Pico 4: how to set it up for DCS?

[TED]

1 hour ago, NAM said:

It is not yet released.. only available in openxr toolkit discord.

You can download the file with the instruction and support from there.

https://discord.gg/WXFshwMnke

 

Ah ok. Thanks. I have already installed and use the openXR toolkit. It is a great thing! Waiting patiently for the full openXR integration in that case, so I can get rid of steamvr hopefully. 

[MIghtymoo]

2 hours ago, NAM said:

It is not yet released.. only available in openxr toolkit discord.

You can download the file with the instruction and support from there.

https://discord.gg/WXFshwMnke

 

Have succesfully installed VDXR. Works great, but had to do the following:

1. Remove my installed Quad Fov Rendering (got wild stuttering frames, untill removed).

2. Install VDXR (beta installer)

3. Install the newest version of Quad Fov Rendering

4. In VR tab in DCS, I set PD to 1.2 (optional and according to GPU and taste). 

No configuration was needed.

[Qcumber]

36 minutes ago, MIghtymoo said:

4. In VR tab in DCS, I set PD to 1.2 (optional and according to GPU and taste

Try increasing QVFR centre to 1.8 in the user config file and leave PD at 1. This should give you great visuals and less performance hit than PD 1.2. 

[bpremus]

I was not downloading it from discord but from github: https://github.com/mbucchia/VirtualDesktop-OpenXR . You can find some intermediate MSBuild(s) in actions tab and dev comments what is wrong with each. Installed it then with xr runtime picker selected open xr and started the game.

[MIghtymoo]

37 minutes ago, bpremus said:

I was not downloading it from discord but from github: https://github.com/mbucchia/VirtualDesktop-OpenXR . You can find some intermediate MSBuild(s) in actions tab and dev comments what is wrong with each. Installed it then with xr runtime picker selected open xr and started the game.

Is it newer than the file in the bottom of the pinned comment on Discord?

 

[Johnny Dioxin]

Just looked on Github and it says it was updated to v0.8.0 yesterday

[MIghtymoo]

55 minutes ago, Johnny Dioxin said:

Just looked on Github and it says it was updated to v0.8.0 yesterday

Is there a newer VDXR msi.file than 0.6.0 available?

[Qcumber]

14 minutes ago, MIghtymoo said:

Is there a newer VDXR msi.file than 0.6.0 available?

I believe that the official beta test version is still the one on the discord channel. I understand that this will be incorporated into the next version of VD. 

[MIghtymoo]

3 minutes ago, Qcumber said:

I believe that the official beta test version is still the one on the discord channel. I understand that this will be incorporated into the next version of VD. 

Could you please share the text in your settings.cfg file (from Quad Fov)? 

[Qcumber]

1 hour ago, MIghtymoo said:

Could you please share the text in your settings.cfg file (from Quad Fov)? 

This version supports both steam VR and Virtual Desktop VR. Don't try to run steam VR with turbo enabled as it does not work and causes terrible stuttering. Turbo works well with VDXR though.

 

# These settings are for all headsets and applications

smoothen_focus_view_edges=0.2

sharpen_focus_view=0.5

[SteamVR]

# These settings are specific to SteamVR devices such as Pico 4

peripheral_multiplier=0.4

focus_multiplier=1.7

horizontal_fixed_section=0.5

vertical_fixed_section=0.5

turbo_mode=0

[VirtualDesktopXR]

# These settings are specific to VDXR devices.

peripheral_multiplier=0.4

focus_multiplier=1.7

horizontal_fixed_section=0.5

vertical_fixed_section=0.5

turbo_mode=1

[app:DCS World]

# The settings are specific to the app "DCS World"

# (no particular settings here, some are shifting focus upwards with vertical_focus_offset=0.1)

vertical_focus_offset=-0.3

[TED]

I'm a bit confused about this. Is it actually possible to install and use VDXR and bypass using steamvr in this way using only openxr or are we talking only about openxr toolkit in VD?

[Qcumber]

13 minutes ago, TED said:

I'm a bit confused about this. Is it actually possible to install and use VDXR and bypass using steamvr in this way using only openxr or are we talking only about openxr toolkit in VD?

Yes. VDXR avoids using steam VR. VD 1.29, and earlier versions, use steam VR or oculus to run open XR. VDXR removes the need to use either of these. 

[TED]

1 minute ago, Qcumber said:

Yes. VDXR avoids using steam VR. VD 1.29, and earlier versions, use steam VR or oculus to run open XR. VDXR removes the need to use either of these. 

When I downloaded the github zip folder i could not actually find an installer. I clearly missing a simple step here, so apologies for the dumb questions. I always used openxr with my g2 and later 8kx, but can't seem to work it out with the pico. How do I actually install and use VDXR with the pico?

[Qcumber]

5 minutes ago, TED said:

When I downloaded the github zip folder i could not actually find an installer. I clearly missing a simple step here, so apologies for the dumb questions. I always used openxr with my g2 and later 8kx, but can't seem to work it out with the pico. How do I actually install and use VDXR with the pico?

You need to download the beta version from Discord. 

https://discord.com/channels/933220354401398785/950124149538447360/1161933321199177819

If this link does not work, access the discord channel and look for “oculus-technical” and the pinned message. 

https://discord.gg/WXFshwMnke

[MIghtymoo]

 

Quote

 

Quest/Pico/Vive BETA version 1.29.3 - Release Notes

 

To install this beta version, navigate to the store page of Virtual Desktop on the Meta website (https://www.meta.com/experiences/2017050365004772/) or phone app. Scroll down to the version number, click it and select the BETA channel.

You will also need to manually install the Beta Streamer from here: https://download.vrdesktop.net/files/beta/VirtualDesktop.Streamer.Setup.exe (edited)

Oculus

 

How can I download the beta version of VDXR for the Pico 4 VR headset?

https://github.com/guygodin/VirtualDesktop/releases/tag/v1.29.3

Edited October 23, 2023 by MIghtymoo

[bpremus]

The VDXR is not downloaded from Virtual desktop site but from discord (or its Git MSBuild list, but I would suggest picking it up from Discord as dev working on it picked that specific build for a reason).

Edit : i stand corrected, so beta VD has VDXR build in.

I was play-testing yesterday

having i5 10600k, RTX4700ti, 32gb ram

DCS settings are mostly to high with visible range to medium and DLSS balanced gave me stable 60fps with 1.4 in vr settings. Virtual desktop streaming to high, sharpening 75%, bit rate 150, everything else off.  Connected with USB cable. There are some artefacts like motion blur behind fast planes, but in example Apache Syria start on ramp mission its smooth with shadows that was previously impossible. There is probably more room for improvement and tweak those settings.  

I have noticed that having on ultra or godlike currently plane dots are diapering on a horizon. I have cerated a test mission with couple of enemy places at various distances 15nm, 20nm, 25nm etc... with medium or high and bitrate over 80 i should be able to see ~25nm a small dot, rolling 90deg  a dot should still be visible (on ultra i think the dot would disappear banking 90deg, and on GodLike i am starting to see the dots at ~10nm or less). 

Edited October 23, 2023 by bpremus

[Johnny Dioxin]

Do be aware that if you use multiple headsets with Virtual Desktop, using the beta can cause problems with one of them.

Last time I downloaded and installed the beta for the Pico 4 and was then unable to use my Quest 2 as it could no longer 'talk' to the streamer. Even after official updates to both, it wouldn't work right and I ended up having to manually delete everything to do with VD from both headsets and reinstall them, as well as the PC streamer app.

Just something to bear in mind if you have both.

[TED]

I got the vdxr beta installed and working. I did some initial testing but so far haven't managed to get it looking as good as I had in steamvr. I seem to be getting a lot more compression type artifacts and dropped frames for some reason. The image is a lot more soft and blurry. I will need to adjust and tweak more to test everything properly. 

[MIghtymoo]

1 hour ago, TED said:

I got the vdxr beta installed and working. I did some initial testing but so far haven't managed to get it looking as good as I had in steamvr. I seem to be getting a lot more compression type artifacts and dropped frames for some reason. The image is a lot more soft and blurry. I will need to adjust and tweak more to test everything properly. 

Have you remembered to supersample? Remember that this has been done in SteamVR.

Without SteamVR you need to change the resolution in DCS via the pixel density slider under the VR-tab. 1.5 in value should correspond to the 150% value in SteamVR.
 

Note: I stuggled with dropped frames and have gone back to SteamVR (for now).

 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by MIghtymoo

[Qcumber]

50 minutes ago, MIghtymoo said:

Without SteamVR you need to change the resolution in DCS via the pixel density slider under the VR-tab. 1.5 in value should correspond to the 150% value in SteamVR.

I am using VD XR with PD 1.5 and DLSS quality. It looks great and I get 72 fps in most situations. How does steam VR at 150% compare to this? 

[RealDCSpilot]

I found the sweetspot for DLSS (quality) looking nice and fluid with around 3400x3400 pixels per eye. It's godlike preset in VD (3120x3120 pixels per eye) and 120% SS in SteamVR. I'm really curious about the next official VD release with integrated VDXR. (I can wait)

Edited October 24, 2023 by RealDCSpilot

[MIghtymoo]

15 minutes ago, Qcumber said:

I am using VD XR with PD 1.5 and DLSS quality. It looks great and I get 72 fps in most situations. How does steam VR at 150% compare to this? 

Should give the same result, I assume.

DCS 2.9 absolute highlights is for me summarized like this:

1. Shimmering is now almost gone 
2. Visibility range now moved from medium to high 
3. Integrated voice comms

BONUS: Animated canopy hooks in F-16

6 minutes ago, RealDCSpilot said:

I found the sweetspot for DLSS (quality) looking nice and fluid with around 3400x3400 pixels per eye. It's godlike preset in VD (3120x3120 pixels per eye) and 120% SS in SteamVR. I'm really curious about the next official VD release with integrated VDXR. (I can wait)

 

Interesting.
You have very similar PC-setup as me. 

Running 150% SS in SteamVR.

Are you running 72Hz with no reprojection?
If so, what graphical settings are you running in DCS?

VDXR has not been cooperating with me so far...

Edited October 24, 2023 by MIghtymoo

[Qcumber]

3 minutes ago, MIghtymoo said:

What you are running is exactly what I am running also.  Very happy with this.

DCS 2.9 absolute highlights is for me summarized like this:

1. Shimmering is now almost gone 
2. Visibility range now moved from medium to high 
3. Integrated voice comms

BONUS: Animated canopy hooks in F-16

I am seeing the same visual improvements too. Running at medium range I can get 72fps and about 10% GPU overhead in most situations. Have you tried Extreme range? I tested this low over Paris in a BF109 and maintained 45 fps and it was surprisingly smooth. Around 70-72 fps over countryside and 60-70 fps in take off and landing. In an f16 over Beirut it was about 50-55 fps and 72 fps above the clouds. 

[RealDCSpilot]

@MIghtymoo Atm, 90 Hz without reprojection. 60-80 fps. Really looking forward to what VDXR will make of this:

["graphics"] = {
        ["AA"] = "DLAA",
        ["BlurFlatShadows"] = 0,
        ["ColorGradingLUT"] = 0,
        ["DLSS_PerfQuality"] = 1,
        ["DOF"] = 0,
        ["LODmult"] = 1,
        ["LensEffects"] = 3,
        ["MSAA"] = 1,
        ["SSAO"] = 1,
        ["SSLR"] = 1,
        ["SSS"] = 0,
        ["Scaling"] = 0.66,
        ["ScreenshotExt"] = "jpg",
        ["Sharpening"] = 0.5,
        ["Upscaling"] = "DLSS",
        ["anisotropy"] = 4,
        ["aspect"] = 1,
        ["box_mouse_cursor"] = true,
        ["chimneySmokeDensity"] = 10,
        ["civTraffic"] = "",
        ["clouds"] = 3,
        ["clutterMaxDistance"] = 690,
        ["cockpitGI"] = 1,
        ["defaultFOV"] = 69,
        ["effects"] = 3,
        ["flatTerrainShadows"] = 0,
        ["forestDetailsFactor"] = 1,
        ["forestDistanceFactor"] = 1,
        ["fullScreen"] = false,
        ["heatBlr"] = 1,
        ["height"] = 1200,
        ["lights"] = 2,
        ["messagesFontScale"] = 1,
        ["motionBlur"] = 0,
        ["motionBlurAmount"] = 1,
        ["multiMonitorSetup"] = "1camera",
        ["outputGamma"] = 2.2,
        ["preloadRadius"] = 150000,
        ["rainDroplets"] = true,
        ["scaleGui"] = 1,
        ["sceneryDetailsFactor"] = 1,
        ["secondaryShadows"] = 1,
        ["shadowTree"] = false,
        ["shadows"] = 4,
        ["sync"] = false,
        ["terrainTextures"] = "max",
        ["textures"] = 2,
        ["useDeferredShading"] = 1,
        ["visibRange"] = "Ultra",
        ["water"] = 2,
        ["width"] = 1200,

[Qcumber]

23 minutes ago, RealDCSpilot said:

@MIghtymoo Atm, 90 Hz without reprojection. 60-80 fps. Really looking forward to what VDXR will make of this:

["graphics"] = {
        ["AA"] = "DLAA",
        ["BlurFlatShadows"] = 0,
        ["ColorGradingLUT"] = 0,
        ["DLSS_PerfQuality"] = 1,
        ["DOF"] = 0,
        ["LODmult"] = 1,
        ["LensEffects"] = 3,
        ["MSAA"] = 1,
        ["SSAO"] = 1,
        ["SSLR"] = 1,
        ["SSS"] = 0,
        ["Scaling"] = 0.66,
        ["ScreenshotExt"] = "jpg",
        ["Sharpening"] = 0.5,
        ["Upscaling"] = "DLSS",
        ["anisotropy"] = 4,
        ["aspect"] = 1,
        ["box_mouse_cursor"] = true,
        ["chimneySmokeDensity"] = 10,
        ["civTraffic"] = "",
        ["clouds"] = 3,
        ["clutterMaxDistance"] = 690,
        ["cockpitGI"] = 1,
        ["defaultFOV"] = 69,
        ["effects"] = 3,
        ["flatTerrainShadows"] = 0,
        ["forestDetailsFactor"] = 1,
        ["forestDistanceFactor"] = 1,
        ["fullScreen"] = false,
        ["heatBlr"] = 1,
        ["height"] = 1200,
        ["lights"] = 2,
        ["messagesFontScale"] = 1,
        ["motionBlur"] = 0,
        ["motionBlurAmount"] = 1,
        ["multiMonitorSetup"] = "1camera",
        ["outputGamma"] = 2.2,
        ["preloadRadius"] = 150000,
        ["rainDroplets"] = true,
        ["scaleGui"] = 1,
        ["sceneryDetailsFactor"] = 1,
        ["secondaryShadows"] = 1,
        ["shadowTree"] = false,
        ["shadows"] = 4,
        ["sync"] = false,
        ["terrainTextures"] = "max",
        ["textures"] = 2,
        ["useDeferredShading"] = 1,
        ["visibRange"] = "Ultra",
        ["water"] = 2,
        ["width"] = 1200,

VD 1.29.3 is now available on beta (links from the VD discord; the headset apk is easy to download and install) and VDXR works very well so far for me.