REX Soft Clouds released

These look very nice I must say. Is this a standalone set (sets) or does it install into REX.. in my case REX E+OD?
ATB
DaveB:)
 
DaveB said:
These look very nice I must say. Is this a standalone set (sets) or does it install into REX.. in my case REX E+OD?
ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...

Seems to be stand alone Dave. I too have RE + OD and the cirrus layers still seem to be from that.
 
Hiya Roger:wavey:

Thanks for that. Looking again at the spec.. I'd guess you're right as it mentions the ability to start the sim. I wasn't going to buy anything else this year but hey.. what the heck:jump:
ATB
DaveB:)
 
Hmm.. finally got it installed and running. While the content is very good.. the installer is not their finest hour. I needed both NET.Framework4.5 and SQL Server LocalDB. While the install asks if you'd like to download the former.. it doesn't give any such help with LocalDB. Thanks to the link NC posted above.. I was able to download and install that and run the install routine again. This time.. the first window indicated FSX (Correct) and the second window pointed to my FSX location. While the install location was correct.. the Soft Cloud installer had put a load of rectangle symbols after the root directory. I let the installer run and it spit out a gallon of errors. I ran it again and removed the rectangle symbols and the install finally worked. That's a lot of work for what should be a very simple routine.

Onwards and upwards!

ATB
DaveB:)
 
For interest: Evidently 10 downloads are permitted but in my case I couldn't download more than once before getting the finger wagging message.
 
DaveB said:
Hmm.. finally got it installed and running. While the content is very good.. the installer is not their finest hour. I needed both NET.Framework4.5 and SQL Server LocalDB. While the install asks if you'd like to download the former.. it doesn't give any such help with LocalDB. Thanks to the link NC posted above.. I was able to download and install that and run the install routine again. This time.. the first window indicated FSX (Correct) and the second window pointed to my FSX location. While the install location was correct.. the Soft Cloud installer had put a load of rectangle symbols after the root directory. I let the installer run and it spit out a gallon of errors. I ran it again and removed the rectangle symbols and the install finally worked. That's a lot of work for what should be a very simple routine.

Onwards and upwards!

ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...

Especially from a company who's installers usually work flawlessly. :banghead:
 
I'm seeing the clouds momentarily disappear too. Not sure if this is ASA or the clouds. Never had a real problem in this area with ASN/REX E. This is a comparatively fresh install of FSX and I've not got around to putting ASN on yet (it needs ASA installed first as it was an upgrade). This has hastened the process!

EDIT: Installing ASN has got rid of the disappearing cloud problem;)

ATB
DaveB:)
 
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DaveB said:
I'm seeing the clouds momentarily disappear too. Not sure if this is ASA or the clouds. Never had a real problem in this area with ASN/REX E. This is a comparatively fresh install of FSX and I've not got around to putting ASN on yet (it needs ASA installed first as it was an upgrade). This has hastened the process!

EDIT: Installing ASN has got rid of the disappearing cloud problem;)

ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...

Dave, ASA / ASN ? I'm a little dense this morning, what do they stand for? Active Sky? or ? ... I don't have them, yet. Just the REX programs.
 
DaveB said:
I'm seeing the clouds momentarily disappear too. Not sure if this is ASA or the clouds. Never had a real problem in this area with ASN/REX E. This is a comparatively fresh install of FSX and I've not got around to putting ASN on yet (it needs ASA installed first as it was an upgrade). This has hastened the process!

EDIT: Installing ASN has got rid of the disappearing cloud problem;)
Click to expand...

So you have to buy ASN to "fix" the disappearing clouds??
 
Hiya:wavey:

ASA = Active Sky Advanced
ASN = Active Sky Next (the newest version)

If you already have REX/REX E+OD and you use (and like) the weather engine that comes with it.. you don't 'need' to buy another weather engine. I've used the Hi-Fi products for years and are comfortable with them. There's nothing particularly wrong with the REX E wx engine.. I just prefer the Active Sky version. For whatever reason.. these clouds didn't like ASA (or ASA didn't like these clouds) and on my first flight with Soft Clouds.. I noticed the clouds disappearing.. albeit for only a moment or so. I already had ASN but hadn't bothered to re-install it (yet) on the fresh FSX install. I did and the disappearing cloud problem went. ASN is much faster.. unbelievably so and is a fair step forward over ASA. I never tried Active Sky 2012 (which came in between ASA and ASN) as I was still pretty much full time FS9 then and was happy with the weather depiction off ASA in FS9.

There appears to be no uninstall/restore option with Soft Cloud so I guess you have to use REX E to restore your original/REX E choices. So.. it's not quite stand-alone.

ATB
DaveB:)
 
Thanks for that info, Dave. I've always used the built in weather engine until I got REX OD, etc. Have the whole REX series, and really like it. I'll see what happens when I finally get to actually get the time to fly. Still setting up FSX and P3Ds, on the new machine,but things keep getting in way. :banghead:.



Soft Clouds downloaded and installed with no problems for me.


Don H
 
Aren't these clouds what REX does with Texture Direct?

Perhaps a stupid question but Aren't these clouds what REX does with Texture Direct?

I'm reluctant to buy something I already have from a great company.
 
Thanks Roger I will try your suggestion.

Btw I installed the program and am very impressed.
The soft clouds look great. Well worth it.

Anthin.:applause:
 
b52bob said:
I want to get this but the one download thing has me concerned. The wifi here is so bad it usually takes me 2-3 tries before I can get a file. Recently downloaded orbx pnw and it took me two days and 7 tries before I got it, and yes, I'm also using download helper too!

guess I'll wait until it shows up in other stores to purchase.
Click to expand...

Hang tight neighbor, Sin City WiFi, Cox is a royal turtle since Dec 23rd. Took me about the same to DL PNW using the Hard and WiFi. Last I heard from Cox Security is here Lizard Lizard Sq we hunting ya rear lol. Lizard Sq is being a real PIA to SW Nevada.
 
JosefK said:
Perhaps a stupid question but Aren't these clouds what REX does with Texture Direct?

I'm reluctant to buy something I already have from a great company.
Click to expand...

No, they are different textures. Could they have been added to Texture Direct in an update? Maybe, but that's not my call. Anyway, they are a huge improvement! Especially the haze!!

Don H
 
Having had a look over at REX to see if there was any 'logical' way to remove them.. I noted a thread there confirming that these textures are different to anything yet released. They will ultimately be included in REX4.. I believe as a module. When this eventually happens.. anyone buying REX4 who already has Soft Clouds will be eligible for a discount.

ATB
DaveB:)
 
Thanks, DaveB.

Got a short test flight in last night. KSEE - KVAX The main difference I noticed was the haze effect. Just like I remember it in San Diego. Much better than the solid wall effect we usually see in the sim. I'm sure the clouds are much better, also, but it was basically a clear, grey day according to the Rex Essential+OD weather engine. Unfortunately, everytime I try to post pics today, my browser crashes. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
Funny you mention crashes.. I've used Active Sky Next twice with the new clouds and FSX has crashed each time. The first time, I got a utils.dll error (??) and the second.. the sim just froze (FSX Not Responding). The second occasion was my first flight of the day.. I'd taken off from Culdrose in the Alabeo Staggerwing and was just about level with St Mawgan. No way was the system pushed.. had run out of VAS or anything like that so I tried to load alternate clouds using REX E+OD. Loaded up again using ASN and this time, I got a lot of haze but no real clouds as such so.. I used RESTORE from within REX to get my default clouds back. Flew the same flight again using ASN and the default clouds (I think they're default.. I'm not sure now!!) and the RAZBAM Harrier and it held fine all the way 'up the loop'. Had to quit there as SWMBO turned up with dinner.
The first crash could be down to the CS C130 though to be honest.. I've not seen that error throw up before. The second.. I've no explanation. I do get a feeling that my setup doesn't like these clouds.

ATB
DaveB:)
 
DaveB said:
Having had a look over at REX to see if there was any 'logical' way to remove them.. I noted a thread there confirming that these textures are different to anything yet released. They will ultimately be included in REX4.. I believe as a module. When this eventually happens.. anyone buying REX4 who already has Soft Clouds will be eligible for a discount.

ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...

Duly noted, thank you DaveB.
 
You're welcome Josef;)

I've just done another flight with ASN and without Soft Clouds in the Harrier from Yeovilton, up to the Midlands, then west to Wales.. down the Loop and across to Valley. Solid from start to finish. Clouds/sky are default (confirmed by no volumetric effect) so it does look very much like there's something about Soft Clouds that my hardware/software combination doesn't like. Will wait and see if anyone else is having similar probs:(

ATB
DaveB:)
 
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