Butt-Kicker for sim project?

[sagrada737]

Just wondering if anyone is using a Butt-Kicker in their sim project to add additional immersion realism in the cockpit.

From what I understand, it ties into the audio and is able to be adjusted for low frequency amplitude modulation that can be induced to seats or cockpit platform.  It seems like an interesting idea to help link the visual immersion with a degree of "seat of the pants" flying.

Mike

[Flying_Fox]

Hi Mike,

You are correct, and many builders have them installed. Another thing for that is Aura-Bass Shaker (cheaper but less powerful) http://www.amazon.com/Aura-AST-2B-4-Pro-Bass-Shaker/dp/B0002ZPTBI

I recently bought two AuraBass shakers (did not install them yet). After testing I will decide if I need also Butt-Kicker, or Aura-Bass are good enough. I know people use AuraBass - type shakers (from different producers) with good results. Or you could use just some subwoofers for that.

[XOrionFE]

I am using two of the Aura units and they work quite well.

Scott

[sagrada737]

Interesting feedback...  O

On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being best), how much does this kind of audio shaker add to the realism, when combined to a multi-monitor (or projector) display?

Any preference on model or type of shaker?

Mike

[Flying_Fox]

Interesting feedback...  O

On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being best), how much does this kind of audio shaker add to the realism, when combined to a multi-monitor (or projector) display?

Any preference on model or type of shaker?

Mike

After being in a sims with shakers - on my scale it is 10 

Lets see what other shaker owners say. 

[XOrionFE]

10 for sure.  It is a must have.   when you are sitting in a passenger jet at 30K ft cruising along there is a low rumble you feel through your seat and feet and anything you touch that tells you that you are in a plane with engines running cruising along.    No different in the simulation with the Aura bass shakers putting out that low harmonic.  You can feel it through your seat, your feet, and your hands on the yokes.   There is also a very low but audible sound just from the vibration.

Really makes the experience and a MUST have.

Scott

[blueskydriver]

10 for me too...

[sagrada737]

From the comments, it seems like the audio shaker devices are an enhancement to the cockpit/flight realsim.

I can well imagine the effect, since having flown helicopters, there is a great sense of what the aircraft is doing from the vibrations sensed by the body - "seat of the pants" flying.  By contrast, I noticed in my flying the Turbine Legend, the smoothness of the turbine jet engine gave very little vibration sensations. 

I suspect that the use of audio shakers in a 737Ng home cockpit are not necessarily real sensations as in a real 737, but that the vibrations tend to add to the effect of realism (stimulus) that something is taking place with the aircraft.  I'm thinking that we become "trained" by the flight environment over time.  Take away the audio shaker after a few sessions of flying, and your thinking that something is "not as good" with the realism.  Have you found this to be true?

Also, the Aura audio shakers seem to have a cleaner form factor vs. the Butt-Kicker.  But the Butt-Kicker looks like it has a more flexible interface providing for output adjustments.  If you had your choice, or if you had to do it all over again, which audio shaker would you buy? 

Mike

[XOrionFE]

From the comments, it seems like the audio shaker devices are an enhancement to the cockpit/flight realsim.

I can well imagine the effect, since having flown helicopters, there is a great sense of what the aircraft is doing from the vibrations sensed by the body - "seat of the pants" flying.  By contrast, I noticed in my flying the Turbine Legend, the smoothness of the turbine jet engine gave very little vibration sensations. 

I suspect that the use of audio shakers in a 737Ng home cockpit are not necessarily real sensations as in a real 737, but that the vibrations tend to add to the effect of realism (stimulus) that something is taking place with the aircraft.  I'm thinking that we become "trained" by the flight environment over time.  Take away the audio shaker after a few sessions of flying, and your thinking that something is "not as good" with the realism.  Have you found this to be true?

Also, the Aura audio shakers seem to have a cleaner form factor vs. the Butt-Kicker.  But the Butt-Kicker looks like it has a more flexible interface providing for output adjustments.  If you had your choice, or if you had to do it all over again, which audio shaker would you buy? 

Mike

I have flown my cockpit for two years without shakers and using a high end Logitech 7.1 surround system with a huge subwoofer.    Now I removed that put in some of my own speakers (in walls) along with strageically placed tweeters and seperate overheads.  That along with the new Aura shakers which go through a seperate amp.    I can tell you that once I did that I was truly amazed.....It feels EXACTLY like a real 737 in flight now.   Not my imagination.    I fly a lot on Southwest as a passenger and my cockpit now feels like the real deal.   No comparison.   These are needed for sure.    I am not sure how good buttkickers are but they are expensive by comparison.  The Aura are much much cheaper and do the job just fine.   You dont need to get carried away with the interface for the Bass shakers...just a simple AMP made for driving LFE sub.

[sagrada737]

Thanks for the heads up Scott.  I think I will follow your lead and get a couple of Aura units with a small amp to drive them.

Mike