What is the difference between Reactivity and Sensitivity?

[robert young 2,897]

In FSX and P3d "sensitivity" was entirely linked to TIME, ie: the time it took for a control surface to react to a given input. In MSFS sensitivity is now entirely connected to input curves, so you now have the advantage of imposing a curve response and a time lag through "reactivity". Strictly speaking this should be as near to 100% and the sensitivity curve close to linear if the given flight model is decent. 

Unfortunately many default and addon aircraft are way, way too twitchy in pitch control and this at its core has nothing to do with curves or response but with poor pitch control settings in the flight model. Almost all aircraft are very stable in pitch, even if they only require a small stick movement, which is different from the bucking up and down movement you see in many FS aircraft. If your given aircraft is bouncing up AND down in pitch like a spring in MSFS then the flight model is plain wrong.

For my own amusement I adjust the flight model of 95% of aircraft in MSFS to get rid of the pitch twitch as it makes aircraft extremely difficult to control when attempting a smooth take off and smooth flare on landing. For this reason I do not buy any addon aircraft in the marketplace because the f/ms are still encrypted, whereas they are generally not encrypted if you purchase direct from the addon developer or re-seller.

[Luis Hernandez 570]

On 9/18/2022 at 4:55 PM, Alpine Scenery said:

I will have to watch this when my VKB Gladiator Joystick arrives

You'll love it. You may be dissatisfied with the grease, but VKB has a tutorial on how to regrease it. I did it with a lighter grease and I don't regret it at all.

[El Diablito 328]

2 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

It is going to partly depend on your hard ware. On my Fulcrum Yoke for example tend to run flat curves (zero sensitivity) but on my old FFB2 I have the sensitivity set to more like -30% .

Thanks, Glenn. I use the Thrustmaster Airbus Quadrant and Side Stick. I reckon linear will work fine without any curves.

[El Diablito 328]

1 hour ago, RALF9636 said:

In the end you can only find out for yourself which settings feel best for you. It not only depends on the hardware and the aircraft type but also on personal preference.

However here are my settings for the Fenix A320 (Thrustmaster T1600, old Saitek pedals):

Elevator:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 33

 

Aileron: 

Sensitivity -50

Extremity Deadzone 0

 

Rudder:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 70

 

And for the PMDG 737 (Honeycomb Yoke):

Elevator:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 50

 

Aileron:

Sensitivity -25

Extremity Deadzone 0

 

Rudder:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 75

 

Anyway I would strongly recommend against setting any sensitivity curve for the elevator and the rudder. That will make the control feel different depending on the elevater/rudder deflection which makes the aircraft even harder to control during the flare and when rolling down the runway in a crosswind.

Regarding the Extremity Deadzone: Increase it until you just still have enough control authority to keep the nose up in the flare resp. to counteract the windvaning effect in the strongest crosswind you want your aircraft to takeoff/land in.

I guess the reactivity really is a matter of personal taste. Just test 0, 50 and 100 and see what you like best with your hardware and aircraft. I leave it at 100.

 

Excellent, Ralf. I will give these numbers a test and see what I come with. I guess it's trial and error for the larger liners (787,777,A330 etc) where reactivity will come into play to simulate weight.

Thank's again!

[hangar 661]

@El Diablito - So, the extremity deadzone doesn't shorten the throw of the axis then?

I've never used it because I always assumed that it would shorten the travel to the 100% mark, thereby increasing the feeling of sensitive controls.

[RALF9636 1,957]

6 minutes ago, hangar said:

@El Diablito - So, the extremity deadzone doesn't shorten the throw of the axis then?

I've never used it because I always assumed that it would shorten the travel to the 100% mark, thereby increasing the feeling of sensitive controls.

A positive Extremity Deadzone setting reduces the sensitivity. That means that you won't get to the full control deflection in the sim  anymore when you fully deflect your hardware controller, which makes the controls less twitchy.

A negative Extremitiy Deadzone makes you reach the full deflection in the sim earlier, when you not yet fully deflected your hardware controller, making it even twitchier.

 

[hangar 661]

9 minutes ago, RALF9636 said:

means that you won't get to the full control deflection in the sim  anymore

hmm, a little odd but interesting. Sounds like a good thing to play with on certain sensitive aircraft where you don't need too much rudder authority...especially if you don't often fly windy approaches or have an over abundance of rudder.

Edited March 9, 2023 by hangar

[RALF9636 1,957]

14 minutes ago, hangar said:

hmm, a little odd but interesting. Sounds like a good thing to play with on certain sensitive aircraft where you don't need too much rudder authority...especially if you don't often fly windy approaches or have an over abundance of rudder.

I set a significant positive Extremity Deadzone for elevator and rudder in almost all aircraft in MSFS. Usually you never need full control surface deflection in MSFS in a normal flight. If you are in aerobatics or do sideslips a lot, it might be different of course.

Apart from my pedals I have the twist axis of my stick also assigned to the rudder - without an Extremity Deadzone. So I can use that should I ever need full deflection (sideslips or sharp turns while taxiing - or use the tiller axis for that).

 

[hangar 661]

15 minutes ago, RALF9636 said:

my stick also assigned to the rudder - without an Extremity Deadzone. So I can use that should I ever need full deflection

right, makes sense.

[RJC68 823]

5 hours ago, RALF9636 said:

In the end you can only find out for yourself which settings feel best for you. It not only depends on the hardware and the aircraft type but also on personal preference.

However here are my settings for the Fenix A320 (Thrustmaster T1600, old Saitek pedals):

Elevator:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 33

 

Aileron: 

Sensitivity -50

Extremity Deadzone 0

 

Rudder:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 70

 

And for the PMDG 737 (Honeycomb Yoke):

Elevator:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 50

 

Aileron:

Sensitivity -25

Extremity Deadzone 0

 

Rudder:

Sensitivity 0

Extremity Deadzone 75

 

Anyway I would strongly recommend against setting any sensitivity curve for the elevator and the rudder. That will make the control feel different depending on the elevater/rudder deflection which makes the aircraft even harder to control during the flare and when rolling down the runway in a crosswind.

Regarding the Extremity Deadzone: Increase it until you just still have enough control authority to keep the nose up in the flare resp. to counteract the windvaning effect in the strongest crosswind you want your aircraft to takeoff/land in.

I guess the reactivity really is a matter of personal taste. Just test 0, 50 and 100 and see what you like best with your hardware and aircraft. I leave it at 100.

 

Thanks for this,

I just tried your settings for my Honeycomb Yoke and the pitch is way more precise, did a quick circuit and the approach & flare was much better. 

[hvw 403]

23 minutes ago, RJC68 said:

Thanks for this,

I just tried your settings for my Honeycomb Yoke and the pitch is way more precise, did a quick circuit and the approach & flare was much better. 

This goes for my Thrustmaster TCA Captain's pack for Fenix A320, too.

[RJC68 823]

21 minutes ago, hvw said:

This goes for my Thrustmaster TCA Captain's pack for Fenix A320, too.

Good to know Hans,

I also have the Thrustmaster Side Stick for the Fenix I will also give this a try. Did you use the exact same setting for the pitch ?

[hvw 403]

35 minutes ago, RJC68 said:

Good to know Hans,

I also have the Thrustmaster Side Stick for the Fenix I will also give this a try. Did you use the exact same setting for the pitch ?

Yes, I copied the data given in RALF9636's note. Mind you, I only did one flight with these settings but the experience was great and they seem to work perfectly for me.

Edited March 9, 2023 by hvw
Syntax error

[RJC68 823]

I thought I would report back,

I adjusted both my Thrustmaster Airbus side stick & Honeycomb Yoke as per Ralf's settings and have now completed a couple of flights in the PMDG & Fenix and have nailed every single landing, what a difference, the elevator authority is super accurate and precise on both aircraft now. A linear curve with the extremity deadzone adjusted is definitely the way to go. Aileron authority is really nice as well.

I am one happy camper, I have been struggling to perfect my landings in MSFS 2020 for ages.

[Bobsk8 12,730]

On 9/18/2022 at 3:29 PM, Micko said:

Hi Noel, 

Here's a very good youtube video, have a look yourself:

 

This video clearly explains all the adjustments in MSFS..