Open Panzer
Developer's Forum => Open Source Sound Dev => Topic started by: Rad_Schuhart on February 16, 2018, 03:18:55 PM
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Hi Luke, I am finishing some radial engine Sherman sounds. I hope to have them ready in a week or so ;D The amount of sounds the board is programed to play is adequate, but I would add the following:
1 - When the engine off, it would be cool to have a sound of manual hand cranking turret.
2 - A third machine gun sound? My Sherman has 4 machine guns! I know that is not normal, but I know some people with 3... The hull one, the turret one and the tank commander one.
3 - Auxiliar light sounds. At least another two. One could be a searchlight, and another for convoy lights, maybe even blinkers...
4 - User sounds: I love the custom user sounds more than anything else. If possible I would like to have another 6... But the more, the better!
I know for triggering those extra sounds we could be running out of channels... But there is where we could start doing mixes with the radio...
Due to I have my entire armored division in diverse states of repairs, I cant test the IR combat, but is there any "damaged" sound? Damaged idler or something like that? If not, I think it would be a good idea to include at least a "damaged idler" sound.
And I think thats all... For now, lol.
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Thanks for the suggestions Rad.
1 - Yes, I can create an alternate turret rotation sound that will play when the engine is off.
2 & 3 - We could perhaps add even more MG and light sounds, but these extra sounds are precisely what the customizable user sounds are for so I'm not sure it's necessary for me to do so. If you want another light sound, assign it to a user sound and then trigger that user sound with the same trigger that you use for the light. Rather than clog the function list (and take up extra code space/memory) with very specific things few people will want, it is better to give them flexible functions that can be used for many purposes depending on the need.
4. Yes, we can add more user sounds.
5. I'm not sure how a damaged idler sound would be implemented. Presumably it would only play while the tank was moving, but is it just going to be on repeat? Perhaps a better idea is to create a trigger for Vehicle Damaged, and a function to enable/disable squeaks. You could then assign the vehicle damaged trigger to the enable squeaks function, and use some/all of the squeak sounds for your "damaged idler" or whatever.
With regards to running out of channels - I may consider increasing the number of switch positions that the TCB can process from aux channels. Currently you can select a 2-position or 3-position switch but these can probably be increased. Of course most transmitters do not have switches with greater than 3 positions, unless you install a custom switch or create a special virtual switch using advanced mixes in your transmitter. Most people won't mess with that which is why I didn't go over 3 in the original development, but there will always be some weirdos like you who push the envelope. ;D
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Thanks for the suggestions Rad.
1 - Yes, I can create an alternate turret rotation sound that will play when the engine is off.
Great!
2 & 3 - We could perhaps add even more MG and light sounds, but these extra sounds are precisely what the customizable user sounds are for so I'm not sure it's necessary for me to do so. If you want another light sound, assign it to a user sound and then trigger that user sound with the same trigger that you use for the light. Rather than clog the function list (and take up extra code space/memory) with very specific things few people will want, it is better to give them flexible functions that can be used for many purposes depending on the need.
Thats an idea... But just in the case you add more sounds. I mean, if we only have 6 custom sounds, I preffer to be able to play wagner music instead of just a diferent "click" for a light, lol.
4. Yes, we can add more user sounds.
Great, with more sounds then what you mention above is fine.
5. I'm not sure how a damaged idler sound would be implemented. Presumably it would only play while the tank was moving, but is it just going to be on repeat? Perhaps a better idea is to create a trigger for Vehicle Damaged, and a function to enable/disable squeaks. You could then assign the vehicle damaged trigger to the enable squeaks function, and use some/all of the squeak sounds for your "damaged idler" or whatever.
My idea is a bit like the tamiya electronics and other aftermarket ones are... When damaged or very damaged, to replace the idler sound with something that sounds... Damaged, lol.
With regards to running out of channels - I may consider increasing the number of switch positions that the TCB can process from aux channels. Currently you can select a 2-position or 3-position switch but these can probably be increased. Of course most transmitters do not have switches with greater than 3 positions, unless you install a custom switch or create a special virtual switch using advanced mixes in your transmitter. Most people won't mess with that which is why I didn't go over 3 in the original development, but there will always be some weirdos like you who push the envelope. ;D
There are not enough buttons and switches in a radio. No matter how many you install, just there are not enough!
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5. I'm not sure how a damaged idler sound would be implemented. Presumably it would only play while the tank was moving, but is it just going to be on repeat? Perhaps a better idea is to create a trigger for Vehicle Damaged, and a function to enable/disable squeaks. You could then assign the vehicle damaged trigger to the enable squeaks function, and use some/all of the squeak sounds for your "damaged idler" or whatever.
My idea is a bit like the tamiya electronics and other aftermarket ones are... When damaged or very damaged, to replace the idler sound with something that sounds... Damaged, lol.
Ok I see you mean "idle" sound. When you said "idler" I thought you meant some kind of squeak on the idler wheel. Now I understand what you mean and I am reminded of the way Tamiya does this. Yes that is a good idea and I will add it.
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Just an update for those reading this thread, the soundcard firmware released today addresses many of these requests:
- The manual turret rotation sounds have been added, that will play when the engine is off. They are turret_m.wav (the repeating sound) and you can optionally specify a sound to play once at the start of the loop (tr_strtm.wav) and once at the end of the loop (tr_stopm.wav). If you don't need manual turret sounds, just ignore these files and the regular turret sounds will play at all times whether the engine is running or not.
- I did not add a 3rd machine gun sound but I did increase the number of user sounds from 6 to 12.
- I've added a second light sound that can be set to play automatically whenever the Light 2 (L2 output on TCB) is turned on or off (the setting is on the Sounds tab of OP Config). For more such sounds you can use the user sounds.
- An alternate "damaged" idle sound has been added, enidle_d.wav. It works the same way as Tamiya, after you receive your first IR hit this alternate idle sound will be played whenever the vehicle is not moving.
A related request was to support 6-position switches for those who have modified their transmitters, these could be used to play 6 user sounds from a single control. That option was added, you will need to update both OP Config and TCB firmware, see this post for a description (http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-tanks-369/11635636-intro-open-panzer-project-new-tank-control-board-14.html#post12420617).
I know there will always be a desire for more and more sound options. Hopefully these additions will help a little bit, even if they don't satisfy all desires.
Another user on RCU mentioned to me having the option of a "sound bank" that could hold multiple sound files and then a function available to play one of them randomly, this might be good for musical numbers and such. I thought it was a good idea and plan to implement something along those lines in an upcoming firmware update. I am still working out the details of it, but this will be in addition to the 12 user sounds already implemented.
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Excelent news in the updates, thank you very much. One of the things I like most are the sound banks, and that feature is not present (or very, very limited) in most of the other aftermarket boards. So yeah, it is great to have a lot of extra sounds.
Also I think I already told you somewhere, maybe through private message (yeah, no private messages, lol) or in one of the forums... But for future hardware updates in the open panzer sound card, I think it will be AMAZING to have some light output features. Like 5/6 programmable light outputs that I can configure for headlights, machine guns and so on.
Due to the sound card can be used stand alone, I see a lot of future for a sound card like that and I would use them in a lot of projects that I have, starting at some buildings (switching lights in houses, simulating fires in buildings, machine guns, a searchling in a tower...) to a what if... 1946 flying saucer of doom and death.
Really, if this board is developed, as far as I know there is nothing out there like that. Other competitor sound boards are just crazy expensive and very limited in sound quantity and quality... So it will be insta-buy for some guys like me. I dont know if that would be too hard or time consuming for you... But Id love to have a unit like that.
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I do remember the suggestion to add some light outputs to the sound card and I am considering it. It is a good suggestion. Probably I would not put quite so many as 6 but maybe a couple. Adding these is not so difficult in terms of hardware although the more components you add obviously the larger the board becomes. The real work is in creating all the options for the user to manipulate them.
Already I have realized that when used by itself in RC mode the sound card is going to need its own configuration program similar to OP Config for the TCB. I have started on this but it has a long way to go still, even though I am trying to keep it relatively simple...
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Great you are considering to add the light outputs. Well, Im not saying it will be easy, because I have no idea of how to do it, lol, but in the benedini micro it takes next to nothing space in the tiny board and it has something like 10 light outputs... It would be awesome to have something about 5/6 light outputs. Due to the sound card can play so many sounds it would be a pity to not to use them along with the lights. With only 2 light outputs you are very limited...
For example Id use that sound card in the upcoming sdkfz 222. Headlights, rearlights, convoy lights, main gun light, machine guns... Looks like I love the things that glow in the dark, lol.
So, if it is easy (or not very hard) for you to add a decent bunch of light options, why to limit what honestly can be the best sound card in the market? A lot of people from the world of rc trucks might be interested on it too. Most of those trucks have tons of lights.
About its own program, yes, it is a good idea, specially if you want to program the lights work (blinking, steady, flashing etc) But instead of doing another program for just the sound board, I´d add a window for the sound board in the Open panzer config program.
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Hi Luke, another thing that I dont know it it exist right now... When using custom sounds (long music files for example) could you add the option for stopping all the sounds?
I mean, lets say I have 12 long ambient music, I think it would be cool to have an option like "User sound ALL (Instead of a number) - Stop. That would be easier to program and will take less outputs.
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That should be possible, I will add it to the To-Do list. Hopefully you will not be playing 12 sound files simultaneously, that would sound really awful. But I don't think it will be hard to add this feature so I will do it anyway. I'll let you know when it is completed.
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Luke, i have the idea that i asked this before (and you probably answered) but is it possible to have different "reloaded" sounds?
My commander yells "Gun reloaded" all the time, this gets boring in time.. Maybe there can be multiple sounds like "next target" that can be chosen randomly?
Cheers, John
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It is possible, if I do it! I will add it to my list and let you know when I can get it done.
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Luke, i have the idea that i asked this before (and you probably answered) but is it possible to have different "reloaded" sounds?
My commander yells "Gun reloaded" all the time, this gets boring in time.. Maybe there can be multiple sounds like "next target" that can be chosen randomly?
Hi John, this has been added in the latest release (0.93.49). You only need to update the sound card firmware for this one. Previously the reloaded sound was called "reloaded.wav" but that has changed. Now there are 5 possible sounds and the file names must be:
- reload_1.wav
- reload_2.wav
- reload_3.wav
- reload_4.wav
- reload_5.wav
You don't have to specify all 5 if you don't have that many, just omit the ones you don't need.
As always the full list of sound file names can be found in the Wiki. Here is the link to the TCB list (http://openpanzer.org/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:tcb:tcbinstall:sound_op). The list is different when used in RC mode, the page for that is here (http://openpanzer.org/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:sound:start).
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Great! Thanks.. I will start on this tomorrow!
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Hi Luke, another thing that I dont know it it exist right now... When using custom sounds (long music files for example) could you add the option for stopping all the sounds?
I mean, lets say I have 12 long ambient music, I think it would be cool to have an option like "User sound ALL (Instead of a number) - Stop. That would be easier to program and will take less outputs.
Hi Rad, this has been added in the latest release (0.93.49). You will need to update the sound card firmware, the TCB firmware, and OP Config. The new function is called User Sounds - Stop All (http://openpanzer.org/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:tcb:operation:functionlist#sounds).
I will mention a few other changes here that you requested in a PM, which are also included in 0.93.49:
Transmision engage delays: I am using a long cold start sound. (longer than those 20 seconds) Could it be rised longer? 45 secs should be OK, but I dont know, 99 might be even better just in case some people wants to add an commander speech or something.
I have increased the maximum time to 60 seconds. I can't go beyond that without changing the variable data type and involving some other complications. I'm not sure how often one wants to wait a full minute before they can start driving their tank, so hopefully that is long enough.
Smoke: There is "smoke on" "smoke off" but unlike the rest of options, there is no "Toggle smoke on/off" could you please add that? It will save one switch and makes sense to have everything in the same switch.
To be clear, there actually was a toggle smoke function but only for the automatic smoker. You are correct there was no toggle function for the smoker output when under manual control. I have added one (http://openpanzer.org/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:tcb:operation:functionlist#smoker).
Some delay when playing user sounds: I am using a rotary 6 pos switch for selecting the sounds. If I rotate it fast to play a sound, it plays all the sounds on its way. I mean, if the user sound I want to play is the sixth and I have the switch in position one, when I rotate it, it starts playing all of them. If it is complicated or might cause problem to other users, just tell me, I think I can program the radio to have a slight delay in that rotary.
I understand what you are trying to accomplish, but I could not conceive of a good way to implement this. For those triggering user sounds via a switch, you would not want a delay and a delay would in fact be a nuisance. We could then add a user-option to introduce a delay or not, which is more effort, but even then, we aren't asking it necessarily to "wait a moment before playing this sound," we are asking it to "wait a moment and see if I decide to play another sound first." That is even more complicated. So I have decided not to pursue this.
Even if you introduce delays in your transmitter you will have the same problem. I think what you actually want to do is have the rotary knob do the selection, but not actually trigger the signal until you flip another switch (select sound with knob, send selection with switch). I have seen this same arrangement used in other applications so I know it is possible to program your transmitter in such a way if you are using a programmable transmitter. I believe it only requires a basic channel mix.
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Hi Luke great you have updated the code.
User sounds - Stop All. Is indeed very usefull, thank you very much for adding it.
Transmision engage delays, 60 seconds. I think it is way more than enough for everybody. Me included. Thanks again!
Toggle smoke - Thanks once more :) :) :) Even when I like the tank to keep controlling the smoke output, sometimes I just need to switch it off at will.
The delay for the user sounds:
I thought about two ways for triggering them, both includes a bit of radio programming. The first way as you mention, is to select the sound with the 6 position switch, and then use another switch to trigger it, and the second I have is to program the switch to have a small delay up. So when turning the 6 pos switch, I have enough time for turning it to the desired position before the requested sound starts playing. A small delay of half a second or even less is OK.
This works, and works very well, but I just was worried about people with non programable radios, or people that just dont know how to do it...
But yeah, I understand it can be crazy complicated to program, hard to configure for most users, and even hard to explain and might bring more harm than good, so I think it might be better to leave it as it is.
So if somebody wants to play the users like me, it is possible.
And now, another idea that I had today while creating sounds:
A rev up sound when stopped. Some people might like to be able to rev up their tanks when stopped... Currently we can play a rev up user sound, but the motor idle is still there... So I dont know, it might be cool to be able to play that sound, and muting the idling motor sound at the same time.
Please take it just as an idea, not as a request.
And dont worry, I will keep scratching my head to see if there is something else we could add, lol.
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And now, another idea that I had today while creating sounds:
A rev up sound when stopped. Some people might like to be able to rev up their tanks when stopped... Currently we can play a rev up user sound, but the motor idle is still there... So I dont know, it might be cool to be able to play that sound, and muting the idling motor sound at the same time.
Actually I don't think there is a way to play the rev sound manually, unless you create one and add it as a User Sound, in which case I agree that would sound odd with the idle sound in the background.
However, this is why the transmission disengage (http://openpanzer.org/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:tcb:operation:functionlist#transmission) function was included since the earliest days of the TCB. Disengage the transmission, and then you can use the throttle stick to rev the engine all you want without the tank moving. When you want to drive again, re-engage the transmission.
Have I understood correctly?
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Thats a good way to have that rev up sound.
Ill try to have some beta radial Sherman sounds this weekend. I redid all the side sounds (turret, cannon, user sounds and so on)
I am struggling with the motor, but lets see how it goes... Dont wait something special or outstanding, but hey, I am sure somebody will like them.
At least when I drive my tanks people seems to like how it sounds...
Ill probarbly upload the beta sounds, my OP config file and my ersky9x model (Using 9xtreme)
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Hi, I did a small video showing that the use of a rotary switch for the user sounds is possible:
I had to set a small delay up and a delay down of 0,6. Works wonderfully.
The setup is conceived for being a platoon commander tank. First sound is a horn (not sure if the real sherman sound horn sounded like that)but I am including also the real sound of the Mars Sherman siren, so you can choose the one that suits you better.
The rest of the sounds are instructions to other platoon members. Kinda cool to direct the platoon just with the tank, doesnt it?
Music, marches, anthems, and battle sounds are for the sound banks.
EDIT: Yeah, the lipo showed in the video has seen better days. It will go to the bin today. I am swaping all my batteries to Nimh.
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Sometimes terrifyes me to see how fast the time flyes, my godness. Several years since I opened this thread... But I hope is not too late for adding new features!
After having user sounds in this board, some other boards followed the path and included the function or expanded the number of available sounds too. The thing is, now I am used to play 24 user sounds, and so far, with the OP soundcard we can play """""only"""" 12. Could you please update the code so we can play up to 24? This is specially useful and enjoyable when directing tank platoons and giving all the orders to the other tanks in meetings or while playing with the children.
Now I also trigger those functions using another logic switches combinations. A 6 position switch plus 4 push buttons at the back of the radio. So when the switch is in position 1, I have 4 commands easily triggeable, in position 2 another 4, in position 3 another 4, so that makes 12 and would be amazing to have until 24 commands and I will love you even more, lol.
Another function that I'd like to add, if possible, is a delay between the sound bank auto loop play. Could it be possible to manually set the delay? Something between 30 to 45 seconds would be fine. If not, I can always add silence at the end of each track.
Would it be possible?
Thanks!
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World is a napkin. The other day I found Heclo in a Facebook group and we were talking about the board and user sounds. I told him I wanted to have more and he wrote the code (Attached file)
That is amazing, big thanks, Heclo. It would be great if you include this in future releases, Luke.
Unfortunately I cannot test it because my SD card reader has died. I just ordered one, but over the paper it should work. :)
EDIT 16.01.2022
The software linked in this post does not work. Please scroll down to the reply 26, a working firmware has been uploaded there.
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Hi Rad, nice to hear from you again, I'm glad you're still playing with your tanks.
In regards to making 24 sounds available, this is a change I am not inclined to make. Of course it is possible, and I do not like to say no, but I have to draw the line somewhere and I think there are very few people on the planet who will use that many.
However it should be possible to create a delay in the sound banks. I do not have much free time the rest of this month but I will set a reminder to myself at the first of the new year to look into it. I will let you know when it is done.
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Hi Luke, yes, indeed I might be the only person in the planet willing to use the 24 user sounds with the Open Panzer, but well, if it is easy to add (or even is already done), why not? It wont hurt.
Great you want to implement the new sound delay function, but the problem for me will be that if I update to your next software version, I will lose the 24 user sounds that Heclo added, is that correct?
I wish I could write the code myself. Is there any easy way that I can add the Heclo add-on to future releases of your software?
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The files you posted from Heclo are not the source code, they are the compiled hex files. I can not examine the code from those. I can tell however there are some bugs in his version of OP Config. Heclo can make changes very quickly because he is not creating documentation, GitHub releases, testing compatibility, merging changes from the official repository, taking into consideration the entire population of users, and lots of other administrative tasks. This is not a criticism at all, he is a great programmer and I am glad for him to play with the code as much as he wants. But he has the luxury of being only a programmer, whereas here we have to manage a very large project.
Anyway, the question isn't so much whether it is easy or hard to make these change, but of balance. Each new user sound requires 3 functions (play, stop, repeat) so adding 12 more makes 36 new functions. Now everybody has to scroll through 36 more entries in the function list even though no one will use them, no one is even using the original 12. There is also a limit to how many functions we can have, we have not reached the limit yet, but I'd rather save them for things that are more useful to more people. For these reasons alone I do not believe it is a good idea.
You are right that if I create a new update and you use my version, then of course you will lose whatever changes are in Heclo's version. At the same time if you use Heclo's version, even today, you do not have any changes that have been made to the official project since 0.93.71 because that is when he branched off.
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Agree with the infinite list of functions, but also I think it that can be polished a bit. Of course I am just one user of the many in the planet, but for example I believe Instead of having the function "User sound X stop" in my opinion is enough with the function "User sounds stop all". I have never ever used "User sound X stop" function. Neither "user sound X repeat", if I want to repeat a sound, I just trigger it again.
And all the other functions, for example triggering on and off lights, I only use toggle. But hey, that is just me, lol.
But anyway, thanks for your time and I understand this function almost nobody else will use it. Pity, I love user sounds most than anything else.
Anyway Ill keep an eye on future OP Config releases with that delay between sound banks, maybe I can add the extra user sounds myself and at least I will learn something trying!
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Small but important update here. I lacked SD card reader so I could not test it until the one I ordered arrived. Took ages to arrive from the far East, sigh...
Well, the thing is, the version with 24 user sounds that Heclo did is not working correctly, but he is working in a new one. I (or he) will upload it here as soon as we have a version working.
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Ok, sooner than expected, the fix is here. Big thanks to Mr Heclo. :)