Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days, and flight simulation, of course, isn’t being left behind. With the advent of some impressive capabilities in recent months that have revolutionized key areas of our hobby, like ATC with BeyondATC and SayIntentions.ai, simmers have started to feel the impact of this new technology on their experience.
Today, we’re introducing you to a new AI-powered tool that does something a little different. Cabby, developed by FlyingArt (see SimBox and SimBrief Panel), is an addon designed to provide dynamic cabin crew announcements for Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane. This addon offers a more personalized and realistic simulation experience by allowing users to integrate their own voice for in-flight announcements!
Custom Voice Integration
Cabby’s coolest feature is its ability to incorporate custom voices. Users can record their own voice or that of a friend, partner, or family member to be used as either the captain or cabin crew.
This personalization adds a unique touch to each flight, making the in-flight experience truly one-of-a-kind. The software includes guidelines to help users produce high-quality recordings and offers flexibility for re-recording, subject to subscription limits.
Smart and Dynamic Announcements
In addition to custom voice integration, Cabby uses AI to create announcements based on real-time flight data. Unlike traditional addons that rely on repetitive pre-recorded messages, Cabby adjusts its announcements according to various flight parameters such as destination, weather, and flight duration. This ensures that the in-flight experience is more immersive and contextually accurate.
Seamless Integration with SimBrief
Cabby integrates smoothly with SimBrief. Users can import their SimBrief flight plans into Cabby, which then uses the detailed flight information to generate relevant announcements.
The software allows users to select from predefined voices or their custom recordings, adjust languages, and set the airline name.
Cabby also supports multiple languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Polish. This feature makes the addon accessible to a wider audience, enhancing the flight experience for non-English speakers and adding to the overall realism of the simulation.
Future Enhancements
Currently, Cabby automates all cabin announcements, but future updates are planned to introduce manual triggering. This will provide users with more control over the in-flight announcements, allowing for even greater customization.
Pricing and Availability
Cabby is available for a one-time purchase of approximately $35. For those seeking additional features, the Pro subscription, at $15 per month, offers access to premium voices and other customization options. Crucially, the custom voice feature is only available with the subscription.
It’s undeniable that these initial AI-powered products come with a higher price tag and often involve recurring subscription costs. However, as AI technology advances and processing becomes more cost-effective, we can expect these expenses to decrease over time. That’s the hope, at least!
For more details and to purchase Cabby, visit FlyingArt’s official website.
