Using android smartphone to give 7+ axes of control.

[Deefa]

Hi.
First off, thanks the arketype for the basis of this setup.

I have set up the software chain to allow using my android smartphone to give 7 axes of control for IL2-CoD.

You need a wireless network connection for this to work - doesn't need to be the main network connection as long as PC and smartphone are on the same wireless network/subnet.

The steps required are
1. Setup PPJoy & Glovepie as per arketype's thread.
2. Install Fingerplay (free app) from Google Market.
3. Download and install Fingerplay Server (requires JAVA runtime) from here.
4. Download and install loopbe1 virtual midi port from here.
5. Run Fingerplay server on PC. Note IP address, and Port number
6. Run Fingerplay on the smartphone. Press the config button at top right.
Ensure Server Type is FingerServer. Enter IP address & Port. Press Connect to server. You should see the phone connecting on the Fingerplay server window.
7.On phone, choose the MIDI Out Device to be "LoopBe Internal MIDI"
If all goes well, you will see somthing like this (this was grabbed the second time I ran fingerplay and it shows some of the data as I move a slider):


8. Edit and run the Glovepie script after modifying it to suit. I use the 7 sliders accessed on the phone by sliding the bar "up" under the config button on Fingerplay (on the phone). The code below SHOULD work, as long as GlovePie sees LoopBe1 as the only MIDI input: (Thanks to arketype for the original, and the inspiration to work the rest out!)

  // Change the cc* value to that of the slider/fader,
// potentiometer or button you wish to activate on your midi
// device.

// Change midi* to the midi channel of your midi device (usually // zero, unless you have changed it).

// Change Analog* to the axis number you wish to activate on the // virtual joystick.

// Change Digital* to the button number you wish to activate on // the virtual joystick.

// Change PPJoy* to create and add more new virtual joysticks, // if you have more hardware.

// Copy the entire document and paste into a fresh GlovePIE
// script and after adjustments for you hardware device
// click "Run"

// Test it all through "settings - joystick - properties" in
// GlovePIE to see the faders/buttons moving.



debug = [ PPJoy1.Analog0, PPJoy1.Analog2 ]

// debug variable outputs of x and y axes on for reference only // can be deleted or modified to return different axes or button // values.

PPJoy1.Analog0 = ((midi0.cc7)*2) -1 // x axis
PPJoy1.Analog1 = ((midi0.cc9)*2) -1 // y axis
PPJoy1.Analog2 = ((midi0.cc11)*2) -1 // z axis
PPJoy1.Analog3 = ((midi0.cc13)*2) -1 // z rotation
PPJoy1.Analog4 = ((midi0.cc15)*2) -1 // slider
PPJoy1.Analog5 = ((midi0.cc17)*2) -1 // slider
PPJoy1.Analog6 = ((midi0.cc19)*2) -1 // x rotation
//PPJoy1.Analog7 = ((midi0.cc17)*2) -1 // y rotation
//PPJoy1.Analog8 = ((midi0.cc6)*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog9 = ((midi0.cc1*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog10 = ((midi0.cc*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog11 = ((midi0.cc19)*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog12 = ((midi0.cc9)*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog13 = ((midi0.cc20)*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog14 = ((midi0.cc12)*2) -1
//PPJoy1.Analog15 = ((midi0.cc21)*2) -1


PPJoy1.Digital0 = midi0.cc23 // button 1
PPJoy1.Digital1 = midi0.cc33 // button 2
PPJoy1.Digital2 = midi0.cc24 // button 3
PPJoy1.Digital3 = midi0.cc34 // button 4
PPJoy1.Digital4 = midi0.cc25 // button 5
PPJoy1.Digital5 = midi0.cc35 // button 6
PPJoy1.Digital6 = midi0.cc26 // button 7
PPJoy1.Digital7 = midi0.cc36 // button 8
PPJoy1.Digital8 = midi0.cc27 // button 9
PPJoy1.Digital9 = midi0.cc37 // button 10
PPJoy1.Digital10 = midi0.cc28 // button 11
PPJoy1.Digital11 = midi0.cc38 // button 12
PPJoy1.Digital12 = midi0.cc29 // button 13
PPJoy1.Digital13 = midi0.cc39 // button 14
PPJoy1.Digital14 = midi0.cc30 // button 15
PPJoy1.Digital15 = midi0.cc40 // button 16

If it's all setup ok, you should be able to see the Fingerplay server console displaying text as you move sliders on the smartphone, Glovepie showing it's debug (two left sliders on phone) in the info bar, and PPJoy showing it's axes being modified in Game Controller settings/Properties for the virtual joystick.

For me (who plays on a macbook pro, having to move location frequently) it's great to have another 7 axes along with my MS Sidewinder 3D pro joystick.
I generally use the extra axes for trim (a bit difficult but useable), radiators, mixture, prop pitch etc.
The main hassle is remembering which (unlabelled) slider is which. I'm not set on a perfect setup yet.

This method would apply equally with an iphone, ipad, android tablet etc, as long as you can output MIDI into LoopBe1. I think a tablet sized device, with the ability to set labels on sliders & buttons could be quite useful as an extra input device, as lots of people have similar devices these days.

I hope this is useful for someone else - it's all free which is a good incentive!

Deefa.

[Madfish]

That's some really nice stuff right there. Gonna try this myself, thanks.

[Vengeanze]

Interesting. Any chance of a youtube clip?

How do you keep the phone from gliding around?

[Deefa]

Originally Posted by Vengeanze

Interesting. Any chance of a youtube clip?

How do you keep the phone from gliding around?

What would you want to see in the clip?

I have a HTC desire, with a rubber protective case, so it sticks to the bench very well.

I forgot to mention, you need to 'Run' the script in GlovePie. Will edit OP later if I can get a youtube clip together - no promises.

[Norseman]

omg.. whats next..lol

-a brilliant idea !
got me a samsung s2 here and I`ll glue it into
my "cockpit".. and then I can have proper comm`s
as well..lol
Thank You !-)
~s~

[Deefa]

Originally Posted by Norseman

omg.. whats next..lol

-a brilliant idea !
got me a samsung s2 here and I`ll glue it into
my "cockpit".. and then I can have proper comm`s
as well..lol
Thank You !-)
~s~

Hehe. If you could get someone to code an android gaming VOIP voice chat client that would be great!
Thing is this gives me lots of control and I carry it in my pocket. Portable PC gaming is where I'm at - I can only play at work when it's real quiet, no time for gaming at home