I've watched a lot of videos of people using Stream Decks with MSFS and it looks amazing. My only concern is that it takes away from normal (cockpit) interaction with controls. If I set up  a Stream Deck correctly, I will basically never have to move around the cockpit and handle controls again, for any aircraft I set up. That seems to be a negative in a lot of ways.

Does anyone here use Stream Deck and to what degree?

Disagree very much so.... have the right controls at your finger tips, less time to screw up, more time to fly the plane and stay out of trouble.  I have the 32 key version and enjoy every flight.

Very recommended, 

Steve

36 minutes ago, Mojave said:

I've watched a lot of videos of people using Stream Decks with MSFS and it looks amazing. My only concern is that it takes away from normal (cockpit)

I have one and luv it have he 15 button version - I use it for about 50% of my functions could use it more but like the interaction with hardware also - one of the best purchases I ever made for flightsim 

Highly recommend this payware - does all the work for you its amazing and always being updated with new aircraft for free - save you tons of hours of aggravation to setup all the aircraft - this is turn key luv it - there is YT videos of it in action also

https://flightdeck.to/product/flightdeck/

I have the 32 key version and find it invaluable. I feel it adds to the immersion.

A good example of its use is in the AS CRJ. This aircraft has a lot of required controls scattered all over the cockpit. The Stream Deck allows me to concentrate on flying the aircraft with out having to continually change views.

I tend to be fairly critical of any purchases I make and I have to say this is one of the best purchases I have made for flight simming.

15 minutes ago, Richard Sennett said:

Highly recommend this payware - does all the work for you its amazing and always being updated with new aircraft for free - save you tons of hours of aggravation to setup all the aircraft - this is turn key luv it - there is YT videos of it in action also

https://flightdeck.to/product/flightdeck/

How does that compare to the Flight Tracker plugin and/or Axis and Ohs (which I have not really looked into at all yet)?

What next MSFS cell phone edition on the way to work?  😆

28 minutes ago, Mojave said:

How does that compare to the Flight Tracker plugin and/or Axis and Ohs (which I have not really looked into at all yet)?

No idea haven't tried them 

In case anyone cares,

15 keys on the Stream Deck cell phone / tablet app,  for android or apple.  https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deck-mobile

Make your own icons the easy way,  https://www.elgato.com/en/keycreator

4 hours ago, Mojave said:

I've watched a lot of videos of people using Stream Decks with MSFS and it looks amazing. My only concern is that it takes away from normal (cockpit) interaction with controls. If I set up  a Stream Deck correctly, I will basically never have to move around the cockpit and handle controls again, for any aircraft I set up. That seems to be a negative in a lot of ways.

Does anyone here use Stream Deck and to what degree?

I love my Streamdecks (yes, I have two).  I use one for custom views and the other for whatever cockpit controls I can map.  Seems much more immersive to me than using a mouse to click on a button or switch (not exactly realistic).  I do have other hardware panels as well (a Cessna switch panel as well as Saitek and GoFlight panels, so my cockpit is a mix of various hardware.  For most aircraft, I have very limited mouse/keyboard interaction.

everything is possible with AxisAndOHs and StreamDeck

😉

 

This:

 

 

 

... and much more!

 

For the general question if a StreamDeck teaches you bad habits as you maybe unlearn where switches are positioned in the VC ... yes, partly true. On the other hand, I take it with my own explanation, that I control a 2 man cockpit alone, and some things have to be fast and theres no time to look around.

In reality it is much easier to have a glance to the overhead and click a switch, instead of in a computer game, where you have to pan with joystick/mouse, click, pan back etc. In this time you have been flown half a mile 😉

 

For the other question if 32 or 15 buttons: NOT LESS THAN 32!!!

I think about buying a second one as for certain situations one is not enough.

 

Question about SD in general: I have built formerly my own switch panels with 64 switches, had a Saitek Switch Panel etc.

As much as I'd liked the feel of real switches it was - for me - highly disatisfying that the hardwarelayout hasn't fit the VC counterpart. Other switches, other arrangement. All this is now (more or less) possible in the SD - you just have the switches you need. You can arrange them as you need them, you can have the "real" switches of that specific aircraft on the buttons with animations.

And with AAO you can create little gauges and more.

 

Hope this helps for decisions

Edited August 20, 20214 yr by guenseli

Just to add:

I have also a VRInsight MCP Combo II (Boeing) (which is controlled by AAO also). This is also sth I do not want to miss as it is valueable for all AP controls and their rotary knobs. A simpler and cheaper variant would possibly be a Behringer x-Touch Mini MIDI controller (works with AAO).

 

AP controls (especially the rotary knobs) with StreamDeck are not very good, but everything else.

Guenseli forgot to mention he is very activ in the community sharing his wonderful profils on flightsim.to. The buttons he draws are replicas in design of the real ones so you won’t forget how they look like. His work combined with AAO are of high value for me, especially for the DC6 or the CRJ !

Edit. If you want a cheap alternativ for some rotary knobs you can use a Behringer X touch mini also compatible with AAO, some profils can be found on flightsim.to as well.

Edited August 20, 20214 yr by webstef68

7 hours ago, Mojave said:

My only concern is that it takes away from normal (cockpit) interaction with controls. If I set up  a Stream Deck correctly, I will basically never have to move around the cockpit and handle controls again, for any aircraft I set up. That seems to be a negative in a lot of ways.

Most of us use some kind of throttle quadrant and one could say the same thing about that.

I use the streamdeck mostly to augment the virtual controls. Some of the virtual controls, like radio knobs, are much easier to use in real life than in the sim with just the mouse, so it helps to have this functionality available on another device. I also use it for starting engines, parking brakes and difficult to reach items like cowl flaps. It's also great for selecting cockpit views and answering ATC.

On the ramp I mostly use the virtual switches in the cockpit but having those on the streamdeck helps when you need to change something quickly during flight.

The last time I flew a real aircraft I could have sworn it had buttons to push. My Stream Deck buttons do exactly the same as they did. I can't see how that can have anything other than a positive impact on immersion.