Beginning on October 8th, 2024, CRC will include integrated AudioForVATSIM (AFV) capabilities. The integrated AFV will replace the standalone AFV client, as well as Vector/TrackAudio for those who use that instead. The update to CRC will be automatic.

Initial Setup

After the update, you’ll need to go into the “General Settings” dialog in CRC (accessible from the menu in the top left of the window's title bar) and setup your audio devices before you can control.

This process is similar to how you did it in the original AFV client. You’ll be able to specify your microphone device, headphones device, and a speaker device. You will also be able to set up to 2 push-to-talks which can be either a joystick button or a keyboard button. An added bonus to CRC’s implementation is the ability to change the levels of your headphones and speakers during your session. The sliders in this dialog box can be adjusted without needing to disconnect audio.

Additionally, in the General Settings dialog you’ll find a box you can un-tick to disable the built in AFV integration and return to AFV or TrackAudio. Please only do this if you are experiencing issues with the built-in AFV. We'd kindly ask you report any issues you experience with the built-in AFV to us using the issues channel on Discord or by filing a ticket on the website so we can remedy them as soon as possible, or forward them on to the appropriate person.

Voice Switch

Also new is the “Voice Switch” window in CRC. This is the panel where you will be able to control which frequencies you are listening and transmitting on. By default it will have the position you’re signed in as, which you will not be able to remove.

There’s a few buttons of note to go over here.

The RX button enables receiving (listening) on the frequency. For your primary position (the one you signed in as), you will not be able to disable receive.

The TX button enables transmitting (talking) on the frequency.

The SPKR button allows you to switch a particular frequency between coming out of the headphone device and speaker device you selected in General Settings.

You can add additional frequencies using the “Add Secondary Frequency” button. From there, you can select any other position in ZNY and add that frequency to listen or transmit on. Yes, this finally means that you will be able to cover positions “above” your own, for instance someone working Ground will be able to cover Tower when they step away for a moment. Please note that transmitting control instructions (messages other than a simple message that the other controller has stepped away and will return shortly) on someone else’s frequency is only permitted if (a) you are certified for that position, and (b) the other controller has asked you to. The RX/TX buttons for each position will also control the frequencies you receive and transmit text on through the text chat window.

The XC (cross couple) button will cross-couple all transceivers used for that frequency. This button is really only useful to people covering a large geographic area as it will re-transmit all pilot transmissions so that, for instance, a pilot on one side of ZNY won’t unknowingly step on a pilot from the other side.

The XCA (cross couple all) button is similar to the XC button from the old AFV client. This button will enable pilots on one frequency with XCA enabled to hear pilots on other frequencies with XCA enabled. It’s recommended you do this when you’re covering for another controller so that pilots don’t unknowingly step on each other.

There will also be a trash can icon next to secondary positions so you can remove them when you don’t need them anymore.

You'll also see an “Extend Primary Frequency” button available only for TRACON and Center controllers. This will allow you to extend your frequencies to transmitters for another position. This may be useful, for instance, for people on EWR or LGA who would like to cover Catskill but are having difficulty hearing aircraft on the ground or in the air at those airports. Normally the EWR and LGA positions don’t include the Catskill transmitters, but they can be added manually with this button and selecting the Catskill position. Beyond circumstances like this you should not need to use this button in everyday controlling. If you experience issues with radio coverage, please raise an issue in the discord issues channel or via a ticket on the website.

Please also note that there is no longer a permanent display of the callsign of a transmitting pilot. In order to view the most recent transmissions from pilots, for example to find someone who has a stuck mic, you can use the “.lasttx” command in either your Tower Cab window, STARS or ERAM scope, or in the text chat window's textbox. The vZNY CRC config also has this command accessible as simply ".l". This shortcut may not be available when using CRC in an ARTCC other than ZNY.

Further reading can be done in the CRC Documentation's Voice section and the General Settings section.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to post in the CRC Questions channel in Discord or submit a ticket on the website. Issues can be posted in the issues channel on Discord or a ticket on the website.