FreePIE/VJOY - MIDI input and Keyboard Emulator

[InfinityWingman]

 

 

Greetings -

 

I figured out a good way to use any MIDI controller as an input to DCS including MIDI rotary encoders, which wasn't all that easy to do.

 

Using open source VJoy and FreePIE, I've found this setup to work really well. A MIDI keyboard is probably not an ideal control panel, but I've have one on my desk for years next to the throttle. I use it in VR to control things like cockpit lighting, NV googles, flaps, etc. It's pretty easy to add stuff to it.

 

FreePIE uses python scripting to map controllers like MIDI, mouse, keyboard, joysticks and even trackIR and many other things together. It supports VJoy, which provides a virtual joystick that appears in DCS. For example, you can set up FreePIE to push a button on the virtual joystick if you press a button on the MIDI controller. You can then map it in DCS easily.

 

I also replaced my keyboard emulator (JoyToKey) with it, so I have everything pulled together into one script file. For example, I set up the dial on the left of the throttle to act as a rotary switch to toggle through 8 different views based on the position of the dial.

 

I attached the script that I use which has some examples. Unless you have the same MIDI keyboard (PMIDIKPD50) and the TM16000M, you'll need to heavily modify the script. However, hopefully the examples are helpful. The timing configuration in the script for the rotary encoders is my main contribution. I could not find any other solutions for that, so this is what I came up with.

 

Would like to know if anyone is doing something similar or if there are good midi controllers worth looking at.

 

 

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dcs_pie.zip

[The LT]

Genius!!!!! Thanks!

[Sprool]

@Zappa : Would love to make use of my Korg NanoKontrol2 for extra buttons & sliders in DCS, but cannot get freepie to recognise the controller.

[InfinityWingman]

@Zappa : Would love to make use of my Korg NanoKontrol2 for extra buttons & sliders in DCS, but cannot get freepie to recognise the controller.

 

The NanoKontrol looks like a great input controller for DCS.

 

This project might help you get it working:

 

https://artemis.forumchitchat.com/post/using-usb-midi-input-device-nanokontrol2-for-engineering-console-6487613?trail=45

[Sprool]

Brilliant - I came across this earlier after a few frustrating hours trying to get other jstk emulators working under Win 10, this guys github and script got it working pretty easily, now I have 8 sliders, 8 knobs and 35 push buttons to play with along wiht the 12 on my hotas joystick. Best thing for me is a rotary knob for rudder trim, a decent slider for view zoom (my hotas rocker was falling apart) and I need to decide what to do with the rest now ;)

[Drakoz]

Thanks for the post zappa!

 

I have an Arturia Beatstep which has 17 encoder knobs and 16 pads (very similar to the keyboard pictured by zappa but no piano keys). It is relatively small and with software to convert MIDI to keyboard keys or axis info, it can be an excellent flight sim controller. They are cheap (about $100 new, or $60 on eBay) and you get a lot for that money. I mean 16 rotary encoders - I can't build a DIY 16 encoder box on my own for that price. I was planning to use the encoders to turn radio knobs primarily, but also light dimmers and other multi-position switches or trim wheels.

 

There are several MIDI to keyboard software options, but none of the ones I looked at where turn key, or well done enough for prime time. FreePie is a great choice for those willing to do custom code. I was planning to write some custom software to do this eventually. Many MIDI controllers have RGB color LEDs on their pads, so I wanted to use data from DCS (via DCSBios) to also set pad LED color based on button states in the aircraft (e.g. the autopilot modes on the Blackshark). But like so many things, this is a long term project. So I'll try out the your FreePie script first. Thanks!

 

https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/beatstep/overview

 

[InfinityWingman]

Drakoz - That's an awesome controller! You're right. It's a lot like my keyboard without the keys getting in the way.

 

I ended up building a DCS-BIOS VR box (also emulates a joystick at the same time)

 

https://github.com/msdlogic/VR_Toggle_Box/

 

I've been primarily using that. I wanted a lot of toggle switches vs rotaries, but I'm always looking for good options for midi controllers. A bi-directional Midi to DCS-BIOS piece of software would be very interesting. DCS-BIOS is a very simple protocol. I thought about doing a free-pie plugin for it.

[Sprool]

@Zappa that is really cool, next step - complete custom cockpit?! Hers the start of my mapping on the Korg Nano for the F-18

Edited April 16, 2020 by Sprool