Fanatec New Beta Driver V352 For DD Podium Bases available

Fanatec New Beta Driver V352 For DD Podium Bases available

Fanatec released new Beta drivers for their flagship Podium Direct Drive systems which introduce the first Performance Update for the Podium Series wheelbases.

The (Beta) driver package v352 includes some major driver optimizations and new firmware updates for the Fanatec DD1 (including PS4 version) and DD2 wheelbases and motors.

  Make sure to read the included info before downloading and installing the driver!

Download Beta Driver

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FFB Optimisations:

• Reduced FFB latency by 23% – latency is the enemy of simulation, so lower latency means a general performance improvement in all aspects of force feedback.
• Increased resolution of the FFB signal to 16-bit (65536 increments) instead of 8-bit (256 increments) – this also helps with smoothness and response. The fidelity is now 256 times better!
• Improved FFB linearity – a more linear response means more consistent torque delivery across the dynamic range.
• Improved motor control with significantly less ‘loss’, to resemble the raw FFB signal more precisely. Simply described, the previous motor handling acted like a slight filter on noisy FFB but also reduced detail (1:1 game FFB can be quite rough and noisy, therefore we have added a new filter to the Tuning Menu called “Force Interpolation” – more on that below).
• Improved Spring Effect calculation to improve oscillation behavior.
• Improved Damper Effect calculation to improve oscillation behaviour.
• Improved Natural Friction calculation to solve unwanted vibration.

 

New FFB Features:

• Linearity Mode “LIN” reduces maximum FFB output by a small amount to guarantee a consistent output between peaks and holding forces. Improved general linearity between game output and torque output.
• Force Interpolation “INT” (similar to the ‘Reconstruction Filter’ on OSW/SimuCube) filters and smoothens the incoming rough game FFB signal and increases the refresh rate. For example a 60Hz FFB signal (e.g. iRacing) looks like rough steps on a graph and can also feel like this, but using Force Interpolation, the signal is recreated as a smooth curve. In comparison to FEI, this filter is a lot more powerful as it doesn’t influence latency as much, has a better smoothing algorithm and doesn’t eliminate effects completely.
• Natural Inertia “NIN” simulates additional weight on the steering axis. This can be particularly useful when using light wheels like the P1 or McLaren GT3. It also makes the Natural Friction setting feel less ‘sticky’ on direction changes.

 

Other notable changes and fixes:

• All Tuning Menu parameters have been rearranged into a more logical order. Now the list starts with the settings that are constantly influencing the steering independent from the game, followed by FFB settings only influencing the game effects, then the vibration effects, and then settings dependent on connected hardware.
• Added dynamic tooltips in the Tuning Menu, which makes more effective use of the OLED, and should make Tuning Menu adjustments more intuitive and less intimidating for beginners.

 

Changelog since the last public beta release (347):

 Driver:

• Fixed issue that steering angle in the Function Test tab displays incorrect values.
• Fixed issue that Tuning Menu parameters (SEN, FOR, SPR, DPR & FEI) are displayed incorrectly when the DD Base is in Comp V2.5 mode.
• Added new DD Tuning Menu parameters LIN, INT, & NIN to the Tuning Menu tab.
• Fixed issue that steering angle in Function Test tab displays the incorrect value when SEN is adjusted via FunkySwitch Encoder.
• Fixed issue that MPS Mode changes when adjusting the MPS Rotary switch (1 to 12).
• FFB commands now get send with the increased resolution of 16-bit (65536 increments) instead of 8-bit.

 

 Firmware:

• Podium DDs specifically:
  • FFB effects are now resembled by the motor controller more accurately as before because the old method acted like a filter. The new method gives more details, but also more noise which is the reason we’ve added the new Interpolation filter to give you the choice and adjustability of how much detail and/or noise depending on the game you like.
  • Fixed issue with Formula V2 wheels on a DD base sometimes causing two torque messages when booting instead of one.
  • Fixed issue with 100% fan speed when booting the DD and showing 0°C.
  • The maximum steering angle of the DD is now 2520° of rotation, Auto setting still has 1080° as default.
  • DD display can now show information coming from a game or FanaLab as well. Button combination: Tuning Menu Button + D-Pad/Funky Switch UP.
  • Button combination to change DD screens doesn’t affect inputs to the game anymore.
  • Peak torque value next to the FFB graph on the DD display is now displayed for an extended duration of 10 seconds instead of the previous 5 seconds.
  • Added [LIN] Linearity Mode, [NIN] Natural Inertia, and [INT] FFB Interpolation to the Tuning Menu.
  • A new order of Tuning Menu Parameters: SEN, FF, LIN, SHO, ABS, FOR, SPR, DPR, NDP, NFR, FEI, INT, Inertia, BRF, MPS, APM.
  • Added dynamic tooltips in the Tuning Menu, which makes more effective use of the OLED display, and should make Tuning Menu adjustments more intuitive and less intimidating for beginners.
• Improved Natural Friction calculation.
• Fixed electrical end stop when reaching the max steering angle building up too early.
• Improved latency of FFB effects going to the motor by ~20%.
• Fixed FEI setting at 0 disabling FFB when booting the base.
• When changing SEN the selected steering angle will be smoothly enforced within 5seconds to prevent rapid movements of the wheel.
• Podium Hub cluster buttons: Added PS Button input when the Options button is pressed longer than 3s while the base is in PS4 mode.
• Improved Spring Effect calculation
• Improved Damper Effect calculation

Explaining the new Podium DD features:

• Linearity Mode “LIN” reduces maximum FFB output by a small amount to guarantee a consistent output between peaks and holding forces. Improved general linearity between game output and torque output.
• Force Interpolation “INT” (similar to the ‘Reconstruction Filter’ on OSW/SimuCube) filters and smoothens the incoming rough game FFB signal and increases the refresh rate. For example a 60Hz FFB signal (e.g. iRacing) looks like rough steps on a graph and can also feel like this, but using Force Interpolation, the signal is recreated as a smooth curve. In comparison to FEI, this filter is a lot more powerful as it doesn’t influence latency as much, has a better smoothing algorithm and doesn’t eliminate effects completely. The default setting is 6 which should feel very close to the older firmware version. The graph below shows how the Interpolation is working, red is the game output and green the result of INT. This also shows why true 1:1 FFB from the game can feel very noisy if Interpolation is turned off.

• Natural Inertia “NIN” simulates additional weight on the steering axis. This can be particularly useful when using light wheels like the P1 or McLaren GT3. It also makes the Natural Friction setting feel less ‘sticky’ on direction changes.
• New screen for Podium Display which shows telemetry from the game or third-party application like on the steering wheel. This will be expanded soon. Button combination is: Tuning Menu Button + D-Pad/Funky Switch UP to show the Legacy screen and Tuning Menu Button + D-Pad/Funky Switch DOWN to go back to the usual DD screens.

 

Known Issues and hints:

• FanaLab 1.12 is not compatible, you need to download 1.23 which is linked below as well.
• CSW V2.5: DRI settings are all acting like -5 which leads to too much dampening of the steering.
• The arrow buttons on the tuning menu page of the driver might affect other values as well, use dragging the bar instead.
• It’s normal and not a bug that after updating the base firmware the fan will run loud at 100% until you update the motor firmware as well.
• If your device is not shown in the game controller screen, use the driver installers repair function while the base is on and connected.
• The new features have default settings that work right out of the box with all previously posted recommended settings.
• As always after a motor update don’t forget to run the motor calibration on the settings tab in the driver to ensure it runs as smooth as possible.
• Race Room FFB: A user found out the following solution when he felt weird FFB in Race Room
  • Delete the FFB profiles (RCS files) in the following folder: my documents/my games/Simbin/Raceroom racing experience/userdata/control set. Then Start Race Room, go to controller profiles and click detect. Now choose the DD profile of your base and start from scratch.

Official Webpage – www.fanatec.com