Control Mapping the Gazelle cockpit

[Hawkeye60]

I was cold starting the 324L tonight, and after getting things up and running, I sat in the cockpit and checked to see if I had mapped all the available controls (switches, dials, buttons) to physical switches etc.

 

To my delight, I do! I can ramp start and operate the entire helicopter without ever touching the mouse! I even use voice attack to start the mission. Some of the key binds used are from Devrim, LiveBait and me.(found in flare key bind thread) and can not be assigned to a normal switch or button so they are mapped though saitek pro panels.

 

I think this the first aircraft in DCS I've done this to. The A-10 and P51 close second and third.

It's not that I don't have enough controls available to do others, It seems I've been bitten by the Gazelle Bug.

 

I do not have room for a home cockpit but have built a decent "panel"

 

My control set up contains

 

Warthog hotas

Saitek pro pedals

track ir 5

Viacom

Saitek bip, radio, multi, switch and tpm panels using Arturdcs's pro panels

VR insight multi switch panel

Cougar mfds on top of liliput usb monitors

4 saitek fips (do not work with SA342)

DSD Flt1

2 home made button boxes using BBI-32's with encoders, rotary switches and 2 and 3 position switches.

 

All the above running on powered usb hubs.

 

I must say, She's the most fun I've had in months.:)

 

Thanks for the Gazelle.......I think I'll call her Tasha:music_whistling:

 

Update,

 

With a Rift added to my pit, I tried the Gazelle again.

I did not use the in cockpit mouse or headset pointer to operate any controls.

 

All done by feel, (I know the controls pretty well) and Hotas. After a couple of tries, it became almost second nature to start and prepare the chopper for flight.

All important flight and combat commands mapped to Hotas so once in flight my hands pretty much stay on the controls. This in combination with Viacom is perfect!:thumbup:

 

I did create a voice activated NADIR, Which works like a charm!

 

And I thought my pit wouldn't get any use!!!

 

Have a safe landing:pilotfly:

Edited July 15, 2016 by Hawkeye60
Adding a Rift

[Mt5_Roie]

As a pit builder myself (currently on my third), I always appreciate when things can be mapped easily.

 

Enjoy the Gazelle! She's tons of fun.

[Hivewasp]

having only "push" buttons and no "switch" buttons, I wonder how I could map something like the altitude or speed hold AP switch and not having to keep the button pushed in.... any clue ?

[Chic]

having only "push" buttons and no "switch" buttons, I wonder how I could map something like the altitude or speed hold AP switch and not having to keep the button pushed in.... any clue ?

I have Push buttons and momentary switches mapped to cockpit switch functions. Works fine.

[C6_Hellfrog]

editing key bindings won't work for now on SA342L because of new dll, different from one used by default.lua in SA342M in previous versions

for direct input it should work

[Hawkeye60]

Rift update in first post

[Mt5_Roie]

Will have to fully map all my keys on my controls and pit. I think it'll be a good challenge.

 

I use a trackball that can sit on my left knee when I fly, so it's not too much of a burden to use it....a mouse would be odd during a flight though.

 

Rift update in first post

[Hawkeye60]

Another possibility for someone who wants a hands on controller for Rift here,

 

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-nostromo

 

I have the Nostromo n52, (not made anymore) and have used it in DCS before I built my pit.

 

May need to hook it back up and try it in VR. It's very comfortable to use and may add a more convenient control sitting next to the throttle.

[SnowTiger]

I did create a voice activated NADIR, Which works like a charm!

 

Do you use VAC for your voice commands ?

If so, any chance you'd consider sharing a list of voice commands you created for the Gazelle ?

 

I have had a licensed copy of VAC for a while but I have yet to use it (too busy trying to learn everything over and over again as patches continue to make changes) so I haven't seen the advantage of using VAC until the dust settles and I can set things up once and for all (at least that's my hope !).

 

Thanks in Advance.

[Hawkeye60]

Do you use VAC for your voice commands ?

If so, any chance you'd consider sharing a list of voice commands you created for the Gazelle ?

Yes, Voice attack and Viacom 2.0. I did create the NADIR profile from scratch.

 

The commands pretty much follow the names on the panel, ie: one, two, three, Polar, auxiliary etc. you may find variations of a word which will work better. It only took a few minutes to set up once the points below were completed.

 

A few things I've found,

 

1) Get a good mic.

 

2)Spend time in windows voice training.

 

3)Train the words you are going to use in the windows speech menu dictionary. This made a BIG difference. It takes into account the way you say a command.

 

4)Assign a couple of buttons on your controls in voice attack to start and stop listening. My start button command has, Start voice attack listening and open the command menu in DCS. These I assigned to my warthog throttle for easy of use.

 

I suggest you look at the profiles available in the forums to see how things are done, though I ended up making my own!

 

It's a great program, works very well using the Rift!:)

 

Hope this Helps.

[Mt5_Roie]

So funny somewhat related story.....lets go back to 1992. My friend just got a Macintosh LC II. They had this program where you can program you speech on it to run commands. So you could say something like, "file...quit" and it would quit the app. Well my friend always had this habit of putting me on speakerphone when I called him. I also knew he was always on his computer. So every now and then I'd yell, "Special....shutdown" and shutdown his machine. He never found it funny back then, but we laugh about it these days.

[DarkCrow]

So funny somewhat related story.....lets go back to 1992. My friend just got a Macintosh LC II. They had this program where you can program you speech on it to run commands. So you could say something like, "file...quit" and it would quit the app. Well my friend always had this habit of putting me on speakerphone when I called him. I also knew he was always on his computer. So every now and then I'd yell, "Special....shutdown" and shutdown his machine. He never found it funny back then, but we laugh about it these days.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SnowTiger]

Thanks Hawkeye60 for the detailed reply.

I appreciate the tips.

I guess it's time I get down to figuring out this software.

 

PS> I have used voice recognition software (DNS) quite a bit but not for a while now.

[Len62]

Is there yet a way to edit the key bindings for the L & M models? I have an X-55 and the toggles on the throttle only work if you hold them in place. Is there a way to make them latch (don't like using the Saitek software, would rather do it directly)? Even some of the buttons on the stick and throttle only act like push buttons.

[SnowTiger]

Unfortunately the OPTIONS menu .. where you can customize your keybindings, does not separate the L and M models.

The downside to this is that it requires 2 separate buttons or triggers to fire rockets/guns/HOT3's instead of a single button/trigger to fire the weapons regardless of which model you are in. This makes no sense considering we can only fly one model at a time, I suggest that we should only have to select the Trigger to Fire whatever weapons are available, regardless which model you are in. If in the M model, the trigger fires the HOT3's and if in the L model the trigger fires the rockets or gun etc. It's stupid to have to set up separate buttons to fire all these weapons when we all have a limited number of buttons on our Stick to begin with, regardless which stick you use.

[borchi_2b]

according to our informations the pilot fires the gun with his trigger and the rockets with a pickle button. already in the l version the weapon release is saperated.

 

please take in consideration that in a real M version the pilot is not in control of the weapons at all. Thanks

[Len62]

I don't have an issue with setting up the controls for firing guns/rockets. What I am trying to do is assign toggles on the x55 throttle to the master arm and AP master switches. The toggles auto return to the center position when not held in place. For instance I have the L model left pylon cover and the arming switch mapped so that when I toggle up the cover opens and it stays open when the toggle returns to center, also when I toggle the arming switch it stays on when the toggle returns to center, just like I would expect them to.

Now if I map a toggle to the Master Arm switch, when I toggle the switch on it only stays on as long as I hold the toggle in place, when it returns to center the switch goes to off. Same thing happens with the AP master switch. What I am trying to find out is there a way to make the "switches" stick using the toggles? Not sure if the stick/throttle lua files can be edited to force that. Mapping those switches to buttons on the throttle results in the same action and it appears to only be an issue with the switches on the main control panel.

[SUNTSAG]

I made this video some time ago showing how I mapped my X55.....it might be useful for some

 

[SnowTiger]

according to our informations the pilot fires the gun with his trigger and the rockets with a pickle button. already in the l version the weapon release is saperated.

 

please take in consideration that in a real M version the pilot is not in control of the weapons at all. Thanks

 

The only problem with this is, most times there is only ever one person flying (unless you want to use the Multi-Player Dual thingy).

Without the second human, there is only 1 HOTAS which has limited buttons and switches etc to work with.

If it were going to be 100% accurate and realistic, we wouldn't be getting Trim Controls in the Huey, Mi-8, BlackShark and now Gazelle that we have (to mimic how the Cyclic works in the real thing).

So why can't we mimic who's firing what with what i.e. 1 person flying who has 1 HOTAS who has to run ALL the Flight and Weapons with 1 HOTAS.

 

So to simplify, 1 Trigger should shoot everything available in the Gazelle.

OR the L Model should have Separate Options from the M Model.

Currently we must have 1 button to fire HOT3's and another to fire Rockets and the Gun. In no case will we ever be doing both in a single flight. So why must we have separate functions to fire those ? It makes NO SENSE !!

[RogCamp]

I have Push buttons and momentary switches mapped to cockpit switch functions. Works fine.

 

I would sure like to know how you make it work?

 

Any buttons or switches that I assign on the Gazelle will not stay on or off unless the button is held which renders any mapping of controls useless.

 

Is there any way to get around this or do you have no other choice than to use the mouse for the Gazelle?

[Hawkeye60]

I would sure like to know how you make it work?

 

Any buttons or switches that I assign on the Gazelle will not stay on or off unless the button is held which renders any mapping of controls useless.

 

Is there any way to get around this or do you have no other choice than to use the mouse for the Gazelle?

My controls have switches which can be "open" or "closed"

 

Not push buttons.

 

When closed, they continue to send the command thereby keeping the cockpit switch "on"

 

Perhaps you should look into a button box or similar.

This would solve a lot of problems.

 

Having encoders is a game changer as well for controlling all dials.

 

Try to get one with both. You will not regret it.

 

Hope this helps

[Endmonster]

So to simplify, 1 Trigger should shoot everything available in the Gazelle.

 

I am using a X52 Pro and the fire trigger has two steps ("Trigger" and "2nd Trigger"). So I put guns/rockets on the 1st trigger and HOTs on the 2nd trigger.

 

No matter which version of the Gazelle I am flying, I am using only one joystick "button".

[BaD CrC]

We are still missing the radios though. Can't switch the radio management panel or dial a new frequency on PR4G/HF, AFAIK.

[SageInferno]

Hey Hawkeye60

 

Any chance you mind sharing the VoiceAttack profile? I am new to the program and its not all working like you describe.

 

Thanks

 

Sage

[Hawkeye60]

Hey Hawkeye60

 

Any chance you mind sharing the VoiceAttack profile? I am new to the program and its not all working like you describe.

 

Thanks

 

Sage

 

I have tried this before and it does not work well with other users.

 

What is the issue you are having?

 

I will try to help.