Shakersynth 0.0.3

Bass shaker synthesizer for DCS World.

Shakersynth

Shakersynth is an alternative approach to driving tactile transducers (aka. bass shakers) from DCS World. Existing solutions use pre-recorded sound samples as their audio source. Shakersynth uses parametric real-time audio synthesis, provided by pyo, enabling it to create sounds that are dynamically derived from DCS telemetry data.

A nice example is helicopter rotor vibrations. Unlike with pre-recorded samples, Shakersynth continuously adjusts multiple properties of the vibration to match the rotor in the simulator, so you can feel each blade as it passes overhead.

Development Status: Pre-alpha

Currently, Shakersynth provides only rotor vibrations for the Mi-8 and UH-1H. It's best to run it alongside SimShaker Sound Module, which does a good job of handling a wide range of effects that don't benefit so much from the real-time synthesis approach.

Over time, Shakersynth should support more effects and more aircraft, but please don't expect rapid development of this single-person hobby project. Of course, this is free, open-source software, so if you'd like to contribute, then welcome to Team Shakersynth!

Trying it out

Shakersynth is a basic, text-mode application with no GUI. Getting it running is a bit fiddly, sorry about that.

1. Install Python 3.
2. Open PowerShell and run:

   pip install shakersynth
   

3. Save Shakersynth.lua to the folder:

   %UserProfile%\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts
   

4. Edit this file:

   %UserProfile%\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Export.lua
   

   adding this line:

   dofile(require('lfs').writedir()..'Scripts/Shakersynth.lua')
   

5. Back in PowerShell, run python -m shakersynth
6. Shakersynth will show a (long) list of audio devices. Identify an OUT for your bass shaker(s) and enter the number at the prompt.
7. Run DCS.