Loupedeck Live S | Easiest Drag & Drop Config in Microsoft Flight Simulator

[@SimHangerFS]

What’s your thoughts on using the Loupedeck or stream deck as a controller?

[@srobak]

I love it... I am using the Loupedeck Live since your previous video demonstrating it and recommending it. I was able to find a barely used one on ebay from an editor who wanted more functionality - and it was nearly $100 USD off retail, so I jumped on it. I have been using it nonstop since - and it is awesome. The only thing I wish for now is a way to get the on-screen copy of the panel to appear within a window in the simulator - because now I am using VR (thanks to your vids) and cannot remember all the buttons and submenus. Would love to have it displayed within the VR cockpit like I do the VFR map - usually placing it where my legs would be in VR. I'm sure I could find a spot on the cockpit dash to put the panel. Short of that - the LDL has been awesome and perfect for what I need - and it is all thanks to you (as is my enjoyment of VR). Thanks again for all your awesome videos, clear detail and real-world applicability of your reviews and information.

[@eggsdooley]

I’m loving my new Loupedeck and Spad. Being able to turn the G1000 FMS knob alone is worth paying for!

[@jhallock]

​@@eggsdooleyany chance you can share some links to guides for using spad.next? I'm finding that the rotary dials on my Live are not working in certain planes with the MSFS plugin. Thx

[@jhallock]

​@@eggsdooleyany chance you can share some links to guides for using spad.next? I'm finding that the rotary dials on my Live are not working in certain planes with the MSFS plugin. Thx

[@Jahus]

For General Aviation / planes like the Cessna 172 or the 208-B Grand Caravane, I highly recommand the VKB FSM-GA module. Can be used independenly. It has 2 bugs (HDG, ALT), VS encoder with VS button and buttons for AP, FD, YD, VS, ALT, LVL, NAV, etc. All with LED that can follow the in-game state. Truly amazing.

[@RedRuffinsore]

I bought a StreamDeck (15 key) during the Amazon Prime days a few weeks ago for US$100. I had been considering that and the Loupedeck, but couldn't pass up the deal. My FS setup already has the Logitech switch panel, radio panel and Multi-panel so I did not need (as badly) one with rotary dials. If I did NOT own these panels, there is no question that I would have gone with the Loupedeck. The StreamDeck seems similar in ease-of-use and programming and there are wonderful MSFS plug-ins developed for it. I extended my functionality by also using an old Android tablet with the Touch Portal app (US$13). I did that because I want to use it to duplicate the overhead panels on airliners with many buttons. For example, the startup sequence for the ATR involves more than 35 button presses with 27 different buttons to press on the overhead panel. I think you can have up to 110 buttons on a single screen. A number of these overhead panels, and other GA aircraft "pages" have been created and are available at flightsim.to. The COOLEST thing I discovered is that there is a way to affect the Touch Portal THROUGH the StreamDeck. So, I use my StreamDeck for calling up MSFS with an Addons Linker button (but also a direct load if I want); individual buttons for the add ons I use (Voice Atacck, LNM, FS Realistic, SimShaker, Sky4Sim, FSLTL, etc. I added a button for PLANES, which takes me to a second screen with icons for the planes I fly. When I click on one of those, it loads up the Touch Portal for all of the detailed flight panels associated with that aircraft.

[@SimHangerFS]

Sounds very practical. 👍

[@4secsharkmr352]

Good one as always. Thank you Mark and take care.

[@KevinMulcare]

I do all my flying in VR and I love the Loupedeck Live knobs, but without any passthrough the buttons are hopeless. I slightest touch will trigger them and when you can't see the unit, they aren't practical. However, in VR pushing buttons is no problem, so just using the loupedeck for dials and knobs is still worth it. The only problem I then had with knobs was remembering which one knob did what. So, I have taken a different approach to the plugin (I have a development background,), I use one knob to select the FS dial I want to adjust, turning the dial scrolls through the available options I have set up, Altitude, Heading, VS, etc, it speaks out the current selected function, so in VR I don't need to see the unit to use it. A second knobs is then used to turn the corresponding knob in FS. Seems to be working really well.

[@SimHangerFS]

Great Implementation 👍

[@srobak]

Would you be at all interested in sharing this? I'd gladly make it worth your time. Thanks.

[@KevinMulcare]

@@srobakat the moment it is pretty specific to my requirements. It also has a separate program that communicates between the Loupedeck plugin and MSFS, ideally, that functionality should go back to the plugin. So not really suited to others use. I do plan to do more work that would allow it to be more flexible which would also make it more usable for other. But not sure when that will be, I'll reply again when it is in a more sharable state, although that might be a couple of months.

[@srobak]

@@KevinMulcare Thank you, I'd appreciate it.

[@KevinMulcare]

My most useful mapping from the Loupedeck to MSFS is to map a knob to the Zoom Function in the OpenXr Toolkit. It makes it super easy to zoom in and back out to read small print in the cockpit. The mappings using a Run Action are Clockwise Dial - Zoom In - C:\Program Files\OpenXR-Toolkit\companion.exe || app FS2020 -zoom +0.1 Counter Clockwise Dial - Zoom Out - C:\Program Files\OpenXR-Toolkit\companion.exe || app FS2020 -zoom +-0.1 Press Action - Reset Zoom - C:\Program Files\OpenXR-Toolkit\companion.exe || app FS2020 -zoom 1@@SimHangerFS

[@scottfuller6447]

Thanks for your in-depth reviews of both the Live and S versions. Can you use the MSFS plug-in for either device? The heading for this video seems to imply that the Live S has the "easiest drag and drop config in MSFS". Does that no apply to the larger Loupedeck Live unit also? Thanks for your help!

[@SimHangerFS]

Same for both S & Live, no difference, just less dials etc on the S

[@chrisparky]

I've just brought the live S, so far having issues configuring the auto throttle speed, would like to hit a button and the dial change from Heading or ALT to speed. Great little device though!!

[@Kiwomens]

Thanks a lot. Two questions, if i may ask. On the Loupedeck Live can you swap pages by touch, or do you have to press the bottom buttons? I still can't decide between the Live and the Live S. Do the haptic feedback feel the same in both devices? Also, one last question. Can you assign key combos (like Ctrl+Shift+1 for cameras) to buttons, or just one key? Thanks!

[@SimHangerFS]

Yes by touch, haptic on both, yes combo’s to buttons.

[@matthewzadell]

As this is PC-only, have you ever looked into the similar (but sim-specific) products from Axair that are Xbox-compatible?

[@SimHangerFS]

No, haven’t had the opportunity yet. On my list.

[@eggsdooley]

Have you ever tried moving on to a second Loupedeck workspace while still in the same SPAD Next device? ie: I have programmed the G1000 into the first LD workspace and I switch to the second one to add in the soft keys, but SPAD just sees the keys as the same as the previously programmed ones, even though they have different notes assigned to them. I’ve been asking Loupedeck Discord but haven’t heard anything as yet. Thought I’d see if you have tried that before.

[@SimHangerFS]

Providing the midi set up is completed before entering Spadnext all the active buttons are shown in Spadnext. The issue I have had is with the rotary dials.

[@mikecoffee100]

nice toy and thank you for another video

[@andy70d35]

Mark, could you do a video of combining the streamdeck XL and loupdeck Live together please, don't want to drop £229 on a loupdeck if the streamdeck and loupdeck Live can't be used together. The loupdeck Live would be for Autopilot, and streamdeck for everything else, I already have Honeycomb alpha and bravo and now getting out of my depth setting everything up, really looking to make the SIM experience keyboard and mouse free. Thank you, Mark.

[@SimHangerFS]

I haven't used the Streamdeck, so can't say for sure.

[@-TK-421]

I have the regular loupdeck and have tried time and time again to program it and never had luck. Just using the simple things it is good but I really want it to control the G1000. Never had any luck.

[@SimHangerFS]

Check out my intro to spadnext, link in the notes below the video.

[@pshattuck1]

Is there any way to use this with Xbox, if you first configure the unit on a PC?

[@SimHangerFS]

Unfortunately not. Xbox does not recognise it as a certified peripheral

[@PowerAirSimulations]

What is the difference between this and the stream deck is this easier or more complex? Are there any advantages I’m just stuck on which one I want to buy

[@SimHangerFS]

They are both similar. The plug in makes the Loupedeck very easy to use. There are numerous freeware configurations available for the stream deck, more different configurations.

[@PowerAirSimulations]

@@SimHangerFS would you choose the loop deck over the stream?

[@SimHangerFS]

@@PowerAirSimulations I've never used the streamdeck myself so I am biased!

[@PowerAirSimulations]

@@SimHangerFS thank you so much for the info I learn so much from you.

[@jrgenkauling8269]

How with DCS ?

[@SimHangerFS]

I’m not aware of any plugins for DCS at this time. It is seen as a midi device so I’m guessing not.