Enviro! 2.1

Here's an example screen that shows you the current bank playing and which file is selected next and when.

have been looking for "just" an ATC background chatter player for a long time now. My flights have been too quiet, and it's time that I find one that I like.

I have discovered Enviro! 2.1

Enviro! lets you simply assign up to 10 file folders filled with ATC .wav files. You could have 10 for each region of the globe, if you have access to wav files in different accents.

Enviro! was developed by Rob Visser and Rene van Dop. The features of this little program are lengthy. I primarily tested the background ATC function as that's what I had the need for. However, Enviro!'s complete list of features are:

Some of the options you have are shown here. Note how easily you can customize your time delay between sound files, volume levels and more!

I use Enviro! for two main functions. 1) To dump as many ATC wav files as I can possibly find, into about 6 of the 10 "banks". 2) To act as an FS2000 wav "cache" system, where I can "pre-load" sound effects ahead of time.

I have filled some of the banks with US based lingo and some with lingo from other parts of the world. We have many such files available here at FlightSim.Com. Just put in a search for "ATC chatter" to pull up the files.

Now when using FS2000's system, some of the newer reverse thrust sound effects you might get from say, Phoenix Simulations 747-400, require pre-loading before a landing. Otherwise, you'll get a pause just after touchdown when you activate the sound. The same goes for the gear or any other files that may cause a big gap in the action. No matter how much RAM you seem to have (I have 384), any wav files over about 200k need loading before you want to use them. But, you don't want to hear them play, you just want them to load. So, what I did was to lower the volume of the files I was interested in and place them in one of the 10 file folders that Enviro! uses. This way, for instance, before takeoff, I'd play the gear up sound a few times (remember I made this one quiet). Before landing sometime, I'd play the reverser sound file a few times. This way after touchdown, it is much less likely I'll have a big pause in the action!

Launch your favorite flight simulator right from the menu tab.

The only problems I've had with Enviro, is sometimes if you have a file in one folder that is particularly long (like I have a big cabin briefing sound file I got somewhere), it may play only part of it, or stop playing other wav files after that. I am not sure why this happens. For the most part, reasonable length files will play correctly, and then scan or randomly play all the others in the bank you're working from until you select a different bank.

Enviro! is an easy-to-use program that you'll get used to within minutes, and soon be searching for some great ATC wav files to put into place. If you don't have time for full interactive based ATC flights, but want the audio effects of real ATC over your loudspeaker, checklist capabilities and the ability to play other wav files (perhaps for caching or whatever) then you really ought to get Enviro! 2.1 today! And, don't forget, it will work with MSFS, FLY! and X-Plane!

Enviro! 2.1 gets a 93 out of 100 possible points.

Download Enviro! 2.1

Visit the Enviro! 2.1 Homepage.

Peter James / FlightSim.Com VP / Piper Cheyenne IIXL Pilot
peter@flightsim.com