Dual Joystick Setup

[Ducky]

Hey all,
I'm new to Elite Dangerous and dual joysticks. I've looked up a lot of different bindings but I cant understand how the modifiers work? I was wondering if anyone with dual Thrustmaster T16000 could help me out?

Thanks.

[Uriel]

Not expert on HOSAS (I hesitated between that and HOTAS, opted for HOTAS in the end), but there are a few things you can do. Assuming you're right-handed, or play as one :

- Right stick, up / down axis : pitch
- Right stick, left / right axis : roll
- Right stick, twist axis : yaw
- Left stick, up / down axis : thrusters up / down
- Left axis, left / right axis : lateral thrusters
- Left axis, twist axis : forward / backward thrusters

That's just the basics, of course. This would give you high responsiveness if any normal space situation. Probbaly a steep learning curve, but from what I've seen, one can achieve truly amazing control with those. A fellow player posted a video on this forum of them doing canyon flights in a eagle, that was quite impressive, and they used a similar setup.

Good luck, mate, and fly safe o7

[Ducky]

I was more asking how to setup key combinations i think? The one binding guide im looking at says "...all require simultaneous IDENTICAL action on both sticks". This is where my confusion is.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/999141570377449780/B8DF3CA295E341E29A7685A6ACAA1C77DDECE065/ for reference.

[Uriel]

Can't help there, then. Better wait for the HOSAS experts. There aren't many, but there are some.

I wonder why you'd want identical actions on both sticks, though. Or I'm missunderstanding something. Likely, I'm missunderstanding.

Anyway, hopefully someone more versed in that specific arcane will be able to help :)

[Bubba Fett]

When you have multiple controllers plugged in, windows (and games running in windows) see each one as a separate device.

To set them up in elite, you go into options/controls, choose which axis you want to set, then move the control you want to bind it to.
Uriel's suggestion is a pretty standard setup for dual stick.

There are very few instances where you'd want to use combinations of controls to do anything.
One exception to that might be to use a modifier button. For instance, using the left trigger so that when held, the hat switches would change function. Instead of using the left hat for opening panels and the right hat for power managment, you might have the left hat for ship functions (gear, lights, cargo scoop, night vision) and the right for FSD and sensor range.
There's an option you have to activate in controls. I think it's called contextual binds or something like that.
Once that's on, you can set your normal functions, then hold down the trigger while setting an alternate function.
I'd advise the left trigger for that since it leaves your thumbs free to select stuff and your primary and secondary fire are normally on the right stick.


Edit, I looked at that keybind and it's not at all what I'd use. You use vertical strafe a lot in combat and landing. I'd put that to the forward/back axis on the left stick. You adjust throttle a lot in combat and don't want to take your hand off the strafe stick. I'd put that on the left twist axis. Removing your hand from the strafe stick to open one of the panels seems like a bad idea.
It seems to have lots of weird control choices like that. I'd advise just building your own control setup that seems right to you. It will be easier to remember.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by Drake.R:

I was more asking how to setup key combinations i think? The one binding guide im looking at says "...all require simultaneous IDENTICAL action on both sticks". This is where my confusion is.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/999141570377449780/B8DF3CA295E341E29A7685A6ACAA1C77DDECE065/ for reference.

That's mine. I can tell because of the sloppy ass job I did flipping the image for the left hand stick lol (zoom in on the thumb button if you can't see it)

It's also out of date, I've tweaked it and added a throttle into the mix since I made that.

As for the "simultaneous identical action" thing: If you look some of the options are colour coded, meaning you have to do something on both sticks. In the case of silent running, it's "press up on both hats at the same time".

SCB's are opposite actions: you push both hats out (left hat goes left, right hat goes right). If you push both hats in the same direction you change firegroup instead.

If you want a copy of my old binds file (before I added the throttle) I'll stick it up dropbox or something for you, at least then you've got a working config you just need to edit to suit you instead of going through every single option.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q60xawzj8gnrh49/Custom.3.0.DualStick.binds?dl=0

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by Bubba Fett:

Edit, I looked at that keybind and it's not at all what I'd use. You use vertical strafe a lot in combat and landing. I'd put that to the forward/back axis on the left stick. You adjust throttle a lot in combat and don't want to take your hand off the strafe stick. I'd put that on the left twist axis. Removing your hand from the strafe stick to open one of the panels seems like a bad idea.
It seems to have lots of weird control choices like that. I'd advise just building your own control setup that seems right to you. It will be easier to remember.

In combat I 0 the throttle and don't touch it at all. I use flight thrust control instead. Forwards makes you go forwards, backwards makes you go backwards, left and right make you go left and right, the twist gives you verticals. My thinking was keep translation (motion direction) on the left stick, and rotation on the right stick. I can see why some people might not like using the twist for verticals, but putting forwards/back on the twist just seems utterly wrong.

I don't need to look at the panels during combat, all my targeting, flight, weapon and countermeasure controls are on the sticks, along with comms control on the stick, and all the info I need is on the hud or around me in space. In short, I NEVER have to take my hands off the sticks while I'm in combat. That's the whole point of HOTAS/HOSAS: never taking your eye off the enemy, and having all the essential combat controls at your fingertips.

Landing gear? Frameshift Drive? Cargo Scoop? Maps? Navigation tabs? Modules power management? Inspecting my inventory? Having a quick read about the latest power play events? Sending a text? Setting up firegroups? I don't need any of these while in combat (If I did, I really would be doing something wrong).

EDIT: And now I've said all that, I've realised I could just use the push to talk button (left middle thumb button) as a modifier and use the right hat switch to open any of the 4 panels. I've already menu and panel navigation covered... So there you go, with a 10 second tweak you've even got panel access without taking your hands off the stick

[Bubba Fett]

I guess it's just a matter of preference and it's nice that Elite allows you to set the controls any way you like.
I'm not sure I'd do well using forward/back thrust in combat with the 6 DOF strafing it brings you. I'd have a tendancy to sit still too much. It's sort of the default setup in Star Citizen and it gave me some trouble till I went back to plane style flying.

I use hotas and fly in VR and while I'm not looking at the panels during an actual fight, I do tend to use the contact list to find my next target to scan. (and the odd time where I screw up and need to synthesize more ammo)
Gear, lights, nightvision, cargo scoop are and FSD are all on my throttle, but the tm16000 throttle is nice in that it's got lots of hat switches and analog controls for everything.
Pretty much the only thing I use the buttons on the base of the stick for are the FSS where I'm sitting still anyway and even then I've only used 4 of the 12 buttons. (mostly cause you have to find stuff by feel in VR)

Of course my control setup was arrived at with hours of setting and testing and tweaking. It works well for me, but it's hard for me to explain the control setup to friends trying my setup since a certain amount of it is just muscle memory by now. (I'm sure yours is too)
But, like I said, it's great that Elite allows you to tweak it till it's just right for you. :^)

[Ducky]

Originally posted by FunkynutZ:

Originally posted by Drake.R:

I was more asking how to setup key combinations i think? The one binding guide im looking at says "...all require simultaneous IDENTICAL action on both sticks". This is where my confusion is.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/999141570377449780/B8DF3CA295E341E29A7685A6ACAA1C77DDECE065/ for reference.

That's mine. I can tell because of the sloppy ass job I did flipping the image for the left hand stick lol (zoom in on the thumb button if you can't see it)

It's also out of date, I've tweaked it and added a throttle into the mix since I made that.

As for the "simultaneous identical action" thing: If you look some of the options are colour coded, meaning you have to do something on both sticks. In the case of silent running, it's "press up on both hats at the same time".

SCB's are opposite actions: you push both hats out (left hat goes left, right hat goes right). If you push both hats in the same direction you change firegroup instead.

If you want a copy of my old binds file (before I added the throttle) I'll stick it up dropbox or something for you, at least then you've got a working config you just need to edit to suit you instead of going through every single option.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q60xawzj8gnrh49/Custom.3.0.DualStick.binds?dl=0

Thank you for replying! I haven't played much of Elite other than training but i assumed the basic controls were not setup for dual sticks. With that being said, im not sure what any of this stuff even does :) I didnt think the game would be able to understand doing two inputs at once. I saw some people use Target GUI and then I got really confused.

[Bubba Fett]

Most modern games (particularly flight sims) have no problems with multiple inputs at once.
Stick, throttle, rudder pedals, Trackir or VR.

Basic controls aren't set up for dual sticks, but if you spend some time in the options configuring
the axis and button binds, you should be able to come up with a setup that you like.

[Ducky]

Is there a reason why when i setup my left stick for throttle control then exit the controls it makes it so my right stick does both throttle and pitch?

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by Drake.R:

Is there a reason why when i setup my left stick for throttle control then exit the controls it makes it so my right stick does both throttle and pitch?

Check the switches on the bottom. Make sure you've got one left and one right.

If it's already like that, try swapping to different usb ports.

[Kibibble]

Originally posted by FunkynutZ:

Originally posted by Bubba Fett:

Edit, I looked at that keybind and it's not at all what I'd use. You use vertical strafe a lot in combat and landing. I'd put that to the forward/back axis on the left stick. You adjust throttle a lot in combat and don't want to take your hand off the strafe stick. I'd put that on the left twist axis. Removing your hand from the strafe stick to open one of the panels seems like a bad idea.
It seems to have lots of weird control choices like that. I'd advise just building your own control setup that seems right to you. It will be easier to remember.

In combat I 0 the throttle and don't touch it at all. I use flight thrust control instead. Forwards makes you go forwards, backwards makes you go backwards, left and right make you go left and right, the twist gives you verticals. My thinking was keep translation (motion direction) on the left stick, and rotation on the right stick. I can see why some people might not like using the twist for verticals, but putting forwards/back on the twist just seems utterly wrong.

I don't need to look at the panels during combat, all my targeting, flight, weapon and countermeasure controls are on the sticks, along with comms control on the stick, and all the info I need is on the hud or around me in space. In short, I NEVER have to take my hands off the sticks while I'm in combat. That's the whole point of HOTAS/HOSAS: never taking your eye off the enemy, and having all the essential combat controls at your fingertips.

Landing gear? Frameshift Drive? Cargo Scoop? Maps? Navigation tabs? Modules power management? Inspecting my inventory? Having a quick read about the latest power play events? Sending a text? Setting up firegroups? I don't need any of these while in combat (If I did, I really would be doing something wrong).

EDIT: And now I've said all that, I've realised I could just use the push to talk button (left middle thumb button) as a modifier and use the right hat switch to open any of the 4 panels. I've already menu and panel navigation covered... So there you go, with a 10 second tweak you've even got panel access without taking your hands off the stick

Any chance I could have a copy of your most recent control scheme?

[The Knight of Faerie]

I bought a HOTAS setup, and may pick up the Thrustmaster T-flight foot pedals too. Since I find right now that I don't use A and D much in combat (default keyboard/mouse keybinds), I may set that up for twisting the flight stick. The rocker on the thruster control I'll probably set up to control the vertical thrusters, while the thruster stick will naturally be forward/reverse. I'll have to experiment to see what my preferred button layout beyond that is. But since I'll be playing in VR most of the time, I don't need to set up any key binds to open the external, social, role, and internal panels. Those I can access by actually looking at them. Might bind the R3 button to open/close my hard points.

Really, playing in VR does free you up from needing quite as many keybinds due to being able to open/close three different windows just by looking at them. The only thing I found you can't do easily with the Oculus Touch controllers was activating FSD and Supercruise. Using a the T-Flight 4 HOTAS should provide all that functionality and more while being even more immersive.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by Kibibble:

Any chance I could have a copy of your most recent control scheme?

Dual T16000 with a CH Pro: https://www.dropbox.com/s/otxysekp6ypqwd8/Custom.3.0.binds?dl=0

I didn't bother with the panel access tweak mentioned in my previous post. I don't use the panels in combat, so didn't see the point.

And be aware, the left and right switches don't always work as you'd expect. If the sticks are the wrong way around when you use this profile, swap them over on the USB ports (usually only have to do this once if at all).

[SpawN]

Just in case you need it --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ITmpNeidrY&t=557s <-- this guy is all about HOSAS setups and you may find it useful.