Atomic Systems

I'm considering purchasing the impressive soundpacks for the Class 421 and also the Mk1/2 carriages. I know people swear by AP Powerhouse, but where do I stand with having to continually reinstall if RW2 updates? There is a brief mention in the website notes, but perhaps an actual user can outline the practicalities?

(On a separate note, if these are so good, why doesn't RS.com subcontract the creator to provide sounds for RW in the 1st place!!!)?

kevpotts wrote:I'm considering purchasing the impressive soundpacks for the Class 421 and also the Mk1/2 carriages. I know people swear by AP Powerhouse, but where do I stand with having to continually reinstall if RW2 updates? There is a brief mention in the website notes, but perhaps an actual user can outline the practicalities?

(On a separate note, if these are so good, why doesn't RS.com subcontract the creator to provide sounds for RW in the 1st place!!!)?

I personally install all my AP sounds to a separate archived folder and then simply copy the archived folder across to the RW installation whenever it's updated.

Example: M:\Gaming\RW Addons\Armstrong PH\steamapps\common\railworks\Assets to G:\Steam\steamapps\common\railworks\Assets

Re your second point, who knows?

Edit: I included the longer path for the sake of completeness.

Keep a copy of the installer file like i do. I have all my files on a slave for recovery. e:\RWDOWNLOADS\AP\

The install takes just a few seconds anyways.

Also make the occassional back up of /assets folder.

kevpotts wrote:I'm considering purchasing the impressive soundpacks for the Class 421 and also the Mk1/2 carriages. I know people swear by AP Powerhouse, but where do I stand with having to continually reinstall if RW2 updates? There is a brief mention in the website notes, but perhaps an actual user can outline the practicalities?

It usually is only an issue when RSC update core content which frankly is pretty rare. The only other time it can be a PITA is if you have cause to perform a cache verification because of some problem you're having but again, it'll only affect core stuff and DLC not third-party products/freeware, etc.

As others have already said, easiest workaround is to install all the AP sounds into a separate folder and then copy back en masse if they get overwritten by a cache-verify or content update. Of course, that also relies on one's confidence in copying and pasting...

(On a separate note, if these are so good, why doesn't RS.com subcontract the creator to provide sounds for RW in the 1st place!!!)?

Well, there's a question... I would guess it comes down to money.

I'm quite surprised about the 421 sounds, mind. Personally, I didn't have an issue with them -- ignorance being bliss, etc. -- and I'd have been quite happy with them as they were. What's more, my understanding was that another sound wiz, namely Zane Saxton and his Oovee team, were responsible for the 421 and as we all know, his stuff also has a reputation for being top-drawer material.

However, I've now also had a listen to the vid that AP have put out with their new sounds and must say that things like the brake-rub sound, bogie noise, carriage creaks, etc. all add to the experience and are suddenly rather obviously absent from the "as-released" product from RSC.

Rik.

Something I thought would have been noticed by now is this comment from twitter yesterday -

The 4CIG sounds have not yet been updated after feedback due to delays in confirming the findings of users with industry experts. Adam

So there is some sound improvement still to come to the original DLC.

John

That's probably a few fixes to things like the cab buzzer and the loudaphone and so on, though, I do wonder why they can't consult youtube as well as "industry experts" about the topic? A video with audio to me is slightly more believeable than the memories of someone who had drove them for x number of years, seeing as those memories will have started to fade since they were finally taken out of service last year.

Thanks to all who replied. Seems like a worthy nvestment!

CaptScarlet wrote:Something I thought would have been noticed by now is this comment from twitter yesterday -

The 4CIG sounds have not yet been updated after feedback due to delays in confirming the findings of users with industry experts. Adam

So there is some sound improvement still to come to the original DLC.

Thanks for that, John. It escaped my own notice as I've not really got into the whole Twitter thing

Cheers, Rik.

Tankski wrote:That's probably a few fixes to things like the cab buzzer and the loudaphone and so on, though, I do wonder why they can't consult youtube as well as "industry experts" about the topic? A video with audio to me is slightly more believeable than the memories of someone who had drove them for x number of years, seeing as those memories will have started to fade since they were finally taken out of service last year.

Personally I'd be very wary of over reliance on YouTube as there is often an issue with compression/distortion of sounds on those videos.

As for the second point, many of the areas of concern highlighted are based on the personal memories of people who rode/drove these units in real life. Of course memory isn't infallible but that cuts both ways

Steve

Youtube is a nice guide to *what* sounds there are, but the enormous compression you get on most video camera mics isn't a great guide to relative levels... unless there's someone talking in the background for reference, or continual traffic noise or similar ( and of course then it's still compressed, just with a more sane range ).

And if they've been out of use for a year, then noone is going to have a clear memory, driver or passenger