[Tactile] tutorial Simhub + Equalizer APO + Peace (WIP)

Hi!

As there are few (none in fact) ressources about how setting up this specific configuration, I'll post my progress here and share the results :)

As a start, I stumble on this exact problem:
The biggest problem I encountered in using software DSP packages was trying to figure out how to route the signal from SimHub to the software and then out over an audio card.

Maybe I'll ask some help to configure APO if I don't succeed... @ScreaminBejesus @Ormy

I think I figured it out, see below...

PS: about DSP ParametricEqualization (hardware or software), see there: [tactile] Upgrading my tactile setup with DSP
 
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1612714778915.png


PS: of course, APO can be applied also on Game audio (but not as a starter ;) )

- So the game send telemetry data to Simhub
- Simhub convert this into audio signal to sound card channels
- APO And Peace make their magic on these channels (inside/above/after the soundcard?)

My problem was windows channels and Simhub channels and APO channels...

1/ Windows
Configuring Windows 10 surround is unobvious (Am I the only one having the feeling to go around in circles when dealing wtih Windows audio parameters?)

Here's a cmd shortcut:
- Win key + mmsys.cpl
- Open Command window: mmsys.cpl
- Or create a .bat file with
control.exe C:\Windows\System32\mmsys.cpl


Configure.gif


Select the appropriate device, then click [Configure]:
how many speakers, ...
configuration.gif

Clicking on the speaker should shake your bass shakers!

Advanced audio settings: assign the right sound card to the right application
Start from Audio menu
1612729614658.png

and switch to Advanced sound Options
1612729411736.png



2/ Simhub
Wotever:" Sound cards Color code mostly refers to 5.1 setup, in the case of Simhub you will be using channels in raw order following the current configuration of the sound card (stereo, quadriphonic, 5.1 .... 71 ...). Since each channel will be used as a classic output, color code is meaningless here.
Simply use the "test channel" button to know which output is active depending of your setup."
 
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3/ APO + Peace
During APO installation, you'll be prompted to install "devices":
Playback devices: select the tactile sound card
1612701454625.png

Capture Devices:
none are needed
1612704352215.png

You can start with one and relaunch later the configurator.exe if you need another try
C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\Configurator.exe

Create speaker configurations on which you'll apply the PEQ.
I started with Buttkicker
then a second with Left+Rigt together
As a matter of fact, 1 of my bass shakers is weaker than the other but it'll probably be easier to tweak the level in Simhub and keep one single setup for 2 bass shakers...

To do that, create a filter for "buttkicker" (plus button)
I tried with Center, Subwoofer and Center rear.
Name accordingly the speaker configuration ;)
1612717673542.png

First objective: finding the correspondance

Prerequisite: when clicking Simhub test channel, your bass shaker is shaking.
1612717205253.png


flatten the EQ and use the down arrow to lower the gain on every frequencies (say -6 dB)
1612717333442.png

With Simhub, click on test: vibration should be significantly lower.

With Peace, edit the Speaker (square button) and uncheck some. Retest until you found the speaker you looked for.
1612700951127.png


With Microsoft audio configuration, the sound is also lower.
 
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I'm looking for an easy way to do a frequency sweep on all the transducers? without plugging and un plugging cables...

not found :(
http://sox.sourceforge.net/sox.html ??

Here is what I'm doing:
- Firefox on webpage https://www.szynalski.com/tone-generator/
- Windows Advancedd audio Options: assign tactile sound card to Firefox
- Plug the audio cable (of the transducer being tested) into "Front" plug of the amp as Firefox tone generator send only sound to Front.
- note values
- try to erase the bangings with PEQ. Drawbacks: with APO Peace, you have to modify the Front Speaker profile...
 
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first conclusions:
It's hard to define a filter that specifically lower the power on few frequencies without muting it completely...

I need to determine an approach on volume levels, gains before applying PEQ.
windows:
mixer volume
audio configuration ?

games:
cf mixer volume
need to adapt per car model?

Simhub:
gain on output settings
gain on each effects
need to adapt per car model?

DSP (APO or hardware):
gain

Amplifier:
physical gain button
 
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in my search of a simple tools to cast a tone to a specific channel (to prevent plugging and unplugging cables), I've found this.
Here's the source code to a test application that plays a different tone on every output channel in 6 or 8 channels.

But I cannot compile the sources in Visual Studio. Somebody could help please?
(renamme the file .txt into .zip)
 

Attachments

  • StreamDataToneSurround.txt
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While still working on single devices at a time, but looking ahead to multi-channel,
here is a technique for directing RoomEQ Wizard (REW) output among individual channels:
https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/r...nnel-multichannel-support-on-windows-10.6727/

Notes:
 
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Having used REW for years on Macs, I am only now learning audio limitations on Windows.
For example, much other free Windows audio software, including REW,
rarely support other than main left and right channels for any audio interface. Consequently,
since SimHub ShakeIt is not so limited, leaving front L+R channels unassigned in SimHub
minimizes disruptions when temporarily re-routing one or two transducers at a time
to use those L+R channels with other software.
By default, REW uses left channel for timing reference while analyzing on the right.
 
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in my search of a simple tools to cast a tone to a specific channel
In search of some way to simulate telemetry without driving in a sim game,
I stumbled into this workaround using SimHub and a joystick:
  • in SimHub, enable the Controllers input plugin
  • press some joystick or button box button
  • then, in SimHub Available properties, scroll to InputStatus
    • SimHub may not list InputStatus entries before a button is pressed
  • still in Available properties, search for joy
    • manipulate some joystick axis of interest to identify its corresponding property name, e.g. JoystickPlugin.SideWinder_Precision_2_Joystick_Slider0
  • back in ShakeIt Bass Shakers, create a custom effect, e.g.:
JavaScript:
var button = $prop('InputStatus.JoystickPlugin.SideWinder_Precision_2_Joystick_B07');
return button * (100 - $prop('JoystickPlugin.SideWinder_Precision_2_Joystick_Slider0')/655);

The button control is to avoid overheating a transducer by constant high power signal.
SimHub does not output for this effect unless e.g. Replay is active

Setting Minimum force 100 and Frequencies Based on Input,
tactile frequency will vary based on joystick axis setting while button is pressed.
joystick.gif

Use Sound Output to cast this tone among channels.
 
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Using Equalizer APO for multiple sound cards:
Shazzam!!!!! It turns out that Equalizer APO can handle EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!

It's not that complicated!!!!

1. Use Peace APO to configure each device and save each card's configuration to a separate file.
2. Concatenate the files together.
3. Just make sure that the name of the concatenated file is listed in the config.txt file.


You can equalize every audio device that Windows recognizes !!!!

@Mr Latte I'll verify it works on my 2 audio card configuration and create verbose instructions and an instructional video as promised.

Response:


If Equalizer APO doesn't need to reroute the audio from one device to another then it's capable of doing what you need.

And if the audio cards are shown as just Windows audio devices then everything is possible.
Example of a (random) multi-device multi-channel command file:

Device: Realtek High Definition Audio Speakers
# boost base on all channels of my speakers
Channel: all
Preamp: -4 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 166 Hz Gain 10 dB Q 0.4
# a little bit more on the front speakers
Channel: L R C
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 166 Hz Gain 2 dB Q 0.4
Device: Another device
# again a bass boost as just an example
Channel: all
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 400 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 0.4
# etc. etc.

Also SimHub may have virtual devices like VoiceMeeter has. Although Equalizer APO directly support the A1 to A5 virtual devices of VoiceMeeter, it could be that you can select the SimHub devices in order to equalizer them.
 
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