Does anyone Use an X56 Flight Stick and Throttle?

[LostManAbroad]

The throttle is covered in buttons and dials but it also has a dial for switching between modes. i.e. all the buttons do one thing in the first mode but then if you switch to the next mode then you can set all the buttons to completely different functions.

My question is, how do you get it to work? For example, if I want to set my hyperdrive to the SW1 button and the Supercruise to the SW2 button, no problem. However, if I assign the Q button to hyperdrive and W to Supercruise and then using the Logitech G software I program the SW1 button to be the Q button and program the SW2 button to be the W button, once I go back into the game, it doesn't work.

[PuffyLunk]

I personally have my supercruise on the default "hardpoints" button for easy pinky reach and my hyper drive is set to the little black joystick (the weak feeling one) that sits right next to your trigger on the left side of your joy stick. (pointed in the "up position")

S1 is a mode switch so you can swap between "Profiles" btw, in case you have a different set up you like to use for different ships.

You can't bind to that key OR the blue switch just under your turning knobs on your throttle.

Why did I bind those functions to my pinky and thumb? So that I can use them in quick escape situations because they were originally using one of the metal toggle switches on my throttle; but those were better used for other functions+I like just having all my control except for my throttle, in one hand.

Also: my hardpoints are re-assigned to the little switch under your stick trigger (default: auto flight system....because you'll never hit that button for this purpose)

In case you were curious, my panels are on my flat head joystick (the grey one on the stick), targetting on the top black Joystick (the one that looks like a mushroom) and the one that looks like a joypad is keyed to my systems positions (for systems, engines, or weapons allocation). Toggles are for Landing Gear/Cargo Scoop/Fuel Scoop, bottom switch toggles my modules/weapons/sensors, the little blue button is my boost.

That leaves you with about 20 more keys you can map anyway you want, bud. If you don't like any of these positions, change them!

My keys for my keyboard are mapped as such. C for analyze/combat mode, N for Night vision.

That's it.

[LostManAbroad]

Maybe I wasn't clear in my original post. I know how I like my setup. What I am asking is how you setup the different profiles in the game for the S1 switch. When I first started setting up my system, I had the S1 switch turned to M1 (Mode 1). I then assigned SW1 to my Hyperdrive. If I then turn the S1 switch to M2 and I try and assign SW1 to something else, for example Divert Power to Engines, I immediately get the warning message telling me that the switch SW1 is already assigned to my Hyperdrive.

I assumed that it would be done by assigning all the in game functions to keyboard buttons and then using the software that goes with the X56 to reprogram all the different switches and buttons so that in game using them will result in the associated keyboard button being recognised but the game doesn't seem to register the external software that configures the flight stick and throttle.

How did you setup different button profiles if you aren't using the external software?

[PuffyLunk]

The game automatically creates a new profile called "custom" when you swap any defaults from the X-56 default set up for Elite. The only time I use the Logitech software is when I turn my X-56 off for the night and then start up Elite the next day w/o turning on my HoTAS first. Then my ship will just aimlessly float in space. At which point I turn on the software and re-calibrate the XYZ axises and I'm good to go.

[LostManAbroad]

Yeah but that is just a non-default profile for your entire keybindings. I have done the same with my game. The issue is that the throttle is capable of a lot more then the game allows by default.

Along the bottom of the X56 throttle there are three switches, each with an UP and a DOWN. So altogether that is 6 different functions that you can assign. However, if I could get the S1 dial on the bottom left side of the throttle to work, then 6 different functions becomes 18 different functions. Basically you should be able to assign 3 times as many commands as there are buttons, hats and dials on the throttle.

The game doesn't recognise the S1 dial though. That is why you need the software. I am just trying to find someone who knows how to get the software to work in conjunction with the game.

Anyone?

[PuffyLunk]

Ah, sorry that I couldn't help you.

[Rozzko]

Feel your pain. This is just a comment that won't help you software wise but ..I use a x52 pro and do everything in my power to use the least amount of background programs while playing anything. The x52 has a similar rotating mode switch but I have given up on that a long time ago because i don't use the logitech software (from what your saying it doesn't work anyway). I just use a button on the throttle (can be any one) to be a mode switch. Hold it while using other buttons on the throttle. Just a two button combo and it is enough to cover all the functions i need quickly. Not sure if Elite has a Double tap ability but Star Citizen does and is used frequently on my set ups.

[jellowiggler]

The mode switcher changes the ID of all the buttons in one press. For instance if mode1 was your flight controls, and mode2 was your ground controls. or A to A mode/ A to G mode in a combat flight sim. That is what it is designed for. Elite doesn't need this, it can map the same buttons to different roles depending on different situation.

Modern game software handles this for you.

[LostManAbroad]

Yeah but it requires a lot of thought first to make sure that you don't assign buttons that can be used in the same situation. For example, if I set SW1 to be my landing gear but also my ship lights then I can only ever use both at the same time. Alternatively, if I set SW1 to be my landing gear but also to be the activate button for selecting something in a menu then it is fine as the landing gear will be activated normally but if I am looking at one of the panels on the left or right of the cockpit then SW1 will only function as the activate button.

I'd rather use the joystick the way it is intended as the layout I want to use won't work as some of the buttons will conflict with each other if there is no way to switch between the different modes.

[Element Priest]

https://www.logitech.com/assets/65324/x56-hotas.pdf

[jellowiggler]

Originally posted by LostManAbroad:

Yeah but it requires a lot of thought first to make sure that you don't assign buttons that can be used in the same situation. For example, if I set SW1 to be my landing gear but also my ship lights then I can only ever use both at the same time. Alternatively, if I set SW1 to be my landing gear but also to be the activate button for selecting something in a menu then it is fine as the landing gear will be activated normally but if I am looking at one of the panels on the left or right of the cockpit then SW1 will only function as the activate button.

I'd rather use the joystick the way it is intended as the layout I want to use won't work as some of the buttons will conflict with each other if there is no way to switch between the different modes.

As you will. I don't think you've quite grasped the multipage virtual layouts. The trick is to remember what page or 'mode' you are currently in and where the function you are looking for is. Most people just select a modifier button to hold to multiply their buttons. Normally it's on a pinky finger. It can also be challenging to use the manufacturer's software sometimes. But program your controls the way that makes you happy. That's what makes them great!

[User]

Check out Voice-Attack here on steam as a supplement and these.

You can backup and paste others bindigs to test and see what you like and then modify. Easiest than re-keying I think.

1.) Always backup your .BINDS from Elite dangerous
2.) This guy did all the hard work for us...
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/your-saitek-x-56-binds-file-tips-tricks.561108/
3.) Key map/bind repository https://www.edrefcard.info/list
4.) https://elite-dangerous.fandom.com/wiki/HOTAS_Key_Bindings
5.) https://github.com/ghorsey/EdBindings

I have the x56 hotas and I have issues with phantom button presses, random USB disconnects (not machine specific issues). Looking at VIRPIL and StreamDeck XL
https://virpil-controls.eu/


Good luck, I am re-sorting my bindings for odyssey...

If I missed the mark let me know.

[WondrinOstrich]

Originally posted by LostManAbroad:

The throttle is covered in buttons and dials but it also has a dial for switching between modes. i.e. all the buttons do one thing in the first mode but then if you switch to the next mode then you can set all the buttons to completely different functions.

My question is, how do you get it to work? For example, if I want to set my hyperdrive to the SW1 button and the Supercruise to the SW2 button, no problem. However, if I assign the Q button to hyperdrive and W to Supercruise and then using the Logitech G software I program the SW1 button to be the Q button and program the SW2 button to be the W button, once I go back into the game, it doesn't work.

I am not sure if this can help and it is in msfs-forum, but maybe there are a few things in this post you can use:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1250410/discussions/5/3199245116719316399/

;-)

[LostManAbroad]

I've given up on my original plans ever since I discovered VoiceAttack. Now all my focus is on figuring out why VoiceAttack refuses to recognise the microphone in my headset.

[User]

LostManAbroad,

I have the same issue. Every nice mic I have that is headsets, Razer and Corsair do not work with voice attack in Win-11. It does work with a -crappy $20 USB desktop mic.

Other VoiceAttack issues I have are it blasts my binds into nonsense, mixes up commands. I realized I am attached to the past with VoiceAttack and Elite Dangerous. I now use VoiceBot as a stopgap. The ED binds issue never going to be addressed by ED and mic issue is passed off by VA support as "we'll look into it" and never get back issue.

Best of luck

o7

Ash