Cinematic Camera's Menu & Automatic Xbox Controller Input Tool

[CrowDude]

I will be doing an overhaul of my tool soon to reflect recent changes to the object camera system. -7/13/24

 

Cinematic Camera's Menu & Automatic Xbox Controller Input Tool

I was able to make a cinematic cameras menu using steam input, but the steam version of DCS is not required for the tool. When using my tool you can tap once then press down on the d pad of your xbox controller for the camera menu to appear. If you select an option from the camera menu, the tool will switch to that camera and automatically switch the control scheme of the Xbox controller to best manipulate that specific camera type. You should theoretically be able to create a DCS cinematic video without having to the touch keyboard with my tool. 

In Depth Video Tutorial Here: 

A Quick Text Based Guide

This is assuming you own the stand alone version of DCS but if you own the steam version skip to step 3. 

1. Within Steam, enable steam input for xbox controllers. 
2. Add DCS to steam as a non steam game.
3. Enable steam overlay while in game: Steam Settings, In Game, Tick Enable steam overlay while in-game.
4. Enable steam input for DCS (for stand alone users its' the one you just added)
5. With DCS selected in your games library, click on the controller icon on the far right side. Refer to step 3 if you don't see it. 
6. With the steam controller input window open, click on browse community layouts. Then under community search "DCS FILMIING"
7. Apply the highest version number of DCS FILMING created by the user Crow(Me)
8. If you don't see my layout in the community tab click on show all layouts towards the bottom hopefully you will see it now. 
9. To test it, load an instant action of any DCS officially created aircraft.
10. Once in game press escape and make sure to clear out any commands that DCS may have applied to your xbox controller. Clear any commands it applied under the general controls tab and the current aircraft your using or plan to use for film making. 
11. Tap and hold down on the D pad of the xbox controller for the menu to appear. Move your thumb around the menu then let go on the camera you want to select. You don't need to hold down for the menu to appear to select another camera menu option on the d pad. But the menu helps if want to enter any options that exist in the diagonal selections.
12. Refer to my most up to date controller input guide image on my DCS user file page in screen shots to understand how manipulate the camera, but its pretty intuitive.

I initially created this tool for members of the flying community I'm apart of but I thought I might as well improve upon it and share it publicly. This is the sort of thing I wished existed for me when I first trying make videos in DCS. So I hope others find it helpful. 

Refer to my DCS user file page below for updates to the steam controller input guide image and denotation of further updates to my tool.

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3334129/

I have not had much experience with creating tutorials so hopefully it all make's sense. 

Edited July 13, 2024 by CrowDude

[RayRay]

 

I loaded the DCS FILMING V.6 layout. 
Unfortunately, when I try to open the menu, nothing comes up. 
I type and hold the down button on my controller as described. 
I did everything according to your instructions, but unfortunately there is no in-game menu

Edited November 4, 2023 by RayRay

[Raviar]

It's awesome, but the "Filming" option doesn't appear in my list, even though I have enabled "Show all...". I am using an Xbox One controller, and I have also tried installing the extended feature support driver.

[CrowDude]

17 hours ago, RayRay said:

 

I loaded the DCS FILMING V.6 layout. 
Unfortunately, when I try to open the menu, nothing comes up. 
I type and hold the down button on my controller as described. 
I did everything according to your instructions, but unfortunately there is no in-game menu

 

Turn on steam big picture mode. Then launch your DCS. While in game press shift tab then open controller options, then re apply my layout.  See if the menu  appears now. I'm thinking your steam some how now never applied the layout even though you told it to. I remember this happened to me one time but I thought it was a fluke, I had to run it in big picture mode then it seemed to work just fine from then on. 

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by CrowDude

[CrowDude]

16 hours ago, Raviar said:

It's awesome, but the "Filming" option doesn't appear in my list, even though I have enabled "Show all...". I am using an Xbox One controller, and I have also tried installing the extended feature support driver.

What type of DCS are you running? Steam version? Stand Alone? Open Beta or Stable? I wonder if I need to add my template to each different game versions. 

[Raviar]

9 hours ago, CrowDude said:

What type of DCS are you running? Steam version? Stand Alone? Open Beta or Stable? I wonder if I need to add my template to each different game versions. 

I am using open beta 

[RayRay]

Am 5.11.2023 um 07:37 schrieb CrowDude:

Turn on steam big picture mode. Then launch your DCS. While in game press shift tab then open controller options, then re apply my layout.  See if the menu  appears now. I'm thinking your steam some how now never applied the layout even though you told it to. I remember this happened to me one time but I thought it was a fluke, I had to run it in big picture mode then it seemed to work just fine from then on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It worked as you described!! 
Steam overlay was deactivated, I activated it and assigned the xbox DCS film assignment again in the game. 
Thank you very much and great job!

Edited November 6, 2023 by RayRay

[CrowDude]

21 hours ago, RayRay said:

 

 

 

 

 

It worked as you described!! 
Steam overlay was deactivated, I activated it and assigned the xbox DCS film assignment again in the game. 
Thank you very much and great job!

 

Cool I'm glad its at least working for some people. Don't forget about my input guide image found here https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3334129/  in the screen shots.

[cptmrcalm]

Hi CrowDude. Just wondered if there had been any advances on this? I too cannot find the file listed. Shame we cant use a local file rather than have to rely on the cloud system within steam. Nobody seems to know why it isnt showing.

i'm using the latest steam version openbeta. 

 

[CrowDude]

On 4/26/2024 at 8:50 AM, cptmrcalm said:

Hi CrowDude. Just wondered if there had been any advances on this? I too cannot find the file listed. Shame we cant use a local file rather than have to rely on the cloud system within steam. Nobody seems to know why it isnt showing.

i'm using the latest steam version openbeta. 

 

What controller do you have? Steam needs to see it as an xbox controller.  I wish there was a way to share physical file of my template. When you search for it can click on show all layouts. I've also published an experimental version for ps4 controllers see if can find it now. Latest update is 6.5 >>> 

 

[cptmrcalm]

Hi Crow. Thank you so much for your reply. I saw your latest video and your solution to force the file worked!

For those reading this wondering - change DCS as a none beta version. (ie. no version.. "none") Then locate the controller file from crow as he describes. Then export it into your own personal collection of mappings and then go back to openbeta and reapply the controller config that you saved.

That make sense to ya'll?

 

I got it working except the pop up which i might not need. I was rushing and didnt look into that bit. But you've provided enough help above for me to solve that one i think. Awesome and thank you!

[CrowDude]

On 5/12/2024 at 5:29 AM, cptmrcalm said:

Hi Crow. Thank you so much for your reply. I saw your latest video and your solution to force the file worked!

For those reading this wondering - change DCS as a none beta version. (ie. no version.. "none") Then locate the controller file from crow as he describes. Then export it into your own personal collection of mappings and then go back to openbeta and reapply the controller config that you saved.

That make sense to ya'll?

 

I got it working except the pop up which i might not need. I was rushing and didnt look into that bit. But you've provided enough help above for me to solve that one i think. Awesome and thank you!

For the pop menu to appear you need to have steam overlay itself turned on. You can try running steam in big picture mode if don't see the menu at first. Go to steam settings, in game, tick enable steam overlay while in game. The menu is pretty vital for advance filming. 

[BlackFalco]

Il 12/05/2024 at 11:29, cptmrcalm ha scritto:

Hi Crow. Thank you so much for your reply. I saw your latest video and your solution to force the file worked!

For those reading this wondering - change DCS as a none beta version. (ie. no version.. "none") Then locate the controller file from crow as he describes. Then export it into your own personal collection of mappings and then go back to openbeta and reapply the controller config that you saved.

That make sense to ya'll?

 

I got it working except the pop up which i might not need. I was rushing and didnt look into that bit. But you've provided enough help above for me to solve that one i think. Awesome and thank you!

Hey man, could you please explain some more? So, first of all, I use DCS Multi-Thread version. Tried to install layout for it but does not work, only works for the "standard" version. So I tried to first locate the layout in community tab using standard version, export it (save it), then add the MT version to Steam but could not apply the exported layout somehow  What am I doin wrong? Thanks for any help! :) 

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

I find that the Steam Overlay option, when in game, is greyed out and cannot be disabled.

What have I done wrong?

Nevermind, after Steam update, the option enables again.

 

 

Edited June 17, 2024 by VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Update:

I get the overlay enabled.

And I have the controller layout done

But still, I get no menu show up. Help needed.

Tried both MT and ST version, no menu showed up.

Edited June 17, 2024 by VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants

[BlackFalco]

Il 17/06/2024 at 14:23, VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants ha scritto:

Update:

I get the overlay enabled.

And I have the controller layout done

But still, I get no menu show up. Help needed.

Tried both MT and ST version, no menu showed up.

 

Hey man, does it work for u in MT version of DCS?

Cause I get to install it but then it "f**ks" up later on so right now its  better to use it with standard version HOPING that it will be updated to MT also so we can install MT and find the preset in community layout in Steam... 

[CrowDude]

make sure steam overlay is enabled or you won't see the menu. You can also try steam big picture mode. If you can press left shift left tab during game play and no steam over lay turns on then that how you know its not enabled. 

I will be doing an overhaul of my tool soon to reflect recent changes to the object camera system. 

Edited July 13, 2024 by CrowDude

[Father Cool]

On 5/12/2024 at 10:29 AM, cptmrcalm said:

Hi Crow. Thank you so much for your reply. I saw your latest video and your solution to force the file worked!

For those reading this wondering - change DCS as a none beta version. (ie. no version.. "none") Then locate the controller file from crow as he describes. Then export it into your own personal collection of mappings and then go back to openbeta and reapply the controller config that you saved.

That make sense to ya'll?

 

I got it working except the pop up which i might not need. I was rushing and didnt look into that bit. But you've provided enough help above for me to solve that one i think. Awesome and thank you!

This doesn't work for me because when I go back into open beta the 'your layouts' tab doesn't exist and it says that the DCS FILMING layout is not available in cloud.

[cptmrcalm]

I think I might have had this as well. Rings a bell.

 

I think you might have to restart steam each time. Each time you switch open beta to none. Try that.

[pedrosura]

I have tried to follows these threads. No menu in DCS. While I am in Steam, the controller seems to work. Overlay is turned on and I saved my own local copy. Still no menu. Any ideas out there?

 

 

EDIT. Found out my problem. I was trying to run DCS MT. Tried DCS regular and it worked!

Edited July 28, 2024 by pedrosura

[Scotty Rotten]

Absolutely ridiculous, can we finally get native controller support for the camera axis?

[CrowDude]

On 7/28/2024 at 6:23 PM, pedrosura said:

I have tried to follows these threads. No menu in DCS. While I am in Steam, the controller seems to work. Overlay is turned on and I saved my own local copy. Still no menu. Any ideas out there?

 

 

EDIT. Found out my problem. I was trying to run DCS MT. Tried DCS regular and it worked!

 

I never had a problem with the MT version with my layout. Make sure steam overlay is turn on for the MT too. Its under game properties.

[6bucks]

This is an awesome app! It works as advertised. Thank you for your excellent work.

[pedrosura]

Maybe I missed the game overlay. I can get the single to work not the MT. Now that DCS is going to MT I surelly hope that is right..

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

As there will be no more ST in the next update, I wonder...