GT5 Sound Thread

  • Thread starter Marry_Me_GT
  • 5,638 comments
  • 545,672 views
A subwoofer can give a degree of vibration from bass effects but its not close to offering the same experience as a Buttkicker.

A transducer device (what these Buttkicers are) makes no noise as such and is a coil that vibrates within the unit. This intense vibration creates a thump/thud effect so is a bass sensation that can be felt. Professional musicans and studios use them with drums to enhance low end bass effects. Theme parks, concerts also use them and even some high quality cinemas use them.

In gaming terms if you pair a sub and a transducer/buttkicker together it will enhcance your music, movies and games quite a bit. Care needs to be taken just like a sub not to exceed a volume or amount of power that goes over the peak peformance. These devices like subwoofers can bottom out.

SRT did a few reviews on different models a while ago and they were impressed."My Sim Has Come To Life" Also read user/buyer reviews on sites like Amazon. Its wrong to look at one of these as a subwoofer.

Oh look a link...

As for using wheels and going back to pad :crazy:
 
Last edited:
Yep, it's a rumble pack that you attach to whatever you are sitting in/on, and it kicks your butt. I'm still not convinced I'm at a loss without one. My pad rumbles when I go over a rumble strip - maybe I'm just happy with a more sedate gaming experience...
 
TokyoDrift
Yep, it's a rumble pack that you attach to whatever you are sitting in/on, and it kicks your butt. I'm still not convinced I'm at a loss without one. My pad rumbles when I go over a rumble strip - maybe I'm just happy with a more sedate gaming experience...
Click to expand...
At loss only if you like a better immersion and physical feedback. Is nothing like a pad, the vibration range, detail and power is very different, not only a few degrees of strong vibration that switch on-off.

In GT4 at Nurburgring it gives a scare sensation at high speeds that would not give any pad, the road surface, wind and engine noise are reproduced.
 
Zer0
At loss only if you like a better immersion and physical feedback. Is nothing like a pad, the vibration range, detail and power is very different, not only a few degrees of strong vibration that switch on-off.

In GT4 at Nurburgring it gives a scare sensation at high speeds that would not give any pad, the road surface, wind and engine noise are reproduced.
Click to expand...

Settled. MUST HAVE!! 👍
 
Zer0
At loss only if you like a better immersion and physical feedback. Is nothing like a pad, the vibration range, detail and power is very different, not only a few degrees of strong vibration that switch on-off.

In GT4 at Nurburgring it gives a scare sensation at high speeds that would not give any pad, the road surface, wind and engine noise are reproduced.
Click to expand...
... and that's fine, but when all is said and done, driving in Gran Turismo is nothing like driving a real car. So, it all comes down to how much money you are prepared to spend on trying to approximate that experience. I've got a TV, audio system and PS3 anyway, and for me, they are more than capable of delivering me an enjoyable driving game experience.

I understand you have a cockpit, and that's great. Like I said earlier, if I had the money and space, I'd happily dedicate an entire setup purely to just running GT5, and would definitely include an ass basher. Aint' no way I'm attaching one of those to my nice leather sofa though.
 
Zer0
At loss only if you like a better immersion and physical feedback. Is nothing like a pad, the vibration range, detail and power is very different, not only a few degrees of strong vibration that switch on-off.

In GT4 at Nurburgring it gives a scare sensation at high speeds that would not give any pad, the road surface, wind and engine noise are reproduced.
Click to expand...

I'm sold i didn't know it was that serious! I hate when i play and i don't get that vibration sensation I'm glad you explained the effect bout to get one now :lol:
 
Wait till you feel the engines particulary in the 2-5k range.

See in the steering wheel section someones put a new thread up asking all about Buttkickers so you guys interested might get some more info their.
 
JDMKING13
I'm sold i didn't know it was that serious! I hate when i play and i don't get that vibration sensation I'm glad you explained the effect bout to get one now :lol:
Click to expand...
It's the perfect addition for any wheel, it adds all the range of vibrations that are missing in the current FF tech.

Stopping your car and feeling the engine rumbling at your hands is priceless. :)
 
Zer0
It's the perfect addition for any wheel, it adds all the range of vibrations that are missing in the current FF tech.

Stopping your car and feeling the engine rumbling at your hands is priceless. :)
Click to expand...

Ahhh stop zero you got me over here drooling. :lol: I just went to the website and saw the videos posted about it. I play GT5P everyday, but now with this BK this is going to bring back some life to my GT5P. 👍
 
Perkel
Really cant believe some people are hating the sound in GT5 so much.GT4 and GT5Prologue is night and day and they showed that there will be no vacum cleaners this time. Cars like Z06, FordGT, F40, Sounds very good. Yes there are some cars with ****** sound like M3 but they are still working on it as they showed us in TT build.

Find me better sounding 370z in ANY game especially if you consider very good doppler effect not present in almost all games.

The problem is with additional sounds that they must add.

Click to expand...

That video is perfect for describing some of the community at GTP..:ouch:
 
I'm not that impressed with the sounds myself. A buttkicker would be nice but having to spend that amount of money to try to get sounds up to par is not an option for me. Gonna get a wheel though he he.
 
Spagetti69
I'm not that impressed with the sounds myself. A buttkicker would be nice but having to spend that amount of money to try to get sounds up to par is bot an option for me. Gonna get a wheel though he he.
Click to expand...

I don't know if the buttkicker is all about sound, i think it has to do with getting the vibration sensation you don't get from your wheel. Zero just explained to me that when letting the car idle the steering wheel rumbles 👍
 
Zer0
It's the perfect addition for any wheel, it adds all the range of vibrations that are missing in the current FF tech.

Stopping your car and feeling the engine rumbling at your hands is priceless. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah but FFB is wheel resistance and nothing to do with vibrations. Some wheels yes have rumble motors like PS3 Pads do and those are coded in game to rumble for specific actions.
Their are issues and some concerns with Buttkickers that people should be aware of as well. They are not fully game certified or indeed coded to work like how rumble is as they work on low frequency audio and nothing else. They are not game triggered or controlled by ingame specific actions they work just via the audio in the game/movie/music etc.

Id say that anyone interested should ask questions in that new thread regards Buttkickers. It will also stop this thread from going off topic.
 
Last edited:
JDMKING13
I don't know if the buttkicker is all about sound, i think it has to do with getting the vibration sensation you don't get from your wheel. Zero just explained to me that when letting the car idle the steering wheel rumbles 👍
Click to expand...

The wheel will rumble regardless of BK. I don't think the BK enhances the rumble of the wheel. I may be wrong though.
 
Spagetti69
The wheel will rumble regardless of BK. I don't think the BK enhances the rumble of the wheel. I may be wrong though.
Click to expand...
Wheels don't rumble they "rattle"(the direction turn left and right very fast in small increments), it's a very cheap "vibration" effect and nothing like a BK. Most games don't use that effect.

Like pointed Mr Latte in the BK the full sound is processed and turned into vibrations, you can manually adjust the level processed to only the very low frequencies or higher for a more regular vibration. If you play with the game music turned on, the music will be also processed and turned into vibrations.

pic5.jpg
 
Zer0
Wheels don't rumble they "rattle"(the direction turn left and right very fast in small increments), it's a very cheap "vibration" effect and nothing like a BK. Most games don't use that effect.

Like pointed Mr Latte in the BK the full sound is processed and turned into vibrations, you can manually adjust the level processed to only the very low frequencies or higher for a more regular vibration. If you play with the game music turned on, the music will be also processed and turned into vibrations.
Click to expand...

So zero i have a good 5.1, can i just get the vibrations from the BK? it does't play sound right sorry for the stupid question.
 
JDMKING13
So zero i have a good 5.1, can i just get the vibrations from the BK? it does't play sound right sorry for the stupid question.
Click to expand...
Yes, you will need to plug the sub-out exit of the AV directly to the BK amplifier and (maybe) adjust the crossover frequency of the "sub out" in your AV to the max available(mine is at 200Hz), for a better fine tuning in the BK amplifier.
 
To be honest....
Its best to use the .1 subwoofer output from an AV amp for mainly low end bass.
The Wireless BKA 300 unit has 3x presets to alter the sound a little but even those are limited.

If you want the very best solution I can say that adding in an equaliser gives you much greater control as audio differs greatly from game to game.

The benifit of an Equaliser is that you can adjust various frequencies to suit your taste and increase how some games particular effects will feel. Boosting or decreasing them with some tweaking using the equaliser. Without an equiliser you wont have this same level of control and may find some things in games a little annoying or effects a little weak.

Ive been testing various setups for my rig for over a year now before getting it to the point it managed what I wanted...
Still I doubt many of you guys will go to my extreme's, spending almost 1k on this feature for a games rig. However just like a big projector screen can enchance enjoyment these devices can also change your gaming immersion and enjoyment also.

2rrwbd4.jpg


I use a DJ amplifer that runs high wattage in 4ohms but this particular model has an onboard equiliser.
Only cost £90 as well so bargin, just buy the Buttkicker LFE units seperate and thats it.

My rig will use 2x of these amps
Amp 1 for 2x 1000 watt 12" subwoofers (behind seat)
Amp 2 for 2x Mini LFE Buttkickers (1 for wheel vibrations 1 for pedal vibrations)
1x Buttkicker package: BKA 300 watt (under seat)

Having the vibrations under the seat in the wheel and in the pedals is like surround immersion and with the dual 12" subs I can tell you guys its pretty awesome addition to games.
Welcome to my project and yes perhaps I am crazy! :)

Dual 12" SONY Xplod subs will have GT lighting effect for style!
e66c6x.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mr Latte have you tried a setup like that or is only a future project on paper?

It's a cool project but sound very excessive to me and not by the cost, there is a point on that all that amount of rumble and bass could become annoying for continuos gameplay.

Also do you live in an alone house with no neighbours?
 
Last edited:
Zer0
Mr Latte have you tried a setup like that or is only a future project on paper?

It's a cool project but sound very excessive to me and not by the cost, there is a point on that all that amount of rumble and bass could become annoying for continuos gameplay.

Also do you live in an alone house with no neighbours?
Click to expand...

I have purchased all the equipment execpt the two mini LFE buttkickers.
Extensive testing has been done on/off over several months combing the BKA 300 with the dual subwoofers. It was this testing that made me want to include additional Buttkickers.

I would totally agree with your comment that these devices if cranked too much can be annoying. Just like a single subwoofer in a room would. The benifit of multiple units with individual amplification and control means you dont need to crank the volume on any of them. Like a large sofa as well mulitple units will spread the desired effect further rather than a single unit set too high being too strong at the epicentre of its positioning only then weakening off.

For me these devices should blend in with the onscreen action and audio not distract from it. I cant stress this enough and thats the most important factor. I noticed last year on getting my first one used on my Gamepod cockpit which is metal that having a Buttkicker under the seat with the output quite high would allow the vibrations to be felt in the wheel and pedals to a degree. This was nice getting that response in the hands and feet as well but it was then too strong in the backside and was annoying.

I forget the name of that track on FM3 with all the bumps in the Tarmack but you should of seen the expression of friends faces when I let them play it with it off and then on.
Its a good test track for these devices.

Read my sig thread as I give a bit more detail in how subs and Buttkickers are a bit different etc.
Hope it helps and apologies for perhaps pimping my ongoing project again.
 
Last edited:
IGN: ASL GARAIYA GAMEPLAY - ROME - OFFSCREEN

In this video, the sound varies greatly from bumper to chase to cockpit views, inside the car the sound is isolated and you really get the sensation of being "inside" even though the sound is more subdued.

So maybe assumptions made on how the cars sound while in cockpit view can take this into consideration.

Those COT's we heard earlier were 99% in car view, they sounded OK at high revs and in my opinion great at low revs, but in replay mode, wow, they were beastly. V8 grunt and race exhaust spank.
 

Similar threads

Jordan
Recording Gran Turismo 7 Car Sounds: Polyphony Digital Gives Rare Behind-the-Scenes Look
2 3
Replies
64
Views
14K
Aldo Raine
Aldo Raine
Hasnain282
EA Sports WRC: Photo Mode
7 8 9
Replies
262
Views
29K
MagpieRacer
MagpieRacer
Famine
Legendary Gran Turismo Supercars Featured in Exhibition in the Netherlands
Replies
15
Views
3K
05XR8
05XR8
Famine
  • Locked
Gran Turismo 7 January 2025 Update Prediction & Discussion Thread
4 5 6
Replies
150
Views
58K
MIE1992
MIE1992
ArtekFantasy
GT6 cars into GT5 Master Mod?
Replies
0
Views
3K
ArtekFantasy
ArtekFantasy

Latest Posts

Back