Sound Advice

[Kilstorm]

Wanted to share a quick idea for anyone who might be interested in how I solved my sound issue I was having where it was hard to hear ATC over the engine/environment noises in my headset.

Normally one can just bring down the volume levels using the sound levers in FSX however, A2A and their plane sounds (like for the C172 for example) do not use those levers and are non adjustable. So turning up or down the speaker volume for ATC only does the same for all the plane noises as well.

In my sim, I have a real aviation intercom with two headsets hooked up to it. It is then tied into the GoFlightInc ATC module which allows you to block out outside noises and only hear ATC using a squelch and volume knob. Very much like a real plane. Only thing is when ATC would talk I could also hear (very loudly) the outside noises as well making it hard to hear what ATC was saying.

My solution was to go to my master volume lever sound mixer icon found by my clock in the lower right of my computer screen and turn down FSX leaving the PilotEdge sound level at 100%. Now I can hear ATC and still have all my FSX sounds but at a lower volume level.

Hope this helps anyone who might need such advice. Nathan

[Keith Smith]

Hi Nathan,

Thanks for posting. Yes, the Windows Mixer is a great way to go to tweak the volume setting of each app. I'm curious, since you already have an aviation intercom hooked up to the system, what is the purpose of the Go-Flight module? I have been hooking up quite a few commercial systems with intercoms of late and am trying to work out why an extra component is required.

[Kilstorm]

I've had that module since FS9 when we couldnt separate ATC from the other sounds. FSX allows one to do this with a center channel or USB headsets. However, the ATC module from Go Flight still allows me to adjust the computer volume of ATC and squelch it. The end results are all the sim sounds of the engine, air, switches, ground bumps are all heard on the speakers and not on the headset. Only thing I hear on the headset is ATC when they speak or if I have someone in my co-pilot seat on the other headset them talking. Very much like the real thing.

So what I have is a volume and sql knob for the intercom (co-pilot) volume and sql knob for ATC (removes sim sounds and allows me to adjust ATC volume) and a headset volume and speaker volume knob for the master sounds in the headset and on the speakers.