble strip wave type="0" // Type of wave to use for vibe: 0=Sine, 1=Square, 2=Triangle, 3=Sawtooth up, 4=Sawtooth down.
FFB rumble strip pull factor="-0.70000" // How strongly wheel pulls right/left when running over a rumble strip. Suggested range: -1.5 to 1.5.
FFB rumble strip update thresh="0.07500" // Amount of change required to update rumble strip effect (0.0 - 1.0)
FFB jolt magnitude="1.30000" // How strong jolts from other cars (or walls) are. Suggested Range: -2.0 to 2.0.

Just copy the posted settings and overwrite the corresponding section in this file (be sure to make a backup first):
GTL/Userdata/"PlayerName"/ "PlayerName".plr

Logitech Profiler
For the settings in Logitech Profiler I have the following settings:
0% Damping
0% Spring
0% Centering spring (deactivated)
As I understand, these effects are not linked to the physics simulation and are instead created by the logitech software. Therefore, I remove them completely.


FFB strength
If you set the strength too high you will loose a lot of detail in the feedback because the sim is asking for more torque than your steering wheel can provide.

For instance if you have a steering arm force like this when going through a corner:

​

If you set the strength too high you will reach the limit of your steering wheel (black line in picture below) very early and after that the force will be constant and equal to the limit of your wheel. Thus you will not be able to detect the variation of the feedback force that is actually occuring:​

​

Now if you decrease the strength setting you will not reach the limit and you will get all the feedback through the wheel:​

​

​

Uploaded with ImageShack.us​

To find a good setting, I usually run some tests on a bumpy circuit with different settings from 50-100% until I find a setting that is both strong enough and detailed enough.


If you have anymore information/suggestions please post it in this thread

 

[StrongManBR]

Any custom setup for fanatec CSR?

 

[StrongManBR]

Any custom setup for fanatec CSR?

 

[Jack Smith]

Got a situation that has me Puzzled.

I am using the digital version of GTL. I have made up my own FFB settings and they work fiine but I want to try using Warren's posted setttings.

This is what I have done: I copied completely Warren's settings and opened my PLR file and carefully pasted the new setting over my old ones, then selected save. I can close the PLR. file, then open it to check to see if the change took place... and they are there. I open the game but the FFB settings are not the same as Warren's. I shut down GTL, open the PLR file and it has changed to values different from Warren's. If I run the game my shifter does not consistantly change gears.

I have tried deleting the FFB settings before pasting in the new ones, save, exit, verify, run game and still the PLR changes on it's own.
I saved my original. When I place it back, my shifter works fine again ..so far.

I should mention that when I replace my original PLR it is the entire file not just the FFB section.

Any ideas

 

[Warren Dawes]

Jack, just to check my understanding of what you are doing:

Did you copy my section of the .plr file (as above), and then only copy that bit over the same part of your .plr file?
Or did you copy my section over the entire .plr file?

You should only replace the same sections (lines) of the .plr file (the FFB bit), the rest of the .plr file should stay as per your original one.

 

[Knut Omdal Tveito]

When I installed the digital version I noticed that I have a UserData folder in both My Documents/GTL .and. C:/Games/GTL (main install). Do you have PLR file in both perhaps?

 

[Warren Dawes]

When I installed the digital version I noticed that I have a UserData folder in both My Documents/GTL .and. C:/Games/GTL (main install).

That is strange, I have the digital install now on two PC's (Win 7 and XP) and I don't have a GTL Folder in My Documents on either one.

 

[Knut Omdal Tveito]

That is strange, I have the digital install now on two PC's (Win 7 and XP) and I don't have a GTL Folder in My Documents on either one.

I have one called GTR as well in My Documents actually. Where did you install GTL? Simbin recommends to install it in C:/Games or somewhere outside Program Files and to run the installer as administrator.

BTW Jack Smith do you run GTL as administrator and in compatibility mode?

 

[Warren Dawes]

Where did you install GTL?

My GTL is installed in E:/GTL
(on both PC installs).

So it is on a different HD to my Windows installation, don't know if that affects anything.

 

[Jack Smith]

Did you copy my section of the .plr file (as above), and then only copy that bit over the same part of your .plr file?

Yes

 

[Jack Smith]

When I installed the digital version I noticed that I have a UserData folder in both My Documents/GTL .and. C:/Games/GTL (main install). Do you have PLR file in both perhaps?

NO but I do have the two GTL folders as Knut.

 

[Jack Smith]

I have one called GTR as well in My Documents actually. Where did you install GTL? Simbin recommends to install it in C:/Games or somewhere outside Program Files and to run the installer as administrator.

BTW @Jack Smith do you run GTL as administrator and in compatibility mode?

I have the GTR as well. GTL installed in C/Games/GT-Legends.
Running as Administrator and compatibility mode for Windows XP(service pack3).

 

[Knut Omdal Tveito]

I have the GTR as well. GTL installed in C/Games/GT-Legends.
Running as Administrator and compatibility mode for Windows XP(service pack3).

Do you have a file called Trace.txt in the folder UserData/Log? If you do, does it say anything about the plr file (just search for plr)

 

[Jack Smith]

The problem with the shifter was happening about a couple months ago so I did some physical maintainence to it and it did not improve so I ordered a new one. Since then the old shifter began working fine again except when I try to change the .plr file. I can't remember if I was trying to change the .plr file before/after the shifter began to act up. I do remember that I had just downloaded a mod for one of our races, installed it and tried it out... and the shifter began acting up. I thought it was the mod. Whether I tried to change the .plr before installing the mod ...can't remember. Anyway it seems I had to make a new profile and everything worked fine again until now when I tried to copy/paste Warren's FFB's.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

Jack, Are you then, after youv'e altered your plr file clicking on any thing else in game ie,
Basic effect(blank box, wheel, stick, rumble,) or specialised effect(momo Force, momo race, sidewinder, act labs,) as this will alter the plr ffb effects and values.. just a thought ive done this in the past...

 

[Jack Smith]

Do you have a file called Trace.txt in the folder UserData/Log? If you do, does it say anything about the plr file (just search for plr)

Negative no trace.txt

 

[Jack Smith]

after youv'e altered your plr file clicking on any thing else in game ie,
Basic effect(blank box, wheel, stick, rumble,) or specialised effect(momo Force, momo race, sidewinder, act labs,) as this will alter the plr ffb effects and values..

No as a rule. I might have done it once only when trouble shooting but only once of about 8 times and I just clicked on wheel.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

So i you click on wheel(basic effect) your ffb values will change back to standard, Warren has his input device as 4 which i think is the momo force..I alter the momo race which is 5 in the input device plr file.. try to alter and click on momo force when selecting and check plr file...

Momo race (specialised effects)

FFB Device Type="5" // Type of FFB controller: 0=none 1=wheel, 2=stick/custom, 3=rumble pad.
FFB Effects Level="2" // Number of FFB effects to use: 0=No Effects, 1=Low, 2=Medium, 3=High, 4=Full, 5=Custom.

if i now select wheel(standard effects) in game it changes to this

FFB Device Type="1" // Type of FFB controller: 0=none 1=wheel, 2=stick/custom, 3=rumble pad.
FFB Effects Level="2" // Number of FFB effects to use: 0=No Effects, 1=Low, 2=Medium, 3=High, 4=Full, 5=Custom.
FFB Gain="0.77000" // Strength of Force Feedback effects. Range 0.0 to 1.0.


so you need to click on momo force in specialised affects to get this

FFB Device Type="4" // Type of FFB controller: 0=none 1=wheel, 2=stick/custom, 3=rumble pad.
FFB Effects Level="4" // Number of FFB effects to use: 0=No Effects, 1=Low, 2=Medium, 3=High, 4=Full, 5=Custom.

 

[Rupe Wilson]

FFB Device Type
0= no ffb effects
1=wheel
2=stick
3=rumble
4= momo force
5= momo race
7= sidewinder
6= act labs

going out for food... have fun

 

[Tim Ling]

Thanks for that info Rupe, I never knew the momo etc. gave special effects

What are the effects?

 

[Jack Smith]

So i you click on wheel(basic effect) your ffb values will change back to standard, Warren has his input device as 4 which i think is the momo force..I alter the momo race which is 5 in the input device plr file..

I get this much.

try to alter and click on momo force when selecting

Not sure where this all taking me.. do you mean to do those changes after I have copied Warren's FFB back into my plr first or just do it in game with my present plr as it is now.

Also why does the FFB Effects="4" if in Warren's it is shown as "1".. so I'm still not with it.

so you need to click on momo force in specialised affects to get this

FFB Device Type="4" // Type of FFB controller: 0=none 1=wheel, 2=stick/custom, 3=rumble pad.
FFB Effects Level="4" // Number of FFB effects to use: 0=No Effects, 1=Low, 2=Medium, 3=High, 4=Full, 5=Custom.

not having fun Kind of guessing as to what is meant.

Slightly off topic. In the Logitech profiler, Global Device Setting, Game Settings should the Allow Game to Adjust Settings be enabled or disabled... mind in enabled. Would that have any efect?