EAX and cab occlusion

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

I am confused.

I remember from an older install of Railworks 2014 or so, that when I enabled EFX in the Audio Settings, there was a reverb effect when driving through a canyon or in a tunnel.
I have enabled EFX in TS2016 also, but there are no effects on my Logitech USB sound system.

From the dev docs I learned that EFX are tied to a dedicated EAX sound card.
A search of my preferred supplier of components showed only 1 card supporting EAX: Sound Blaster Audigy Rx.
I never had such a sound card in any of my computers.

Was the EFX emulated by dedicated motherboard audio drivers? Currently the gaming computer only uses the supplied AMD generic audio drivers, which work OK on both analog, digital and USB output.

Should I install dedicated (from the audio chip manufacturer) audio drivers to get the emulation? I'd rather keep that gaming computer uncluttered, lean and mean for gaming without CPU cycles being wasted

IIRC, the EFX weren't perfect. On some routes, the reverb continued when the train had long left the canyon ...

Edit: according to the WiKi, EAX is deprecated: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environme ... Extensions and Railworks/Train Simulator aren't listed under the supported games.

Does this mean that cab occlusion is of no use and the difference between inside and outside sounds has to be achieved by other means?

[buzz456]

That is strange. I am just running a vanilla realtek software and the "reverb" as you call it works just fine here. I was messing with a horn in a tunnel just yesterday with the head out the window of the cab.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

That is strange. I am just running a vanilla realtek software and the "reverb" as you call it works just fine here. I was messing with a horn in a tunnel just yesterday with the head out the window of the cab.

So you have installed the dedicated Realtek drivers? That should answer some of my question: those drivers emulate EAX (in part) while the default motherboard drivers do not.

How are your speakers hooked up? Line Out from the back of your computer, USB, HDMI or otherwise? EAX is supposed to simulate a multi-channel audio surround immersion.

The reverb cuts out when your train has left the canyon, tunnel or other 'enclosure'?
Do you know if those 'sound domes' that are visible in the World Editor have anything to do with the size of the 'enclosure'?

IIRC, the reverb not cutting out came with the Bermudez enhancement packs to Cajon Pass and other routes which I haven't installed anymore.

[buzz456]

Yes on the drivers and line out of the back of the computer and headphones. My bride would not tolerate roaring diesels and blaring horns.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

My bride would not tolerate roaring diesels and blaring horns.

I always thought you were Da Bozz?

Back on topic: can anybody with an EAX sound card and multi channel surround speakers (5.1 or 6.1) confirm that cab occlusion works on their system?

In the meantime, I have installed the latest Realtak drivers on my gaming computer and notice a new icon in the system area and all kinds of fancy options when I open its settings window.
It doesn't seem to control the USB audio however, only digital and analogue out. Silly me, that was to be expected as the Realtek chip is only hooked up to the backplane of the motherboard where its audio connectors are. So no reverb probably on the Logitech USB.

[BoostedFridge]

The reverb cuts out when your train has left the canyon, tunnel or other 'enclosure'?
Do you know if those 'sound domes' that are visible in the World Editor have anything to do with the size of the 'enclosure'?

The reverb function is tied to the track properties, and has nothing to do with EFX. There is a function in the track properties called 'track bed rumble'. Depending on the track the route uses, there will be 'tunnel' or 'cutting' options which will have the reverb sounds at varying levels. I've tested this with and without EFX on and it makes no difference.

Track Reverb.jpg

Track Reverb Tunnel.jpg

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Thanks for clearing this up.

The dev docs are confusing on the aspects of sound occlusion volumes and EAX. I was under the impression sound effects were only possible with EAX hardware or emulation.

So one can safely witch off EFX in Sound config panel?

I have found some useful information and sensible values on CabOcclusion parameters here: http://christrains.com/ts_faq_audioocclusion.html
With the insulated cab values, the ES44's cab is markedly quieter, now foreman Dan Hernandez comes through loud and clear.

Back to editing the cab sounds, hopefully track and bogie sounds, wheel slip squeal and some air system sounds can be made more audible independent of the locomotive sounds blueprint.

[Chacal]

This is a great article, and had I known about it a year ago, it would have saved me dozens of hours of frustrations, especially this part:

"The bug in the game: There is a bug in Train Simulator when it comes to audio occlusion files. When building a passenger wagon and needing a carriage interior occlusion file, the same occlusion file must be referenced in the carriage interior interface AND the cab interior interface (even though passenger wagons do not have a cab). If the occlusion file is not listed for the cab as well, the audio occlusion does not work in the game."

[trev123]

Yes not all routes have reverb on them.

[MontanaRails]

And, furthermore, older DLC not set up with cab occlusion will not ever have horn reverb (if the horns have an interior and exterior sound file for each part, it likely does not have cab occlusion set up). I know this is somewhat obvious - but important to note as a reminder or for new players.