*Notice: ASCA content is partially compatible with Prepar3D v5's EA mode (Enhanced Atmospherics) or Prepar3D v6's Legacy Clouds. When using volumetric clouds (P6), no ASCA support is available. When using legacy clouds, only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA. When using volumetric clouds (P5), only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA, and all other graphics categories are replaced by P3D's internal depiction. When using P3D v5 EA mode with Volumetric Clouds on (slider at any setting other than full left), cloud structures and cloud textures are also replaced by EA mode's trueSKY depiction. When not using EA mode at all (Enhanced Atmospherics unchecked), all categories from ASCA are depicted.
Active Sky Cloud Art (ASCA) is a new kind of graphics add-on for Flight Simulator X and Prepar3D that incorporates brand new technologies and content types to transform your skies and significantly increase realism, variation and dynamics.
The technology behind ASCA includes optional tight integration with Active Sky 2016, ASP4, ASP3D and ASP6 to enable features such as Real-Time Texture Dynamics, which allow you to manually change or have your textures automatically changed multiple times throughout a flight without the need to shut-down and restart your simulator! The variation experienced throughout a flight with AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 + ASCA is unprecedented, especially when flying through areas of varying weather conditions and severity. In addition, in ASCA's Full Dynamics theme, simultaneous variation of up to 8 different texture sets (128 cloud textures total) are provided including simultaneous texture resolution to provide increased performance for certain cloud types that don't require high resolution (such as overcast layers).
ASCA’s graphical content includes replacements/enhancements for everything above the horizon: Cirrus clouds, Cumulus clouds, Stratus clouds, Thunderstorm clouds, Sky colors and Lighting. But in addition to the graphical textures, ASCA also includes something very different: Brand New 3D Cloud Structures, which replace and/or enhance nearly every aspect of the cloud scene within the simulator! Thunderstorms are bigger, overcast is more full, light “few” humilis-type clouds are more visually appealing, and all cloud scenes are specifically tuned to match the ASCA texture content and provide maximum realism.
A primary design focus for ASCA was performance. From solid overcast, to towering cumulonimbus, everything was designed for the best visuals with minimal performance sacrifice. Careful 3D modeling of cloud structures and textures enables this, while creating realistic and unique variants of the real-world cloud types including stratus, nimbostratus, altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus humilis, cumulus mediocris, cumulus congestus, towering cumulus, stratocumulus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, cumulonimbus incus, cumulonimbus calvus and more.
Requirements
Windows Vista or later
Microsoft Flight Simulator X with SP2 or Acceleration OR FSX:Steam Edition OR Prepar3D v3 OR Prepar3D v4 OR Prepar3D v5* OR Prepar3D v6*
ASCA works with both FSX and P3D platforms on a single license
2GHZ processor or better
2GB RAM or better
1GB available hard drive space for standard resolution content
2GB available hard drive space for optional HD resolution content
Minimum monitor resolution to access all user interface features: 1280×800
Requires an online internet connection for normal usage. Online activation is mandatory. License is valid for one computer/installation only. Moving software to another computer will deactivate the previous computer. 10 automatic reactivations are permitted. Multiple-computer installations will require an individual ASCA license for each computer that it is installed on.
Recommended
3.0GHZ Processor or better
4GB RAM or better
5GB available hard drive space
Broadband high-speed internet connection
1440×900 or better resolution
*Notice: ASCA content is partially compatible with Prepar3D v5's EA mode (Enhanced Atmospherics) or Prepar3D v6's Legacy Clouds. When using volumetric clouds (P6), no ASCA support is available. When using legacy clouds, only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA. When using volumetric clouds (P5), only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA, and all other graphics categories are replaced by P3D's internal depiction. When using P3D v5 EA mode with Volumetric Clouds on (slider at any setting other than full left), cloud structures and cloud textures are also replaced by EA mode's trueSKY depiction. When not using EA mode at all (Enhanced Atmospherics unchecked), all categories from ASCA are depicted.
Flying only in VR , ASCA combined with Active Skyv (meteo engine) is a "must have".
Huge diversity of clouds , real time clouds texture, the immersion is perfect and the impact is very low even if the clouds layer is covered.
Top Ergänzung für Active Sky. Viele Wolkenmodelle und zwei
abwechslungsreiche Automodes. Wenn gewünscht auch mit
Himmelstexturen und verschiedenen Auflösungen.
Die Frameratefreundliche 1024er Auflösung ist völlig ausreichend.
HIFI hat mich noch nie enttäuscht.
i was previously using REX TD+SC which was o.k with AS16/P3D4 but Cloud art just takes it all to another level, and the weather is very realistic for my area.
Active Sky Cloud Art is definitelly one of my best purchases for P3D. It gives you very high detailed clouds which look fenomenal! However, they're so detailed, that when there is a lot of weather going on, your FPS will literally kill the whole simulator, not joking (this is, obviously, only with a weather engine). The clouds are 3d modeled, making them look better (in my opinion) from up close, than most of the other clouds addons give you.
And than, the pricetag; horrible. You basically pay €33 for a set of clouds. That's all, and oh, you want live weather? Here you go, pay €60 more for AS16/P4. If you look at pricing, I find HiFi a joke, you basically pay nearly €100 for weather. I do appreciate what they did with their gorgeous addons, but the pricing is terrible.
Overall, I would definitelly recommend this to you if you have some money to spend on your sim!
Long time user of Active Sky Products. Up until late I was using AS16 + Rex Textures + Soft Clouds. I was loading REX textures each time (sky, etc.) to match my flight. When I read about ASCA and its ability to dynamically load textures during flight, I thought this was really a game changer. Additionally, the ability to have textures and weather in a clean integrated packages was another plus. But, I was hesitant based on reviews. My experience goes to show you that you can't base your design solely on reviews. You have to try these yourself. ASCA is just a phenomenal product. The Active sky team continues to impress me. The sky texture variations, the cloud formations, the well integrated horizon with just the right amount of haze. All based on your location and conditions of flight. Fantastic. Flying the PMDG 777 around the world has never been so effortless and immersive at the same time. Bravo HiFi! Get it!
THE GOOD :
- THE INTEGRATION WITH AS16
- THE SKY IS REALLY GOOD
- THE SUN
- THE FOG, IT IS ALMOST REAL
- GOING THROW DE CLOUDS HAS A COOL EFFECT.
- YOU WILL HAVE A GREEN INFO LINE WITH THE UPDATE OF THE WEATHER AND MSGS WHEN ASCA LOADS/RENEW OTHER THEME.
THE BAD :
- YOU NEED TO SET "CLOUD COVERAGE" AT MAXIMUM AND IF IT IS CLOUDY.. GOOD LUCK WITH THE FPS.
- THE CLOUDS... LOOKS LIKE OIL PAINTING BY A MONKEY +_+
(YOU DECIDE IF USE AS16+REX4 SOFT CLOUDS OR NOT)
- IT IS EXPENSIVE EVEN WITH A 30% OFF.