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Overview

Sound Configuration Files

This document describes the format of sound configuration files, which determine the sounds to use for each aircraft, or other simulated object.

See Also

Table of Contents

  • The Sound System
  • General Sections
  • Engine Sounds
  • Wind Sounds
  • Ground Sounds
  • Miscellaneous Sounds

The Sound System

The sound.cfg file is located in an aircraft’s Sound folder, and defines the sounds to use for that aircraft (such as the sound of the engine at various speeds, the sound of the landing gear going down, and so on). This file also specifies attributes for each sound that determine exactly how the sound is played.

Many aircraft sounds in are composed of multiple .wav files (called a sound list) that are linked to one another, processed in sequence, and then played as a group. These sounds are updated by the simulator’s sound engine every time the screen refreshes (once every frame).

As you read this section, you should look at actual sound.cfg files to become more familiar with the structure and syntax of them. They can be found in the Sound subfolders of the aircraft containers, and viewed using any text editor. To hear any particular component of a sound in its pure form (unaffected by the attributes in the sound.cfg file), just play the .wav file referenced in the sound.cfg (.wav files are located in either the Sound folder in an aircraft’s container, or in the root Sound folder).

Notes
  • For clarity, the naming convention used for the default aircraft engine sounds described in the following sections was to put an “x” at the beginning of all external sound (heard in Spot and Tower views) headers, and to number consecutive sound headers (e.g., [SHUTDOWN], [SHUTDOWN.1]). The specific header names used does not matter, as long as they are consistent in the [SOUND_ENGINE] section and across link parameters. Additionally, the order of the sections within the sound.cfg file does not matter, nor does the order of the parameters within a section.
  • The sound engine can load most PCM .wav formats, as well as compressed formats. When a compressed format is used, Audio Compression Manager (ACM), an audio compression module included in Windows, is used to load the file. If you include compressed files, make sure that they are in a format supported (by default) by Windows such as ADPCM.

Following is a description of each section of a sound.cfg file.

General Sections

[fltsim]

product_code This parameter should always be set to: FSIM Aircreation_582SL( product_code=FSIM )
alias A sound folder path, relative to the root folder. If an alias is entered, do not enter any more information into the sound configuration file - all the sounds from the aliased folder will be used. b747_400( alias=B737_800\sound )
DH_Dash8_100( alias=beech_king_air_350\sound )
MD_83( alias=B737_400\sound )
PA28_180( alias=c172\sound )

[sound_engine]

These parameters concern the engine sounds of an aircraft. They specify the number of engines the aircraft has, and the sound lists the simulation should use to create the aircraft’s engine sounds. Each sound list is referenced by the header of the first sound in the list (additional sounds are linked to in sequence from that first sound). The individual sounds in a list are defined in their own sections within the sound.cfg file (see the Specific engine sound parameters section below).

The engine numbers reference the engine positions in the [generalenginedata] section of the aircraft configuration file, except that in this sound file engines are numbered 1 to N, whereas in the aircraft configuration file they are numbered from 0 to N-1. This means that eng1_combusion, for example, references engine.0 in the aircraft configuration file, eng2_combustion references engine.1, and so on. The aircraft configuration file gives the position of the engine relative to the datum reference position for the aircraft, and this position will be the source of the engine noise.

number_of_engines How many engines the aircraft has. Maximum of 4. Aircreation_582SL( number_of_engines=1 )
B737_800( number_of_engines=2 )
eng1_combustion
to
eng4_combustion
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 combustion sounds. Aircreation_582SL( eng1_combustion=COMBUSTION.1.00 )
B737_800( eng2_combustion=COMBUSTION.2.00 )
Ford_Trimotor( eng3_combustion=COMBUSTION.3.00 )
eng1_starter
to
eng4_starter

Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 starter sounds. Aircreation_582SL( eng1_starter=starter )
B737_800( eng1_starter=starterA )
B737_800( eng2_starter=starterB )
eng1_combustion_start
to
eng4_combustion_start

Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1
combustion start sounds.
Aircreation_582SL( eng1_combustion_start=combstart )
B737_800( eng1_combustion_start=combstartA )
B737_800( eng2_combustion_start=combstartB )
Ford_Trimotor( eng3_combustion_start=combstartC )
eng1_shutdown
to
eng4_shutdown
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 shutdown sounds. Aircreation_582SL( eng1_shutdown=shutdown )
B737_800( eng1_shutdown=shutdownA )
B737_800( eng2_shutdown=shutdownB )
eng1_jet_whine
to
eng4_jet_whine
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 jet whine sounds.
Applies to Jets and Turboprops only.
B737_800( eng1_jet_whine=JET_WHINE.1.00 )
B737_800( eng2_jet_whine=JET_WHINE.2.00 )
eng1_non_combustion
to
eng4_non_combustion
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 non-combustion sounds (the isolated sounds of the engines moving parts).
C172( eng1_non_combustion=NON_COMBUSTION.1.00 )
Douglas_DC3( eng2_non_combustion=NON_COMBUSTION.2.00 )
eng1_prop
to
eng4_prop
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 prop sounds.
Applies to Turboprops and Piston aircraft only.
beech_baron_58( eng1_prop=PROP.1.00 )
beech_baron_58( eng2_prop=PROP.2.00 )
Ford_Trimotor( eng3_prop=PROP.3.00 )
eng1_prop_strike
to
eng4_prop_strike
Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine prop strike sounds.
Applies to Turboprops and Piston aircraft only.
eng1_rotor
to
eng4_rotor
Points to the first sound in a sound list of rotor sounds.
Applies to Helicopters only.
Bell206B( eng1_rotor=ROTOR.1.00 )

Engine Sounds

All sound lists [starter], [xstarter], [shutdown], [combstart], [combusion.1.00] and so on, all define one sound and have the following format.

filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. The Sound folder in the specific aircraft container is searched first, and then, if the file isn't found, the root Sound folder is searched. Note: [CRASH_SOUND]and [SPLASH_SOUND]filename parameters have comma separated filenames (e.g. filename=encrash1,encrash2). In these instances, the simulator code will randomly choose to play one of the listed .wav files. Aircreation_582SL( filename=xTrike_Starter )
C172( filename=xc172_starter )
DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2( filename=xdeBev_starter )
Extra300( filename=xeestarta )
flags Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds:
For all sounds:
0 = no flag
1 = disable sound

For [combustion] sounds:
2 = damaged
4 = boost (not supported)
8 = jet engine rumble sound

For [prop] sounds
2 = max prop pitch
4 = min prop pitch
8 = min reverse prop pitch
Aircreation_582SL( flags=0 )
B737_800( flags=8 )
viewpoint Determines when the sound is audible, one of:
1 =  internal cockpit views
2 = external spot and tower views
Aircreation_582SL( viewpoint=2 )
rparams Defines the sounds pitch envelope. Represents the sound's relative pitch (and, invariably, the playback speed) as a function of a generic value that can range from 0.0 to 1.0. Each pair of values specified in rparams represents a single point; you can use up to 2 points to describe the pitch envelope. The format and behavior of rparams is similar to vparams, except that the second value of each point represents a pitch scaler. A value of 1.0 specifies that the sound file is played at unity pitch. A value of 2.0 specifies that the file is played an octave higher and twice as fast. Aircreation_582SL( rparams=0.051000,0.977000,0.306000,1.136000 )
B737_800( rparams=0.000000,0.977000,0.993000,1.350000 )
beech_baron_58( rparams=0.000000,0.977000,1.000000,1.682000 )
Beech_King_Air_350( rparams=0.000000,0.989000,0.998000,1.761000 )
vparams Defines the sounds amplitude envelope. Represents the sounds volume as a function. Each pair of values specified in vparams represents a single point, you can use up to eight points to describe the amplitude envelope. The first number in the pair is a generic value that can range from 0.0 to 1.0 the second number specifies the volume. The units for volume are linear, with a value of 50 meaning -3dB attenuation, and 0 meaning silence. Aircreation_582SL( vparams=0.000000,71.200000,0.134000,71.200000,0.229000,20.000000, 0.299000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000 )
B737_800( vparams=0.000000,40.000000,0.002000,40.800000,0.174000,43.200000,0.278000, 46.400000,0.340000,10.400000,0.444000,0.000000,0.998000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000 )

beech_baron_58( vparams=0.000000,49.000000,0.002000,49.600000,0.171000,50.400000, 0.236000,9.600000,0.264000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000 )
Beech_King_Air_350( vparams=0.000000,49.000000,0.002000,49.600000,0.169000,55.200000, 0.241000,16.000000,0.380000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000,1.000000,0.000000 )
maximum_volume Specifies the highest possible volume--the sound never exceeds the volume specified. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). Mooney_Bravo( maximum_volume=8500 )
minimum_volume This parameter sets the point to which a sound can attenuate if there are no vparams. This is a legacy setting, but is easier to configure than sounds with vparams and rparams. Sounds configured this way are not 3D sounds and do not recognize the viewpoint parameter. Airbus_A321( minimum_volume=10000 )
insideconeangle Inside sound cone angle in degrees. B737_800( InsideConeAngle=90 )
Lear45( InsideConeAngle=360 )
Maule_M7_260C( InsideConeAngle=180 )
Maule_M7_260C_Ski( InsideConeAngle=120 )
outsideconeangle Outside sound cone angle in degrees. B737_800( OutsideConeAngle=350 )
DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2( OutsideConeAngle=270 )
Lear45( OutsideConeAngle=360 )
Maule_M7_260C( OutsideConeAngle=260 )
conepitch The pitch, in degrees, of the sound cone. B737_800( ConePitch=0 )
Lear45( ConePitch=0.000000 )
Maule_M7_260C( ConePitch=-40.000004 )
Maule_M7_260C_Ski( ConePitch=-40.000000 )
coneheading Direction of sound cone in degrees. Zero is facing forward. B737_800( ConeHeading=180 )
DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2( ConeHeading=0 )
Lear45( ConeHeading=0.000000 )
Maule_M7_260C( ConeHeading=179.999985 )
outsideconevolume Maximum volume outside of sound cone. B737_800( OutsideConeVolume=9500 )
DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2( OutsideConeVolume=9000 )
Lear45( OutsideConeVolume=10000 )
Maule_M7_260C( OutsideConeVolume=9450 )
full_scale_distance The distance, in meters, away from the sound source, when the sound starts to attenuate. Maule_M7_260C( full_scale_distance=70 )
Bell206B( Full_Scale_Distance=15 )
panning Determines where the sound is placed in the stereo field:
0 = center
-10,000 = full left
10,000 = full right
Bell206B( panning=10000 )
link References the next sound in a sound list (by section heading name). Some sounds are made up of several .wav files, and each .wav file has its own section in the .cfg file. Aircreation_582SL( link=shutdown.1 )

Wind Sounds

Wind sounds are used to add realism to the sounds of aircraft. Wind sound is also the predominant sound used for sailplanes. Each wind sound can be volume- and pitch-modulated with airspeed.

[wind_sound]

filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. The Sound folder in the specific aircraft container is searched first, and then, if the file isn't found, the root Sound folder is searched. Aircreation_582SL( filename=wind_opencanopy )
B737_800( filename=c5wind3 )
beech_baron_58( filename=c4wind4.wav )
Beech_King_Air_350( filename=c4wind4 )
minimum_volume Specifies the lowest possible volume--if the sound drops below the minimum volume specified, it will not be heard. Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.
If the aircrafts speed is between minimum speed and maximum speed, playback volume is interpolated.
Aircreation_582SL( minimum_volume=2000 )
B737_800( minimum_volume=7800 )
C172( minimum_volume=6000 )
Extra300( minimum_volume=6500 )
maximum_volume Specifies the highest possible volume--the sound never exceeds the volume specified. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). Aircreation_582SL( maximum_volume=8000 )
B737_800( maximum_volume=9000 )
beech_baron_58( maximum_volume=4000 )
C172( maximum_volume=8500 )
minimum_rate Specifies the minimum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircrafts speed is between minimum_speed and maximum_speed, the playback rate is interpolated between the minimum_rate and maximum_rate values. Aircreation_582SL( minimum_rate=0.60 )
B737_800( minimum_rate=1.0 )
Extra300( minimum_rate=0.7 )
Bell206B( minimum_rate = 0.75 )
maximum_rate Specifies the maximum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircrafts speed is between minimum_speed and maximum_speed, the playback rate is interpolated between the minimum_rate and maximum_rate values. Aircreation_582SL( maximum_rate=1.00 )
B737_800( maximum_rate=1.0 )
C172( maximum_rate=0.90 )
Extra300( maximum_rate=0.80 )
minimum_speed Specifies the minimum speed (in KTAS) used by the _volume and _rate parameters. Aircreation_582SL( minimum_speed=15.0 )
B737_800( minimum_speed=0 )
C172( minimum_speed=40.0 )
Extra300( minimum_speed=50.0 )
maximum_speed Specifies the speed (in KTAS) above which the sound has constant volume and pitch. Specified in KTAS units. Aircreation_582SL( maximum_speed=70.0 )
B737_800( maximum_speed=0 )
C172( maximum_speed=120.0 )
Extra300( maximum_speed=160.0 )
viewpoint Determines when the sound is audible, one of:
1 =  internal cockpit views
2 = external spot and tower views
Sailplane( viewpoint=1 )
rparams See description of rparams for [soundlist.n] Sailplane( rparams=16.0000,0.660000,100.0000,1.464000 )
vparams See description of vparams for [soundlist.n] Sailplane( vparams=0.000000,0.000000,30.5000,11.200000,66.3000,32.800000, 102.9000,38.400000,142.8000,25.600000,174.7000,7.200000,198.2000,4.800000,200.0000,0.000000 )
link References the next sound in a sound list (by section heading name). Some ground sounds are made up of several .wav files, and each .wav file has its own section in the .cfg file. Sailplane( link=wind_sound.1.01 )

Ground Sounds

Ground sounds include:
[CENTER_TOUCHDOWN]
[AUX_TOUCHDOWN]
[LEFT_TOUCHDOWN]
[RIGHT_TOUCHDOWN]
[FUSELAGE_SCRAPE]
[LEFT_WING_SCRAPE]
[RIGHT_WING_SCRAPE]
[AUX1_SCRAPE]
[AUX2_SCRAPE]
[XTAIL_SCRAPE]
[GROUND_ROLL]

Some ground sounds consist of multiple sets of .wav files (sound lists), and each set corresponds to a unique combination of surface types. Each ground sound can be volume- and pitch-modulated with airspeed.

filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. The Sound folder in the specific aircraft container is searched first, and then, if the file isn't found, the root Sound folder is searched. If filename parameters have comma separated filenames then the simulator code will randomly choose to play one of the listed .wav files. Aircreation_582SL( filename=cmtouch1, cmtouch2, cmtouch3 )
B737_800( filename=bmtouch1, bmtouch2, bmtouch3, bmtouch4 )
C208B( filename=bmtouch3, bmtouch4 )
Sailplane( filename=smtouch3,smtouch4,smtouch5 )
flags Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds.

For all sounds
0 = no flag
1 = disable sound

For ground sounds
By flagging a sound for a particular ground surface type, you tell the simulation to play that sound when the aircraft comes into contact with that surfaces type or types. Ground sound flags include:

2 = concrete
4 = soft, bumpy ground (landable)
8 = water
16 = very bumpy grass & mud (crashable)
32 = asphalt
64 = short grass
128 = long grass
256 = hard turf
512 = snow
1024 = ice
2048 = urban
4096 = forest
8192 = dirt runway
16384 = coral runway
32768 = gravel runway
65536 = oil treated (tar&chip) runway
131072 = steel mats (steel mesh) temporary
                runway

Note that these values are powers of 2 so that they represent bits. For instance, the [GROUND_ROLL] section of the 182S sound.cfg file has the line

flags=125218

This is 11110100100100010 in binary, and maps to concrete+asphalt+hard turf, etc.
Aircreation_582SL( flags=125218 )
minimum_speed Specifies the minimum speed (in KTAS) used by the _volume and _rate parameters. Aircreation_582SL( minimum_speed=3 )
maximum_speed Specifies the speed (in KTAS) above which the sound has constant volume and pitch. Specified in KTAS units. Aircreation_582SL( maximum_speed=55 )
C208B( maximum_speed=25 )
minimum_volume Specifies the lowest possible volume--if the sound drops below the minimum volume specified, it will not be heard. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). B737_800( minimum_volume=10000 )
Bombardier_CRJ_700( minimum_volume=6500 )
Sailplane( minimum_volume=8000 )
maximum_volume Specifies the highest possible volume--the sound never exceeds the volume specified. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). Bombardier_CRJ_700( maximum_volume=10000 )
Mooney_Bravo( maximum_volume=9300 )
minimum_rate Specifies the minimum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircrafts speed is between minimum_speed and maximum_speed, the playback rate is interpolated between the minimum_rate and maximum_rate values. Aircreation_582SL( minimum_rate=0.80 )
maximum_rate Specifies the maximum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircrafts speed is between minimum_speed and maximum_speed, the playback rate is interpolated between the minimum_rate and maximum_rate values. Aircreation_582SL( maximum_rate=1.60 )
Bombardier_CRJ_700( maximum_rate=1.0 )
C208B( maximum_rate=0.95 )
panning Determines where the sound is placed in the stereo field:
0 = center
-10,000 = full left
10,000 = full right
Bell206B( panning=-10000 )
initial_volume Specifies the volume at which the sound starts. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). Bell206B( initial_volume=10000 )
viewpoint Determines when the sound is audible, one of:
1 =  internal cockpit views
2 = external spot and tower views
C208B( viewpoint=1 )
link References the next sound in a sound list (by section heading name). Some ground sounds are made up of several .wav files, and each .wav file has its own section in the .cfg file. Aircreation_582SL( link=GROUND_ROLL2 )
B737_800( link=GROUND_ROLL1 )

Miscellaneous Sounds

Other sounds used by aircraft include:

[GEAR_UP_WARNING_SOUND]

[STALL_WARNING]

[OVERSPEED_WARNING_SOUND]

[GLIDESLOPE_WARNING_SOUND]

[AP_DISENGAGE_SOUND]

[GEAR_DOWN]

[GEAR_UP]

[FLAPS]

[CRASH_SOUND]

[SPLASH_SOUND]

[EXIT_OPEN]

[EXIT_CLOSED]

[NO_SMOKING_ALERT]

[SEATBELTS_ALERT]

[GYRO_SOUND]

[FUEL_PUMP]

[AMPHIB_GEAR_UP_WARNING_SOUND]

[AMPHIB_GEAR_DOWN_WARNING_SOUND]

[CLUTCH]

[HORN]

[LAUNCHBAR_EXTEND]

[LAUNCHBAR_RETRACT]

[WING_UNFOLD.0]

[WING_UNFOLD.1]

[WING_FOLD.0]

[WING_FOLD.1]

[TAILHOOK_EXTEND]

[TAILHOOK_RETRACT]

[CARRIER_TRAP]

[BLAST_SHIELD_UP.0]

[BLAST_SHIELD_UP.1]

[BLAST_SHIELD_DOWN.0]

[BLAST_SHIELD_DOWN.1]

[CATAPULT_LAUNCH.0]

[CATAPULT_LAUNCH.1]

For the wing fold and unfold sounds, the .0 and .1 extensions refer to left and right. For the blast shields and catapults, the extensions differentiate between each blast shield or catapult, even though they may well all use the same sound files. These sound sections take the following parameters:

filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. The Sound folder in the specific aircraft container is searched first, and then, if the file isn't found, the root Sound folder is searched. Note that [CRASH_SOUND] and [SPLASH_SOUND] filename parameters have comma separated filenames and the sound played will be randomly chosen from the listed files.
Some miscellaneous sound sections consist of no more than the filename entry.
Aircreation_582SL( filename=cncrash1,cncrash2 )
B737_800( filename=jcrash1,jcrash2,jcrash3,bncrash1,bncrash2 )
beech_baron_58( filename=pcrash3,cncrash1,cncrash2 )
Bombardier_CRJ_700( filename=bncrash1,bncrash2 )
flags Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds.
0 = no flag
1 = disable sound
beech_baron_58( flags=1 )
minimum_volume Specifies the lowest possible volume--if the sound drops below the minimum volume specified, it will not be heard. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). B737_800( minimum_volume=10000 )
maximum_volume Specifies the highest possible volume--the sound never exceeds the volume specified. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). B737_800( maximum_volume=9100 )
Bombardier_CRJ_700( maximum_volume=9000 )
initial_volume Specifies the volume at which the sound starts. (Volume is specified in 1/100dB units, with a value of 10,000 being the maximum possible volume.). C172( initial_volume=8700 )
Douglas_DC3( initial_volume=8500 )
link References the next sound in a sound list (by section heading name). Some sounds are made up of several .wav files, and each .wav file has its own section in the .cfg file. Aircreation_582SL( link=xstarter )
Aircreation_582SL( link=shutdown.1 )
Sailplane( link=wind_sound.1.01 )
B737_800( link=starterA.1 )
Grumman_Goose_G21A( link=GROUND_ROLL2 )