[DIY]Tactil transducer or bass shaker

[crim3]

These devices convert electrical sound signals in vibration to the object you attach them to instead of sound. I didn't know about them before but it seems that is used by home cinema and car audio enthusiasts, so some may already know about it. I did one recently and it adds a lot to racing and flight simulators. It's also worth in general, even to hear music, 'cos the sound becomes more solid.

Here are some links:
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.ph ... opic=17062
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_4_2/tactile.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIBDeC3G3_4

I built one following the first link. It doesn't use weights, so it's easier to gather all the components.

Note that it doesn't reproduce the vibrations that should really be felt, as the "data" source is the low frequency sound being generated by the game. For example, an engine in high rpms has less low freq's than in idle, so with this you feel more vibration in idle than in high rpm. Normaly is the oposite in real life. But it general the effect is quite convincing.
I supose that in professional simulators a dedicated "sound" line may be used to reproduce vibrations separated from the sound sent to the loudspeakers.

Just a suggestion.

And, of course, you can also buy one. I was thinking in buying one till I discovered those links about how to built them.

[Tril]

I know of a product (http://www.ivibe.com/) that includes many shakers in a seat cushion specifically made for racing games that exist. It think it directly interfaces with many games and it uses sound in others. I've never tried it but it looks interesting.

[crim3]

Looks very good, and very complete, and not very expensive. There is so much to buy over there.... *sigh*

[sharky]

ehm.. check this out..

http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=453

[crim3]

oops!

[Likay]

Mtbs3d forums is getting big.

[nubie]

Did you know that deaf people will use these to "hear" music? Neat huh?

I often wonder if sheer ignorance is what causes these hoopty-mobiles to shake off their license plate and disturb the peace, when a couple of "shakers" under the seat would be much better.

I saw a tv program where scientists were attaching them to a big corkscrew (like the kind you can buy to anchor your dog's tether) and using them to communicate with elephants. Apparently elephants communicate for miles by stamping their feet!

Science is cool.

Get a commercial pair for ~$50 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0282834692

(Basically once you build something and it works OK you can see the value of the engineering that goes into a commercial unit, at least that is the way it works for me)

[crim3]

(Basically once you build something and it works OK you can see the value of the engineering that goes into a commercial unit, at least that is the way it works for me)

Yes, that's right, and even more when it doesn't work OK.