Finding the right force feedback settings on PS4
Thomas Jackermeier
Member
The CSL Elite Racing Wheel is the most compatible racing wheel out there. It works with all PS4 and PC games as well as all Xbox One games if you connect a Xbox One steering wheel to it.
Finding the right setting is easy but you need to know how to do it. Therefore I will give you some guidance how to tune your force feedback settings.
First of all you need to get the latest firmware. Please make sure that the wheel is in PC mode (red) if you open the game controller options to do the firmware update. It also works on an Apple PC if you install Windows on it.
Some games (e.g. Assetto Corsa, WRC 7) also require that you first configure the game with the Dualshock controller and choose a wheel in the controller options menu.
Selecting the right mode for PS4 is important. You need to do that before starting the game.
For most games you can use the blue mode. This list will tell you what games require the compatibility mode (purple).
For Dirt Rally, F1 2015 and Project Cars 1 I recommend to use the yellow mode. You need to press and hold the mode button for 10 seconds to go to yellow compatibility mode.
Please note that Project Cars 2 currently has a major bug in the support of our wheel so we recommend to use the purple mode until this is fixed. They are fully working on it.
Every new game will use the blue mode so it will get easier.
In game settings:
The most important is to avoid force feedback clipping. This means the game sends out signals which are to high for the motor to reproduce. You will lose fine signals from the road. If the ff is very active on straights but in corners you only feel the full power but no more details then you probably have clipping. Lower the ff strength in the game (not the wheel) to avoid clipping.
I also suggest to add some small dead zone on the pedal axis which will avoid that you accidentally press a pedal if your foot rests on it.
Tuning parameters on the wheel:
FEI Force Effects Intensity
Always start at 100% and if the effects are too sharp or there is a strong and noisy rattle which you do not like then turn it down to a lower value.
FF Force Feedback
Some games like GTS do not have the option to adjust overall force feedback strength. Therefore you can reduce the strength in wheel. Otherwise I would always suggest to keep this value at 100 and adjust the ff strength in game.
SPR Spring
Very few games use spring effects instead of force effects. This value controls the signal coming from the game. Keep it at 100 unless you notice dull force feedback because there is a permanent spring over all other force effects.
DPR Damper
This option controls only the damper effect signals coming from the game. It really makes sense to keep it at 100 unless an effect really annoys you. Usually a damper makes sense for example when the car is standing and you try to turn the wheel.
DRI Drift
The default is -5 but all values from -5 to 0 will add a damper over all other effects. A natural damper will avoid shaking on straights and also make the car feel more realistic but you might want to choose a higher value if you prefer a faster response from the wheel. Values above 0 will use motor power to artificially accelerate the steering wheel. Please note that this can cause the wheel to shake heavily if you release it. Those higher values are recommended for heavy steering wheels or for drifting in games.
And if you think that you screwed up all settings then simply make a reset by pressing the Tuning menu button for 10 seconds until you see "rst" on the display.
Please let me know if you want to know more or still need help.
Finding the right setting is easy but you need to know how to do it. Therefore I will give you some guidance how to tune your force feedback settings.
First of all you need to get the latest firmware. Please make sure that the wheel is in PC mode (red) if you open the game controller options to do the firmware update. It also works on an Apple PC if you install Windows on it.
Some games (e.g. Assetto Corsa, WRC 7) also require that you first configure the game with the Dualshock controller and choose a wheel in the controller options menu.
Selecting the right mode for PS4 is important. You need to do that before starting the game.
For most games you can use the blue mode. This list will tell you what games require the compatibility mode (purple).
For Dirt Rally, F1 2015 and Project Cars 1 I recommend to use the yellow mode. You need to press and hold the mode button for 10 seconds to go to yellow compatibility mode.
Please note that Project Cars 2 currently has a major bug in the support of our wheel so we recommend to use the purple mode until this is fixed. They are fully working on it.
Every new game will use the blue mode so it will get easier.
In game settings:
The most important is to avoid force feedback clipping. This means the game sends out signals which are to high for the motor to reproduce. You will lose fine signals from the road. If the ff is very active on straights but in corners you only feel the full power but no more details then you probably have clipping. Lower the ff strength in the game (not the wheel) to avoid clipping.
I also suggest to add some small dead zone on the pedal axis which will avoid that you accidentally press a pedal if your foot rests on it.
Tuning parameters on the wheel:
FEI Force Effects Intensity
Always start at 100% and if the effects are too sharp or there is a strong and noisy rattle which you do not like then turn it down to a lower value.
FF Force Feedback
Some games like GTS do not have the option to adjust overall force feedback strength. Therefore you can reduce the strength in wheel. Otherwise I would always suggest to keep this value at 100 and adjust the ff strength in game.
SPR Spring
Very few games use spring effects instead of force effects. This value controls the signal coming from the game. Keep it at 100 unless you notice dull force feedback because there is a permanent spring over all other force effects.
DPR Damper
This option controls only the damper effect signals coming from the game. It really makes sense to keep it at 100 unless an effect really annoys you. Usually a damper makes sense for example when the car is standing and you try to turn the wheel.
DRI Drift
The default is -5 but all values from -5 to 0 will add a damper over all other effects. A natural damper will avoid shaking on straights and also make the car feel more realistic but you might want to choose a higher value if you prefer a faster response from the wheel. Values above 0 will use motor power to artificially accelerate the steering wheel. Please note that this can cause the wheel to shake heavily if you release it. Those higher values are recommended for heavy steering wheels or for drifting in games.
And if you think that you screwed up all settings then simply make a reset by pressing the Tuning menu button for 10 seconds until you see "rst" on the display.
Please let me know if you want to know more or still need help.
Comments
Just when I thought I had the optimal settings tuned in Thomas comes with a new tutorial J
Thanks tho for reconfirming my/our thrust in your products and aftercare..
Hi guys, thanks Thomas.
No doubt even with some initial issue about Fanatec.
Great products, great customers service.
I love your wheel base and pedals and i will very very happy when everything will be ok with PJC2 (brake pedal most of all).
GTS is already really good in compatibility mode.
Thanks for the FFb guide, now i've something to try to change to implement my driving simulation
Hi Davide, in English only in this blog please.
I'm italian too and you can write to me in mp if you like it.
CSL Elite is official licensed for PS4 but you i've to choose the right one (not XBOX's one)
They work fine via USB on PC or via PS2 on my old CSR Wheel. I opened a Support Ticket but there isnt any solution for over 10 Days now.
I like the Wheel Base but im thinking of sending the Wheel back to be honest, because downgrading to the CSL Elite Pedals isnt an option.
I use the Wheel only on PC Win10 home 64bit
When i start the wheel everything is working fine, when i open up the property page, and i change something and press "ok" or "übernehmen" then the wheel suddenly disconnect ( its not shown on the property page anymore), the fan starts to run, but the wheel is "dead" , it don´t react anymore.(the red light from the mode also goes out)
I have to pull the power plug , to start it again...
sometimes it happens directly when i press "ok", sometimes it closes the property page normal , but when i open it again, the crash happens.
when i start the wheel and don´t open the property page, i could play a game and everything is working fine.
I have already the new "fall creators update" for Windows 10
i don´t know if its something with the driver , the wheel or maybe Windows?
I already downloaded the driver again, also i reflashed the firmware and installed the driver again, and changed the USB2 Port.
I mean normaly i don´t need to change anything in the property page, so i don´t know if the error was there from the beginning.
If i don´t change anything in the property page, i can use the wheel normaly, but it feels not good to know something is wrong...