(Re) Getting started, recommended control system (HOTAS, MK, Voice, Tracking)

[Bodhammer]

Hi all,

I want to try ED again after a long hiatus. Previously, I always got frustrated/overwhelmed with the control systems. I just finally got a couple of HSC packs and wanted to try again. I have the following:

Good mouse and keyboard, microphone, webcam

Monitor at 3440x1440

3D Connection Space Explorer

Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback

TM T.Flight Hotas X One

Voice Attack with Delta and Verity

Xbox 360 wireless controller

OpenTrack working with AI Track working with Webcam

I don't aways keep everything connected and and I do need to disconnect and put stuff away when not playing all the time. I have lost bindings in the past. I don't want to spend any more money.

Any recommendations for a solid control scheme and profiles?

[DonVonHulio]

Sell everything but the the 360 remote and try to buy at least a TM T1600 if using a HOTAS is something you want.

The peripherals you have will only cause frustration due to lack of mappable buttons, few HAT switches. and the need to speak or take hands off the controls. Your computer needs a break from the gangbang it receives everytime you hook all that up.

If not, then my only suggestion is just play tha game and map stuff as you go whenever the need for it arises. Only use what you need etc.

[Hootman]

Since you have HCS voicepacks, the HCS voicepacks already create a profile for you!

You can find it in profile settings named "HCS".

Since ED allows two different keystrokes per key to program, make sure and leave the default HCS keys alone, as they are set to work with the voicepacks. Use the other blocks to program your HOTAS to your hearts content the way you like...

Basically what I'm saying is, with HCS, use that controller profile, and don't mess with the default keys set by HCS.

Also, read up again on the HCS packs, and how to get into the profile settings in Voiceattack to set things how you want them. And look in the folders for HCS in your Windows Program folders to find the user guides and voice commands for the basic HCS, and also Delta and Verity.

You have everything you need already! Just a matter of fine tuning it.

In the future, remember you can have up to 6 HCS AI with you at once with the "Gravity" pack, and one I would certainly recommend is Cecil. He's a drunk that has a LOT of commentary and is pretty funny to have riding along with you.

[Hootman]

Also, I just went and checked, HCS is having a sale right now on Voicepacks.

Couple things I should have mentioned, in case you don't know. When you open voiceattack using HCS, CTL / SHIFT / ALT /ENTER take you to the HCS customizer. One link there gets you to the manuals. The important one is the Keybind Creator. There, you can select which HOTAS to have it create the custom keybind control set in ED. Given what you have, right now, use the Tflight HOTASX, as the HCS customizer has it as one of the HOTAS you can have it build a control set for. Or, you can build a control set for your gamepad, the X360 is also an option you can select in HCS to build a control set.

It might be possible to build a HCS control set for both the HOTASX and the gamepad, if you want to swap out, but I don't think so. In that case, I think you would have to manually go into ED's control bind folder and "copy/paste" whichever control set you wish to use at any given time. So you could create one for the HOTASX, copy that and store it, and then create one for the gamepad, and store that, to have both created to allow swapping.

[Hootman]

I'm sorry, one last thing (I think).

I created a doc for the HCS voicepacks for myself that sort of describes what / who each voicepack is, how entertaining it seems to me, etc., as a way for me to prioritize how I was going to buy voicepacks (I buy them here and there during a sale, slow build on the colleciton.

Lots of misc rambling in the doc, but there is a little "evaluation" on each one that you may find helpful if you are looking to add to your collection down the road.

HCS Voicepacks info / evaluation [docs.google.com]

[/me]

Use the 360 controller for SRV and ditch the others (should you decide to play more than a few hours). A T.16000 is kinda entry lvl stick... my recommendation if your budget allows it would be at least a VKB (reasonable price tag) and the next step up is VIRPIL (high price tag). Both are quality products and you'll get spare parts if something breaks.

[Mogendo]

I use a HOTAS with voice attack, leaving just about all the keys on default for the ship. I only map the keys for ground missions, and these are easily remapped if settings are reset. My HOTAS is a cheap thrustmaster supported at startup in the settings.

[Sighman]

There's nothing wrong with a Hotas-X. I use 2 thumb buttons on the throttle as shift A and shift B, which gives me a ton of controls on the one setup.

I bought mine when ED was first released on Steam, it's done over 1000 hours and I still use it on a second PC

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by DonVonHulio:

Sell everything but the the 360 remote and try to buy at least a TM T1600 if using a HOTAS is something you want.

T16000M is barely any better than the HotasX he's already got.

[richardanthony.butler]

I am running dual NTX gladiators with the angle mod in a HOSAS configuration. Very natural for character manipulation out of the ship. The HCS does most of the work in setting up the bindings. I would not go back to the throttle config now. You have the rest of what you need.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by richardanthony.butler:

I am running dual NTX gladiators with the angle mod in a HOSAS configuration. Very natural for character manipulation out of the ship. The HCS does most of the work in setting up the bindings. I would not go back to the throttle config now. You have the rest of what you need.

Same here, Dual VKB Gladiator NXT sticks, angled mod (OTA) on the left... Looking at getting the upgrade module, to switch the left stick over to the Evo version with the dry clutches next (so I can use it as a proper throttle in flight sims, where the dual stick setup doesn't make sense).

Because I've got the Space Combat Grips on them, I don't need HCS. Everything is mapped to the sticks.

[Darth_Lopez]

I would say go with a Virpil Warbrd base, Constellation Alpha and a Mongoose throttle. It's extremely pricey but my god its the best HOTAS i've ever used.

[McGargoyle]

Originally posted by funkynutz:

Originally posted by DonVonHulio:

Sell everything but the the 360 remote and try to buy at least a TM T1600 if using a HOTAS is something you want.

T16000M is barely any better than the HotasX he's already got.

Junk.
Junk is what a T16000M is.
Just threw out my second and definitely last of them.
Can't wait for my VKB Gladiator to arrive.

[DonVonHulio]

Originally posted by McGargoyle:

Originally posted by funkynutz:

T16000M is barely any better than the HotasX he's already got.

Junk.
Junk is what a T16000M is.
Just threw out my second and definitely last of them.
Can't wait for my VKB Gladiator to arrive.

Its minimum kit. If someone uses it enough to wear it out then the question of "do i use the thing enough to justify upgrading" is answered.

[Darth_Lopez]

Originally posted by DonVonHulio:

Originally posted by McGargoyle:

Junk.
Junk is what a T16000M is.
Just threw out my second and definitely last of them.
Can't wait for my VKB Gladiator to arrive.

Its minimum kit. If someone uses it enough to wear it out then the question of "do i use the thing enough to justify upgrading" is answered.

Na man, Thrustmaster is straight garbo. I wasted money on thier crap when starting out, and then moved onto an X56 and was amazed by the difference. Now I've moved onto a Virpil set up and its just... Literally Life Altering experience.

To the OP don't skimp out if you're serious at all about flight sims/space sims just grab a virpil or a VKB and run with it. The lower tier products... are just... not worth it. And both have better warranty and service than the "entry" level garbo.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by DonVonHulio:

Originally posted by McGargoyle:

Junk.
Junk is what a T16000M is.
Just threw out my second and definitely last of them.
Can't wait for my VKB Gladiator to arrive.

Its minimum kit. If someone uses it enough to wear it out then the question of "do i use the thing enough to justify upgrading" is answered.

I upgraded from a HotasX to dual T16000M sticks. Wore out 4 of them back when you could buy them for £25 each (and to be fair, they were the best sticks you could get in that price range back then...).

Then they put the prices up (up to triple the price on a single stick - they were selling for £75 at one point), so I upgraded to VKB instead... Won't bother with thrustmaster sticks again...