ProSim Audio

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ProSim - Audio is the module that manages all in-cockpit sounds. Environmental sounds such as rain, wind etc. are managed by the simulator, while engine sounds for example are incorporated with the ProSim Visual Flight Model.

ProSim Audio main menu

Note that only one instance of ProSim Audio is allowed to run on one machine. It is however, possible to run multiple instances over the network, in other words on multiple computers. This is also used to run an intercom system.


1 Configuration

ProSim Audio does not have a lot of configurable options, as most of the setup of sounds is done in ProSim Systems.
ProSim Audio configuration window

1.1 Basic setup

Server
If ProSim Audio is running locally (on the same machine as ProSim Systems), the IP Address of the server does not need to be changed, and will remain at 127.0.0.1.
Audio output device
Select an output device. This could be speakers, but also a headset. This fully depends on the setup. Click on the small arrow next to the dropdown menu and select the desired audio device.
Use WASAPI
WASAPI is an internal Windows multi-channel audio interface. More about it can be read here. Try enabling this feature, but in case of trouble, disable it again by removing the mark from the tick-box.
Start Minimized
This is a handy option, as it will automatically minimise ProSim Audio to the Windows taskbar upon start of the application. Tick to enable this feature.
Allow Shutdown
This option allows remote shut-down of ProSim Audio via the Instruction Operating Station. This option can also be found in all other modules of ProSim. Tick to enable this feature.

1.2 Networked setup

For a networked setup, the most important option is to change the IP address of the computer running ProSim Systems (a.k.a. 'Server'). If the steps on the Initial Setup page have been followed, paragraph 3.2, simply fill in the IP address of the server machine.

1.3 Intercom setup

TO BE ADDED

2 Adding new sounds

In order to add a new sound to ProSim738 or ProSim320, a few steps to accomplish this must be taken. To be able to better explain this process, a sound is added to ProSim738 as an example, the whole process is explained. This process is exactly the same with ProSim320. The sound that will be added in this example is the sound of the AC power.

2.1 Steps in ProSim Systems

There are a few steps that must be taken in ProSim738/320 Systems before a new additional sound can be played by ProSim Audio. Additional sounds can be sourced from the internet such as AVSIM, or from third-party sound packs. Also a lot of sounds are shared through the ProSim-AR forums.

When the file(s) has/have been downloaded, to add to ProSim, save them in an easy-to-access folder, such as a new 'Audio'-folder within the ProSim Audio folder. You should now start ProSim738 Systems to get started. Open the 'Audio Addons'-window by clicking 'Configuration' on the navigation bar, and then 'Audio Addons'.

Audio Addon button

You will then be presented with a window listing all your addon sounds.

Add Audio 1

To add a new sound, press the 'Add new'-button. A new row will be inserted, and the options below will be opened to fill in:

  • Name
  • File
  • Fade in file
  • Fade out file
  • Audio style: Play once or play continuous
  • Auto fade on or off
  • Fading rate
  • Default on or off

Add Audio 2

The settings depend on the type of sound and its purpose. The sounds generated by the packs for example should play continuously, whereas the sound of the seat belt sign should only play once, which is when the switch is flicked. Use the 'Select'-button next to the 'File'-field to browse and select an audio-file to use.

For this example, the following settings where used:

Addon Sound Settings


Now that the new audio add-on has been made 'known' to ProSim Systems, instruct the system what the trigger is to play the sound. This is done by so-called gates and ProSim738/320 has a gate for every switch and also for a lot of different situations (whether on the ground or not). An audio add-on can be coupled to a gate using the 'Combined Configuration'-window in [ProSim737 Systems|ProSim738 Systems]. Open the 'Combined Config'-window to by clicking on the 'Config'-button on the menu bar, and then select 'Configuration' in the drop down menu.

Add audio 4

In the window that opens, select and open the 'Combined Config'-tab and then open the 'Audio'-menu by scrolling down and clicking on the black arrow on the left of 'Audio'. The list will unfold into 'Switch' and 'Audio'. Click on 'Switch' to open that menu. A list of all selected add-on sounds will be displayed here. In this example, we see the AC-Power add-on sound listed as the only add-on sound.

Add audio 5

We must now tell ProSim Systems that the sound must be triggered by a 'gate'. This is done by opening the dropdown menu that says 'Not connected' and then clicking on 'Gate'.

Add audio 6

Now the triggering 'gate' must be selected. Open the dropdown-menu next to 'NAME OF YOUR AUDIO ADD-ON input active'. The full list of gates available is presented. In this example, the AC-Power gate is all the way at the top.

Add audio 7

Once completed, click the 'OK' button and restart ProSim Systems and ProSim Audio.

2.2 Steps in ProSim Audio

Now that the new audio add-on has been successfully added in ProSim Systems, a few last steps are required in ProSim Audio. After both ProSim Systems and ProSim Audio have been restarted, the list of all audio files in the Audio module should be shown there. Scroll down and locate the audio add-on. It is recognisable by the 'Audio Addon' prefix. It is automatically selected 'on' if this box is ticked when adding the new audio add-on.

Add audio 8

Press the 'Test'-button to make sure the audio add-on is playing correctly. Take the time to select the correct audio level. By default all sounds are set to 100% audio level, but this can be lowered if required. This depends on your audio hardware and its location, as well as the sound levels in Windows and/or on the audio hardware itself. The audio level must always be between 0 and 100.

The last test is to flick the switch to test if the whole chain is correct. In this example, AC-power, means that the ground power (GND PWR) should be switched to trigger the sound.