How best to set VKB MCG Pro/Ult key bindings

[daddy1schlich]

Hi,

 

I'm thinking of upgrading to the VKB MCG Pro or Ult, but I see from the changelog that DCS has default profiles for a number of aircraft (e.g., MiG15, F-16C, A10C-II), but not all.  For other aircraft, such as the MiG21 or the Mi8-MTV2), what does DCS load if I make that my joystick?  Better to program in DCS, or in VKB config software??  Obviously, there are more default key binding files for the TM-Warthog joystick - another alternative for upgrade

 

Many thanks for any help!

 

Daddy Schlich

[Fri13]

4 minutes ago, daddy1schlich said:

Hi,

 

I'm thinking of upgrading to the VKB MCG Pro or Ult, but I see from the changelog that DCS has default profiles for a number of aircraft (e.g., MiG15, F-16C, A10C-II), but not all.  For other aircraft, such as the MiG21 or the Mi8-MTV2), what does DCS load if I make that my joystick?  Better to program in DCS, or in VKB config software??  Obviously, there are more default key binding files for the TM-Warthog joystick - another alternative for upgrade

 

Many thanks for any help!

 

Daddy Schlich

 

You don't mainly use VKB software for anything else than setting up how the Windows see the device inputs. You do all the functions in the DCS World itself (best for all modules in all gaming devices). 

 

If you play OLD games, like 90's or what does not understand DirectX and so on, but has lots of keyboard functions, then you need to use some software like Joystick Gremlin with Joy2Key that allows you to bind keyboard buttons to joystick inputs as if the game accepts something like 3 axis and 5 buttons only.

 

In DCS you just go through the normal configuration to bind what you want and where. All your profiles are saved by DCS by device and by date as well. So you can copy and paste those profiles between computers or installations. 

[dburne]

Yep just do all your binding in DCS, it has all you need to assign buttons/axis.

I highly recommend the Ultra grip with the Gunfighter Mk III. Ultra grip is metal and oh so sweet.

I personally use the 200mm extended one - the Gunfighter Pro L.

You can see my review of it - link in the sig.

[daddy1schlich]

Thanks both of you for the quick responses.  I've generally assigned key bindings in DCS, but they usually have been tweaks of a default that was designed for more generic sticks, and it appears that for the VKB sticks that I will have to take a more comprehensive approach if there is no VKB default profile.  But certainly less daunting than the VKB software!

 

And, dburne, thanks for the link to your review.  I am planning to start with this on tabletop, without an extension.  Step-by-step.  A further question - I've seen some YouTube videos that seem to state that you can adjust the GFIII clutch/dampeners so as not to have the joystick spring back to center.  That would seem to be a great alternative for helis to FBB sticks, which have never caught on (have a MS FFB2 I bought on ebay, but not the same high-end quality that I'm looking for now).  Am I getting up my hopes up, only to be dashed??

[dburne]

7 hours ago, daddy1schlich said:

Thanks both of you for the quick responses.  I've generally assigned key bindings in DCS, but they usually have been tweaks of a default that was designed for more generic sticks, and it appears that for the VKB sticks that I will have to take a more comprehensive approach if there is no VKB default profile.  But certainly less daunting than the VKB software!

 

And, dburne, thanks for the link to your review.  I am planning to start with this on tabletop, without an extension.  Step-by-step.  A further question - I've seen some YouTube videos that seem to state that you can adjust the GFIII clutch/dampeners so as not to have the joystick spring back to center.  That would seem to be a great alternative for helis to FBB sticks, which have never caught on (have a MS FFB2 I bought on ebay, but not the same high-end quality that I'm looking for now).  Am I getting up my hopes up, only to be dashed??

 

Yep you can adjust the dampers, I have mine turned in a few turns just to give more of a feel of a little resistance.

I have never tried turning them in far enough though to where the stick does not return to center.

Edited April 12, 2021 by dburne

[Weegie]

As the others have already said set the buttons and axes up in DCS

 

I use the VKB_Dev_Config software to set up the stick for button presses and how I want to use them. Examples are making a shift function to give you more Dx buttons (you can have 3 shifts, I only use one though), Tempo commands (short press and long press give different buttons), LED operation on the Black Box (and ultimate grip if you go that way). There are also a whole series of options for button behaviour as well as other functions I've never had the time to fathom.

 

You can also put in things like an axis reduction function, where pressing a button will reduce the virtual axis in relation to the physical, have the brake lever and trigger guard (which are axes) issue button presses in their range etc:

 

The VKB software is prety daunting on first use and the help manual really needs re-writing by a native English speaker as some of the descriptions are a little difficult to fathom. That said re-reading a few times gets across the ideas of what the functions do. I applaud VKB for developing the software as (IMHO) it is very powerful. However look at TARGET in TM, to reallly get the most out of it you need to script. It's the trade off of power vs user ease of use. Once you've been using the VKB_Dev_Config a few times it's not nearly so scary.

 

When you use it and download the program to the stick the functions reside in the stick firmware, so it doesn't eat up valuable computer resource.

 

I admit that I am a fan and biased, their hardware is expensive but from my experience (Fat Black Mamba and now Gunfighter with ultimate grip) it's reliable, precise and works iincredibly well.

 

On the clutches I have a 200mm extension like @dburne and have the clutches up at 3/4 (a bit more than standard), with #40 and #20 springs and a soft centre cam. It centers easily and it will bouce overcenter on release but the action is noticeably more damped than the Mamba, which has more or less the same internals but no clutches. It's really a trade on spring force and clutch friction rate. I'm thinking of reducing my spring tension still further, but not got around to it yet.

[daddy1schlich]

Thanks for the additional feedback.  Besides the quality of the stick, I really like the adjustability of the springs and cams, and the clutch.

 

I just placed my Order for the Ultimate.  I expect that I'll be using this stick for a long time, and so might as well go for the Ultimate.

 

Thanks, everyone, again for your advice.  I may be back with questions!!!

[dburne]

7 hours ago, daddy1schlich said:

Thanks for the additional feedback.  Besides the quality of the stick, I really like the adjustability of the springs and cams, and the clutch.

 

I just placed my Order for the Ultimate.  I expect that I'll be using this stick for a long time, and so might as well go for the Ultimate.

 

Thanks, everyone, again for your advice.  I may be back with questions!!!

 

 

Nice choice. The Ultimate grip is so sweet.

[streakeagle]

The MCG Pro is pretty much the equal or superior to any other grip unless you are a metal fanatic.

The Ultimate is better than the Pro is several ways beyond the metal grip. So if you can afford it and prefer metal, the Ultimate is the perfect choice.

I happen to prefer plastic that matches the quality of real grips, which are also plastic. The MCG Pro plastic feels really nice to me. The plastic feel was not a reason for me to get the Ultimate.

Despite not being a fan of metal, the Ultimate feels as nice as the Pro, but also has the weight that real stick grips have as well as even higher quality switches and optional axis/hat switch modules. It is the combination of improved switch options, switch quality/feel, and the comfortable rubberized texture on the side of the grip that make the Ultimate stand out from the pro. So, while I have no preference for the feel of metal, the metal gives the Ultimate a higher, more realistic weight while using a rubberized panel to help overcome my dislike of the unrealistic metal feeling.

Given that I own both, my only reason to switch back to the Pro after getting the Ultimate is for the use of the analog sticks as 8-way hats in some games that require this instead of the 4-way hat modules I have installed on the Ultimate. I literally get the best of both worlds with only a small firmware update and recalibration required to swap grips back and forth as needed.