Fortunately, MSFS handles engine
sounds in a fairly consistent and predictable way.

Yep, consistently unrealistic, with no prop noise at all.

The sound quality in MSFS is remarkably good -- in SOME of the aircraft, and
with the proper equipment.

For example, our sim set-up at the hotel has a full surround-sound system
with sub-woofer. When you wind up the Merlin in the P-51, it sings. When
you pull it back to idle, you can hear wind noise. When you kill the
engine, you can hear the prop windmilling.

And the rumble of the big radial engines in the Grumman Goose is wonderfully
done.

An indication of the importance of sound in the sim -- it's MUCH harder to
fly the sim with the sound turned off. You don't realize how often you use
aural cues in flight until they're not there. (Which, BTW, makes me really
admire the deaf pilots of the world. Back before the troll wars reduced
this group, there used to be a regular poster here named Henry Kisor who
belonged to the deaf pilot's association, and I was always impressed that he
was able to fly so well without aural cues. But I digress...)

Of course, if you're relying on your desktop computer's speaker, you're
absolutely correct -- the sounds are not there. But the sim software *is*
creating the proper sounds, mostly, but it does require a good quality
system to hear it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"