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View Full Version : Backwards Doppler effect?


Ruahrc
09-06-09, 10:23 PM
New player to SH4. Installed the TMO mod to get me started off on the right foot. I ended up customizing the TMO install to restore the stock loading screens and command bar UI. Just personal preference, although I do miss the buttons that give you the range on your current fuel (great for knowing when to head home) and the current weather from the bridge :).

I noticed one thing in the game though. It seems to me like the doppler effect on the aircraft sounds is reversed? The airplanes have a low and deep sounding throttle when they approach and then as they pass the sound gets higher as if he's throttling up to get away. I would think that this should be backwards as the airplane approaching the viewer will have a higher frequency sound as its closing rate is added to the sound waves. Then when the plane passes the plane's speed is subtracted and the sound should get lower.

Anyone else notice this? I don't know how the sound is handled in the game, if some sound files need to be switched around, or if some config parameters can be adjusted to fix the doppler effect?

I did a quick search on this but did not seem to find any mentions of a mod involving a doppler fix.

Norman

Sledgehammer427
09-06-09, 10:36 PM
Norm, (hope you don't mind me calling you that)
I noticed it too, but I think the doppler effect is hard-coded.
I am not a sound person, but maybe someone else around here knows about the effect.

skwasjer
09-07-09, 04:58 AM
You can reverse the doppler effect by making the doppler values in SH.SDL file negative... or well, I think I checked this a LONG time ago. Give it a try :yeah:

Rockin Robbins
09-07-09, 08:59 AM
I've never heard the doppler effect, right or wrong. When he's overhead, I'm 100 feet below the surface.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/thinking-016.gif

vickers03
09-07-09, 10:14 AM
@skwas
is there any way to apply the doppler to sonar sounds?
i tried adding the values in sh.sdl but it doesn't work (i think):hmmm:

vanjast
09-17-09, 02:10 PM
I've never heard the doppler effect, right or wrong. When he's overhead, I'm 100 feet below the surface.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/thinking-016.gif
If one spends a lot of time at the sonar station, you can pick out approaching/receding ships. Setup a test mission with a ship passing.

:)

Ruahrc
03-21-10, 04:38 AM
Nothing like returning to your own thread 6 months after it died :)

I took a long break from SH4 but recently got the itch to give it another go. I downloaded your SH4 editor and had a look at those doppler values. Did the trick, I reversed the sign on all of the "air" sound entries, and now in the museum when you pan around the aircraft you get "correct" doppler effect (higher pitch when facing you, lower pitch when facing away). A quick test in the artillery training seemed to confirm that the behavior is fixed too.

Norman

virtualpender
03-21-10, 12:41 PM
Any chance you could post the fixes you've made? I'd love to have this as well.

Ruahrc
03-21-10, 06:08 PM
I would love to but it seems that there are many mods which modify the SH.SDL file that contains these definitions (the one I am using is from the EAX soundpack). Therefore, if I posted mine up it would not necessarily be compatible with all the setups out there.

Easiest way I think would be to do it yourself- just download the S3D editor and open your SH.SDL file that you are using. Look down the list on the left for every entry that begins with "air." like Air.messerschmidt or Air.betty and just put a negative sign in the doppler effect on the right. Save (make a backup of your original!) and it should be good to go.

I guess people don't shoot down aircraft from their sub very often but it really screwed me up with the "broken" sounds because I would hear an approaching plane and look around but not see anything (because the plane was actually retreating). Then I would hear it pass by and would look for a new approaching target but all of a sudden I get pelted with fire! Now it's depicting accurately.

Norman

virtualpender
03-21-10, 08:56 PM
I really appreciate you taking the time to explain step-by-step how to make this fix. Can't wait to try this out.

Thanks again!