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 2024. 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 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 do not matter, as long as they are consistent in the[SOUND_ENGINE]section and across link parameters. Additionally, the order of the sections within thesound.cfgfile does not matter, nor does the order of the parameters within a section. - The sound engine can load PCM
*.wavformat (16bits per sample), as well as Microsoft ADPCM*.wavcompressed 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\soundDH_Dash8_100 - alias=beech_king_air_350\soundMD_83 - alias=B737_400\soundPA28_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_combustion, 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=1B737_800 - number_of_engines=2 | |
eng1_combustiontoeng4_combustion | Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 combustion sounds. | Aircreation_582SL - eng1_combustion=COMBUSTION.1.00B737_800 - eng2_combustion=COMBUSTION.2.00Ford_Trimotor - eng3_combustion=COMBUSTION.3.00 | |
eng1_startertoeng4_starter | Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 starter sounds. | Aircreation_582SL - eng1_starter=starterB737_800 - eng1_starter=starterAB737_800 - eng2_starter=starterB | |
eng1_combustion_starttoeng4_combustion_start | Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 combustion start sounds. | Aircreation_582SL - eng1_combustion_start=combstartB737_800 - eng1_combustion_start=combstartAB737_800 - eng2_combustion_start=combstartBFord_Trimotor - eng3_combustion_start=combstartC | |
eng1_shutdowntoeng4_shutdown | Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine 1 shutdown sounds. | Aircreation_582SL - eng1_shutdown=shutdownB737_800 - eng1_shutdown=shutdownAB737_800 - eng2_shutdown=shutdownB | |
eng1_jet_whinetoeng4_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.1.00B737_800 - eng2_jet_whine=JET_WHINE.2.00 | |
eng1_non_combustiontoeng4_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.1.00Douglas_DC3 - eng2_non_combustion=NON_COMBUSTION.2.00 | |
eng1_proptoeng4_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.1.00beech_baron_58 - eng2_prop=PROP.2.00Ford_Trimotor - eng3_prop=PROP.3.00 | |
eng1_prop_striketoeng4_prop_strike | Points to the first sound in a sound list of engine prop strike sounds. Applies to Turboprops and Piston aircraft only. | ||
eng1_rotortoeng4_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], [combustion.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_StarterC172 - filename=xc172_starterDeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2 - filename=xdeBev_starterExtra300 - filename=xeestarta | |
flags | Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds.For all sounds:0 = no flag1 = disable soundFor [combustion] sounds:2 = damaged4 = boost (not supported)8 = jet engine rumble soundFor [prop] sounds2 = max prop pitch4 = min prop pitch8 = min reverse prop pitch | Aircreation_582SL - flags=0B737_800 - flags=8 | |
viewpoint | Determines when the sound is audible, one of:1 = internal cockpit views2 = 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=0.051000,0.977000,0.306000,1.136000B737_800 - rparams=0.000000,0.977000,0.993000,1.350000beech_baron_58 - rparams=0.000000,0.977000,1.000000,1.682000Beech_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=0.000000,71.200000,0.134000,71.200000,0.229000,20.000000,0.299000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000,0.456000,0.000000Beech_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=90Lear45 - InsideConeAngle=360Maule_M7_260C - InsideConeAngle=180Maule_M7_260C_Ski - InsideConeAngle=120 | |
outsideconeangle | Outside sound cone angle in degrees. | B737_800 - OutsideConeAngle=350DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2 - OutsideConeAngle=270Lear45 - OutsideConeAngle=360Maule_M7_260C - OutsideConeAngle=260 | |
conepitch | The pitch, in degrees, of the sound cone. | B737_800 - ConePitch=0Lear45 - ConePitch=0.000000Maule_M7_260C - ConePitch=-40.000004Maule_M7_260C_Ski - ConePitch=-40.000000 | |
coneheading | Direction of sound cone in degrees. Zero is facing forward. | B737_800 - ConeHeading=180DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2 - ConeHeading=0Lear45 - ConeHeading=0.000000Maule_M7_260C - ConeHeading=179.999985 | |
outsideconevolume | Maximum volume outside of sound cone. | B737_800 - OutsideConeVolume=9500DeHavilland_Beaver_DHC2 - OutsideConeVolume=9000Lear45 - OutsideConeVolume=10000Maule_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=70Bell206B - Full_Scale_Distance=15 | |
panning | Determines where the sound is placed in the stereo field:0 = center-10,000 = full left10,000 = 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_opencanopyB737_800 - filename=c5wind3beech_baron_58 - filename=c4wind4.wavBeech_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=2000B737_800 - minimum_volume=7800C172 - minimum_volume=6000Extra300 - 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=8000B737_800 - maximum_volume=9000beech_baron_58 - maximum_volume=4000C172 - 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=0.60B737_800 - minimum_rate=1.0Extra300 - minimum_rate=0.7Bell206B - minimum_rate = 0.75 | |
maximum_rate | Specifies the maximum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircraft’s 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=1.00B737_800 - maximum_rate=1.0C172 - maximum_rate=0.90Extra300 - maximum_rate=0.80 | |
minimum_speed | Specifies the minimum speed (in KTAS) used by the _volume and _rate parameters. | Aircreation_582SL - minimum_speed=15.0B737_800 - minimum_speed=0C172 - minimum_speed=40.0Extra300 - 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=70.0B737_800 - maximum_speed=0C172 - maximum_speed=120.0Extra300 - maximum_speed=160.0 | |
viewpoint | Determines when the sound is audible, one of:1 = internal cockpit views2 = 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 2024):
[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, cmtouch3B737_800 - filename=bmtouch1, bmtouch2, bmtouch3, bmtouch4C208B - filename=bmtouch3, bmtouch4Sailplane - filename=smtouch3,smtouch4,smtouch5 | |
flags | Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds.For all sounds:0 = no flag1 = disable soundFor 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 = concrete4 = soft, bumpy ground (landable)8 = water16 = very bumpy grass & mud (crashable)32 = asphalt64 = short grass128 = long grass256 = hard turf512 = snow1024 = ice2048 = urban4096 = forest8192 = dirt runway16384 = coral runway32768 = gravel runway65536 = oil treated (tar&chip) runway131072 = steel mats (steel mesh) temporary runwayNote 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=55C208B - 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=10000Bombardier_CRJ_700 - minimum_volume=6500Sailplane - 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=10000Mooney_Bravo - maximum_volume=9300 | |
minimum_rate | Specifies the minimum rate at which the sound is played. If the aircraft’s 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 aircraft’s 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=1.60Bombardier_CRJ_700 - maximum_rate=1.0C208B - maximum_rate=0.95 | |
panning | Determines where the sound is placed in the stereo field:0 = center-10,000 = full left10,000 = 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 views2 = 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_ROLL2B737_800 - link=GROUND_ROLL1 |
Miscellaneous Sounds
Other sounds used by aircraft include the follow, starting with those that are supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024:
[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 by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024:
[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,cncrash2B737_800 - filename=jcrash1,jcrash2,jcrash3,bncrash1,bncrash2beech_baron_58 - filename=pcrash3,cncrash1,cncrash2Bombardier_CRJ_700 - filename=bncrash1,bncrash2 | |
flags | Flags have different functions when associated with different sounds.0 = no flag1 = 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=9100Bombardier_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=8700Douglas_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=xstarterAircreation_582SL - link=shutdown.1Sailplane - link=wind_sound.1.01B737_800 - link=starterA.1Grumman_Goose_G21A - link=GROUND_ROLL2 |