LEGACY SOUND

This page outlines the contents of the sound.cfg / soundai.cfg file that is used by legacy ( FSX) aircraft and other SimObjects for sound generation in Microsoft Flight Simulator. As such, the information contained here is only for reference purposes and all new aircraft should be using the sound.xml/ soundai.xml files, as explained here:

 

 

Sound.cfg Overview

The sound.cfg file is located in an aircraft 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).

 

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 PCM *.wav format (16bits per sample), as well as Microsoft ADPCM *.wav compressed format. When the compressed format is used, Audio Compression Manager (ACM), an audio compression module included in Windows, is used to load the file.

 

 

General Sections

[fltsim]

 

Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
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.

 

Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
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.

 

Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
filename

Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified.

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

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]

 

Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. 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 aircraft 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 aircraft 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 (these are all supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator):

  • [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.

 

Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. 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 the follow, starting with those that are supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator:

  • [GEAR_UP_WARNING_SOUND]
  • [STALL_WARNING]
  • [OVERSPEED_WARNING_SOUND]
  • [GLIDESLOPE_WARNING_SOUND]
  • [AP_DISENGAGE_SOUND]
  • [GEAR_DOWN]
  • [GEAR_UP]
  • [FLAPS]

The following miscellaneous sounds are not supported Microsoft Flight Simulator:

  • [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 0.0 and 0.1 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:

 

 
Property
Description
Examples
 Supported
filename Specifies the name of the .wav file to play. The .wav extension should not be specified. 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