What's everyone's preferred ATC?

[Dirk Schepmann]

I would love any insight from folks on how to use SI with PSX.

As CarlBB said, you need to use MSFS, MSFS2024 or XP12 to use SI with PSX.
But I really like it... although SI still has some quirks it works surprisingly good and it makes fun. It is a great mix of artificial ATC with real human voices (pilots). It really reminds me at VATSIM sometimes.

In my opinion, a big advantage of SI is that you can also interact with a virtual co-pilot and instruct him/her to ask for a clearance, ATIS or other stuff. And the virtual co-pilot can also do the readbacks if you want. This is great stuff for handflying. In VATSIM it is (and will probably always be) a limitation that you have to do the flying and communication all by yourself if you don't have a second person to assist.

With PSX I really enjoy the handflying but that's almost impossible in a busy VATSIM environment. With SI it works like a charm. And it is very realistic that you fly the aircraft or operate the MCP while listening to ATC and the readback of the other (virtual) crew member to verify if you got it right.

A disadvantage of SI is that sometimes the vectors to final are challenging. The KI underestimates the turn radius and "forgets" that jets are usually struggling with reducing altitude and speed at the same time. But with a little bit of anticipation it usually works (similar to VATSIM).

And you can always make jokes with the crew or ask for a virtual coffee which makes fun - my little daughter loves the feature and stares at the monitor waiting for a coffee to come out. LOL 

[Mandjare]

--- sideline idea ---

Modern voice generation from text input can be spectacularly good.
Would you have, in some form, the original scripts used to let the "actors" speak the sentences?

Hello Hardy & Jeroen,
thank you a lot for your replies, both ideas are sounding promising. The question for both solution is: which is less time-consuming in the work AND technical possible without big hassle ?

I could imagine that the way Jeroen was suggesting is a solution to a variety of new & additional callsigns... and maybe of new voices overall ? I'm sure this would be welcomed also by more user of PSX, not just me.

The way Hardy suggest is also very  interesting because the voices of the ATC inside PSX are already there and usable... maybe less time consuming with some advanced sound-editors to build updated callsigns just from sound-fragments ? I could imagine this way would preserve the natural tone of the voices. And the ATC with the existing voices is working great for what it should serve. So Hardy's idea could limit the work to the Callsigns itself and everything else untouched... and in my humble opinion just the callsigns could need some update or little addition. Yesterday I looked through the actual drop down list of available models and actual it's very very comprehensive , so this could be a good way to give some of these newly added airlines a life also within the build-in ATC of PSX.

Does someone see the possibility to look one of these 2 ways could work out ?

[voipmeister]

Hi Dirk,

...
This is great stuff for handflying. In VATSIM it is (and will probably always be) a limitation that you have to do the flying and communication all by yourself if you don't have a second person to assist.

Not necessarily, since it is quite easy to connect two (or more) instances of PSX together over the internet

I've been flying into a very busy Copenhagen during the Vectors to Copenhagen VATSIM event with Macroflight. I would never have done that alone and the experience was great, I loved it!

See https://aerowinx.com/board/index.php/topic,7743.0.html

[Cbf]

PSX ATC native system is simple to use and powerfull. I started with PS1 in 1998 (last century).
But it has its limits:
1 - Robot ignors obstacles, montains and storm cells!
2 - Impossible to "deal" with robot
For point 1, you must not uncheck "LNAV DEP " or "LNAV ARR" if flying from/to montainous airfield. If storm, you will have to disregard ATC guidance (7700, 7600, 7500?)
For point 2, You can use CPDLC (Random control - No restrition) above FL180. You will be able to request route offset, direct to... During descent CPDLC will order you to contact APP. If not, manually Logoff passing approx 14000Ft.
Concerning the voices, I have 12 voices. All are Charlote, Michel and Peter derived (If I remember, there is a Hardy's post to create own derived). I have other voices, but they are a bit "synthetic". I use them for ATIS. Random ATC voice selection option by PSX possible?
Of course, there is no UPS, Polar... callsigns. You can fly with Atlas Flight Number subcontracted to UPS... Airforce 1 callsign ? ;-)

[Dirk Schepmann]

Hi Dirk,
Not necessarily, since it is quite easy to connect two (or more) instances of PSX together over the internet

Isn't that a second person to assist? *grin*