X52...sounds...etc.

[SonofEil]

Hello all,

Here are a number of issues I'm encountering:

 

I've spent many hours (days) trying to get my x52 pro working. Obviously I'm not the only one. After searching the threads up and down, I'm finally posting.

 

Long story short, when I set up my x52 using SST, BS doesn't see it. I haven't set up much, mostly just testing it, but again, nothing shows up in-game.

 

Second, after reading a bunch of threads, I've come to the conclusion that the SST is much more difficult to set up properly in the first place. (macros, etc. I don't even know what that word means, much less how to use "it". Yes, I've been reading the saitek forums and manuals. They assume I have much more knowledge in the first place.)

When trying to assign stick buttons in the game options menu, how does one know which button corresponds to a specific spot on the joystick/throttle? Example: If I want to set the pinkie switch to "auto hover", is the pinkie switch button 3, or button 103, or somewhere in between? Does anyone have an actual map or list of which buttons are what number on the x52? (Saitek software says "fire a, b, c, pinkie, trigger", etc. BS says "button 1, 21, 59", etc.) Why doesn't the sim just allow you to press the button that you'd like to assign to a specific task. I mean, it's only 2010 and other sims have allowed you to do this for oh, say, the last fifteen years!

 

Third. The in-game sounds sound like they are coming out of a deep tunnel. I don't really know how to describe this properly, except to say that it's a very slow rising and falling wooshing sound, like bad compression artifacts or something. Related to this, when switching between views and back again, the sounds get "messed up" and I have to pause/unpause the sim for the sounds to go back to "normal". (Normal meaning crappy tunnel sounds.) Is there a fix for any of this? I haven't found any other threads mentioning this, so is it just me?

 

All that said, this sim is fantastic and I'm really enjoying learning how to operate the Black Shark! I can live with the crappy sound, but not being able to assign things to my HOTAS makes it nearly unplayable as a weapons platform. Again, I've spent the better part of my free time during the last two weeks just trying to get buttons assigned, with little luck.

 

I appreciate any help!

Thanks!

[Distiler]

When trying to assign stick buttons in the game options menu, how does one know which button corresponds to a specific spot on the joystick/throttle? Example: If I want to set the pinkie switch to "auto hover", is the pinkie switch button 3, or button 103, or somewhere in between? Does anyone have an actual map or list of which buttons are what number on the x52? (Saitek software says "fire a, b, c, pinkie, trigger", etc. BS says "button 1, 21, 59", etc.) Why doesn't the sim just allow you to press the button that you'd like to assign to a specific task. I mean, it's only 2010 and other sims have allowed you to do this for oh, say, the last fifteen years!

 

When I click a button, BS detects and assigns it. Dunno why it's not working in your case, it's just to click the function box you want to assign, click "add" and when the function interface opens, you just press the joy buttion you want.

[S77th-ReOrdain]

Have you tried checking for the x52 in Black Shark options if the SST software is not installed?

 

Not sure which OS you're running, but typically if the x52 is functioning properly, you can see the little Saitek profiling icon in your taskbar on the bottom right with the rest of your running apps (Win98, XP, Vista - not sure about W7). If you see that app, right click it and select control panel. This will show you your HOTAS button assignment. Optionally, (on Vista and XP) you can go to control panel - game controllers and your Saitek x52 should be listed. If so, select it and click properties to show the joystick control panel. If it isn't in either of those places, there was probably an install issue.

 

In my case, swapping or changing USB ports after programming causes hardware recognition issues. If not properly recognized, the HOTAS icon doesn't show in taskmanager and is not available for programming or in game (as you described).

 

Saitek's SST programming, although seemingly complex, allows a great deal of flexibility. Check out the SST programming manual included with the software. The only problems I've experienced with this software has occured when I've used an outdated version.

 

Hopefully, you already knew this, but just in case, there are (2) software programs to install. One is the drivers for the HOTAS, the other is for SST Programing (32 or 64bit).

 

Good luck.

[topdog]

Does the controller config screen in Blackshark list the X52 Pro column (separate from the keyboard and other columns)?

 

If you do and you double-click in the cell for that column and action you want to assign to the joystick, the pop-up window that appears should only require you to actually click the corresponding button on the joystick to assign it - as the others have mentioned.

 

This should work even if you're using the SST profiler (with its icon in the system tray), but in case you've accidentally loaded or edited the profile such that it is conflicting with Blackshark, there is a Clear Profile option on the icon's menu which you should use.

 

Otherwise, whenever you assign a macro or keypress in the SST profile editor to your joystick, games will no longer see that button as a joystick action, but as a genuine keyboard keypress instead (a macro is just a sequence of uninterrupted keypresses that happens on the press of a button, in case you wanted multiple things to happen on a single click).

 

If it's still not playing ball for you, let us know if the icon is in your system tray for the saitek profiler, and maybe a screenshot or two of what you're seeing within Blackshark, in case it's not what we'd expect on our own setups.

[Outlaw24]

I'm using a X-52 Pro with no problems, what version of the driver and software are you using? I atttached a file that I use to identify the buttons on the HOTAS and you might find helpful also in this thread http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=49136

[nemises]

pinkie switch is button 36 I think...

 

Go into control panels, and into the "game controllers" section (depending on what OS you are using) ... you'll see the X52 listed ther (assuming you have the drivers installed) and a mapping of all the buttons... you can press a button / axis and see the corresponding ID light up in the control panel.

 

As others have said above, within BS, you can simply double click on an option (under the X52 column) and click the corredsponding button, and it will auto-set to that button.

 

SST is used to program the stick to use Keyboard strokes insgead of directx button pushes... set the correct Key press (ie "G" for "Raise / lower gear") on whichwver button you want, save the profile , and make sure to load the profile in SST , and bob should be your uncle.

[Ramstein]

I would say do not set your keys in the BS control panel and then also use SST for the same commands, or else you will have double the commands..

 

in the forums are plenty of instructions and pictures, snapshots of what the BS control panel looks like with the stick enabled..

 

I am puzzled why you say your stick is not recognized by BS. As soon as you plug in your Saitek usb and boot your computer and load BS, it should be all working..

 

I tend to think some people are making this more complicated, but not sure how they are doing what..

 

Maybe someone with BS lives close to you can come over and help you..

 

if not look at the photos of what everything looks like..

 

IMHO

=======

:joystick:

pinkie switch is button 36 I think...

 

Go into control panels, and into the "game controllers" section (depending on what OS you are using) ... you'll see the X52 listed ther (assuming you have the drivers installed) and a mapping of all the buttons... you can press a button / axis and see the corresponding ID light up in the control panel.

 

As others have said above, within BS, you can simply double click on an option (under the X52 column) and click the corredsponding button, and it will auto-set to that button.

 

SST is used to program the stick to use Keyboard strokes insgead of directx button pushes... set the correct Key press (ie "G" for "Raise / lower gear") on whichwver button you want, save the profile , and make sure to load the profile in SST , and bob should be your uncle.

[SonofEil]

Thanks for the good replies everyone.

 

Outlaw 24, that was exactly what I was looking for. It was very helpful, thank you!

 

To answer everyone's questions. I have new drivers, new SST software, etc. I think my SST software was conflicting with the buttons I was trying to assign in-game. Once I deleted SST and profiles, I could assign HOTAS buttons by pressing them in the BS options menu. Not a fan of SST, personally, so it is now gone. I know it could be useful, but I frankly don't have the time or desire to learn my joystick's software intricacies.

 

Does anyone else have the sound problems I've described? It's not that big of a deal, just slightly annoying.

 

Again, thanks for the help everyone!

 

Oh, I'm also attaching a one page excel file I made of the cockpit annunciator panels. I have it printed out and in front of me so that I can actually reference what is lighting up! Free use for everyone, do with it what you will. In fact, you even have my permission to profit from it if you are so clever!

BS_Annunciators.rar