AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack
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Update: I now have the program working perfectly thanks to the incredible help offered by SemlerPDX. Most people would have blown a complaint such as mine off, but not only did he not do that, he went far out of his way in assisting me.
Great program, great service. -
Dear @SemlerPDX, thank you a thousand times for your quick profile update!!!
Please, let me report a few issues:
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The new JTAC commands give out QWERTY keys only
(although my profile is set to QWERTZ otherwise).
Tanker commands, though, DO work on my keyboard. -
Some older ones:
“Two, take the lead” produces wrong keys (w0 instead of wwww0) -
The term “Kickout” ONLY works with the prefixes “Wingman”, “Element” and “Flight”, but NOT with the prefixes “Two”, “Three” or “Four”.
(Could also be my pronounciation, though) -
“Flight, go higher” and “Flight, go lower” produce key errors (key down/release by variable not set, no keys pressed).
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@Amadeus75 Thank you for the report, I’ll check in on those things.
For the flight command, try ‘Flight Go High’ and ‘Flight Go Low’ for now, and it will work. That one will require a systems change to implement in the more generic sense, so I had to trim the “er” from the end to make it work along with the non-flight versions of those commands.
Same thing with the JTAC - had not realized it would hard set itself like that.
As a temporary fix for now, it might be a little while to round up other bugs and fix them, here’s a version of the config table which will work for any user with a QWERTZ style keyboard:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dzbaia5r3j5ql9/avcs_config_table.zip?dl=1EDIT 2: The link above has (again) been edited and fixed - this file will work!!
Unzip the file to the location below to replace the ‘avcs_config_table.core’ file in that folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VoiceAttack\Apps\AVCS\CORE\BMS\40\update
If that is not your path it may be this one, depending on where you installed VoiceAttack:
C:\Program Files\VoiceAttack\Apps\AVCS\CORE\BMS\40\update
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@SemlerPDX
Thanks a lot, I will try after work -
How exactly does one get the ptt function to work ? I spoke the command listed here to activate it, enabled my joystick in VA, but I still can do commands without ptt.
Trying to use the uhf/vhf buttons. -
@MnMailman said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
How exactly does one get the ptt function to work ? I spoke the command listed here to activate it, enabled my joystick in VA, but I still can do commands without ptt.
Trying to use the uhf/vhf buttons.By default, the PTT system will restrict only BMS Radio Commands, while other configuration commands like “Open the Command Reference” or “Re-initialize Profile” will continue to recognize even if PTT is not pressed.
There is also a ‘Global’ mode for PTT, and this will completely restrict VoiceAttack from recognizing anything said over the mic unless the PTT button has been pressed (or the ‘computer name’ has been spoken, if set).
I’ve thrown together a short demonstration video on the AVCS CORE Push To Talk Mode system that is used in AVCS4 BMS Radios profile. Hopefully, this may clear up any confusion or issues, and help separate misunderstandings (if any) from actual operational errors or bugs. Please check out this video and try to set up your PTT mode as desired, and if it still doesn’t work as demonstrated here, let me know and we can enable the automated debugging I built in and get a log file of what’s actually occurring when you engage these systems.
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My first QWERTZ fix above was incorrect, I encoded it with HTML tags by mistake, and I’ve edited the file linked above in my dropbox.
To be clear, this is ONLY for users with QWERTZ keyboard layouts, for the new JTAC menu commands. If you have this style keyboard, see the post above on where to put this file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dzbaia5r3j5ql9/avcs_config_table.zip?dl=1 -
@SemlerPDX
Thanks a lot for fixing this for us QWERTZ users
Works fine now! -
Sorry to ask another of my really basic questions, but I’m not sure how to get Voice Attack (with AVCS) to work with BMS 4.36.
It has been working fine with 4.35 U3, but now that I’m using 4.36, I can’t get BMS to respond to VA.
I haven’t changed anything in the PTT settings. So I’m guessing, at least, it’s not a PTT problem. It’s probably something more basic that I’m missing.
I’ll bet there is a way I’m supposed to “point” VA at 4.36, instead of at 4.35, and I’ve forgotten how, and can’t figure out how by noodling around in VA.
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@Mylonite470 said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
Sorry to ask another of my really basic questions, but I’m not sure how to get Voice Attack (with AVCS) to work with BMS 4.36.
It has been working fine with 4.35 U3, but now that I’m using 4.36, I can’t get BMS to respond to VA.
I haven’t changed anything in the PTT settings. So I’m guessing, at least, it’s not a PTT problem. It’s probably something more basic that I’m missing.
I’ll bet there is a way I’m supposed to “point” VA at 4.36, instead of at 4.35, and I’ve forgotten how, and can’t figure out how by noodling around in VA.
Do have both running as administrator?
I believe you had to have them both run as admin in 4.35 and you may have forgotten to run the new BMS as Admin
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Thanks, @CriticalMass , I’ll check on that.
Do you happen to know if BMS will be “run as administrator” by default if I launch it from the Alternative Launcher?
I fired up the AL and looked in the Configuration settings, but didn’t see anything about running BMS as Administrator. But this does have a familiar ring to it, as though “run as Administrator” can be set as a default either via the AL or in the BMS config settings…
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@Mylonite470 said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
Sorry to ask another of my really basic questions, but I’m not sure how to get Voice Attack (with AVCS) to work with BMS 4.36.
It has been working fine with 4.35 U3, but now that I’m using 4.36, I can’t get BMS to respond to VA.
I haven’t changed anything in the PTT settings. So I’m guessing, at least, it’s not a PTT problem. It’s probably something more basic that I’m missing.
I’ll bet there is a way I’m supposed to “point” VA at 4.36, instead of at 4.35, and I’ve forgotten how, and can’t figure out how by noodling around in VA.
If you have changed the target in the settings window below, then you many need to change it for BMS 4.36, any keyword in that process name has changed. I disabled the forced BMS targeting long ago, and recommend to users to keep this set to ‘Active Window’, but if you have had to change it for yourself, review this screen under Profile Options and ensure it’s either the correct name for the process or is set to ‘Active Window’
If keypresses will not get through to your game, you might try addressing the .exe by name - Surround the name with *asterisks for a wildcard name capture as Focus Target globally. You can also try simply “Falcon BMS.exe”, or “*Falcon BMS.exe”. The default action is set to Active Window which should work for most people, but if that does not work, you might need to check a few things.
/Ensure VoiceAttack is running as Administrator, and that no plugins are interfering with keypress commands. As a last test for keys not working, you can try increasing the TimeBetweenKeys and TimeKeyIsHeldDown variables via the “Open Keypress Timings Menu” command to adjust these timings globally for the entire profile. Test increase from default 0.05 to 0.10 to slow down keypress commands./
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Well, I knew I was missing something basic, and I figured out what it was.
It was an “800-lb gorilla in the room”… I got a new throttle and set it up yesterday, before trying to use VA and AVCS in 4.36. I didn’t think I had created a PTT issue for myself, but I had.
I needed to enable the new throttle in VA Joystick options. Once I did that, all was well. AVCS PTT works in 4.36 just like it did in 4.35 U3.
As it happens, I got the new throttle right as 4.36 was coming out. I thought about setting up the throttle in 4.35 first, but decided not to. If I had done that, I would have had discovered the lack of VA functionality, and would have found my PTT mistake before installing and setting up 4.36.
I had (foolishly) thought that setting up the mic buttons in the KEYMAPPING part of the Alternative Launcher would make Voice Attack recognize the UHF and VHF switch actuations on the new throttle, as though it was the old throttle. I was mixing apples and oranges. I needed to go into VA’s joystick options and enable the new throttle.
Bonehead mistake, but I’m glad I spotted it. As always, many thanks to everyone for their suggestions, especially SemlerPDX. You really do a yeoman’s job putting up with folks like me, and I’m very grateful for it!
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@SemlerPDX Sorry for the really noob question but this is only my 2nd profile for Voice Attack and I’m really confused how to install it. Is there an idiot’s guide somewhere please?? Thanks!
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@Atlas said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
@SemlerPDX Sorry for the really noob question but this is only my 2nd profile for Voice Attack and I’m really confused how to install it. Is there an idiot’s guide somewhere please?? Thanks!
Sure! Just switch over to VoiceAttack and press “F1” on your keyboard to open the VoiceAttack Help & Instruction Manual. Around page 132 is the chapter “Importing Profiles and Profile Packages” which includes pictures and such.
Essentially, you first download both the AVCS CORE and AVCS4 BMS profile packages and unzip their contents. Next, you switch to the VoiceAttack program and click the button circled below and select “Import Profile”
I suggest you import AVCS CORE first, don’t switch to it or anything, and then immediately (once it is finished) import AVCS4 BMS.
These will be found in the folder where you unzipped the contents of the download, the file ending in .vax and labeled (IMPORT THIS) like the image below:
once both have been imported, switch to the AVCS CORE profile to allow it to initialize, it will allow you to set a ‘preferred profile’ such as AVCS4 BMS, and anytime it loads, it will initialize both itself and this profile, then automatically switch to it. This way, if you want you can set AVCS CORE to be your startup-profile in VoiceAttack options, which will load CORE, then BMS, and then switch to the BMS profile for you - ready to fly.
(totally optional, useful if you only use VoiceAttack for AVCS4 BMS)Next, if it doesn’t automatically switch to the AVCS4 BMS profile, manually switch to it using the dropdown list at the top of the VoiceAttack main window.
There will be messages to read and one last step - follow the instructions which display in the VoiceAttack text log window - you will open the AVCS4 BMS Profile with the button just to the left of the one you pushed to import a profile, then click the Profile Options button at the top near the left - then the button to ‘Include commands from other profiles’ as the instructions will state, clicking the “+” button and selecting the AVCS CORE profile you imported.
At last you will click ok on any open windows to save these changes, and then as stated above, say, “Initialize Profile”, to register this change and finalize initialization.
You only have to do this one time, unless I create a new major profile update which requires downloading and importing a new profile - which is why I rarely do. Even with the recent overhaul of the entire BMS in-game radios menu system and layouts of actions, I was able to push a patch update to all users without forcing a new download/import package. The initialization time for my profiles is the price for this convenience, even on my very fast PC, it loads like a proper program taking upwards of 30 seconds from the time I switch to AVCS CORE before it automatically loads and lands me at the AVCS4 BMS profile saying “All systems initialized” - but totally worth it from a dev and user standpoint. (I’m not just the president of the hair club for men, I’m also a client) (lol - j/k)
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@SemlerPDX Excellent instructions there, thanks!
I now have these options on my Profile drop-down:
Do I need to do anything with that USER PROFILE TEMPLATE (v1.0)? Or do I just leave that alone?
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@Atlas The AVCS4 Template profile is for folks who want to build their own profile for whatever game (or just general use) which can use and include all the functions of AVCS CORE and it’s commands (like Quick Command Creator, Voice Authorization System, etc.) while also adding their own voice commands.
If you don’t plan to ever do that, you can feel free to delete that profile.
If you want to use it, though, it must be renamed per instructions in the readme, and like the AVCS4 BMS profile, edited in the exact same manner to have AVCS CORE commands included through its profile options menu.
This is because AVCS CORE is a ‘startup’ or ‘hub’ profile, and users cannot add their own new voice commands to that profile. As a standalone, if you never downloaded and used AVCS4 BMS, AVCS CORE would be utilized through that template where users can add their own commands and still use CORE commands.
(edit)
As an example, I use the template as my ‘general use’ VoiceAttack profile when no other game is loaded. I created a bunch of commands inside it to control my media player, to open bookmarks to certain websites in my browser, to control my OBS and Adobe recording/streaming software, and a bunch of commands I created with the Quick Command Creator like ‘keep walking’ which holds the “W” key for games I play without a full voice control profile of their own.The profiles tend to pile up when you’ve been using VA for a few years for many things as I do, plus my development work - helps to have a single ‘base’ profile to land on with commands you like to use often, like “What time is it?” or “Open my music player”, etc.
I renamed the template profile to the name of what I call my custom voice assistant in VA, “Malcolm” – and I began the profile name with a period “.” so that it is always at the top of the list, no matter how many profiles I import:
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@SemlerPDX That was a lot of words and I must admit that most of it flew over my head Total noob, I guess!
I don’t think I can better your work with regards to this profile anyway so I will delete that, thanks. Just didn’t want to do it in case it was important.
I’ve given your profile a quick test on the Refuelling TE. I’ve entered the tanker frequency but could not request refuel (Y 1) via comms but could do it via keyboard. Voice comms to wingman did work though, so that’s odd. Why would the tanker not respond to voice but will respond to keyboard?
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@Atlas said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
@SemlerPDX That was a lot of words and I must admit that most of it flew over my head Total noob, I guess!
I don’t think I can better your work with regards to this profile anyway so I will delete that, thanks. Just didn’t want to do it in case it was important.
I’ve given your profile a quick test on the Refuelling TE. I’ve entered the tanker frequency but could not request refuel (Y 1) via comms but could do it via keyboard. Voice comms to wingman did work though, so that’s odd. Why would the tanker not respond to voice but will respond to keyboard?
The keyboard commands layout is QWERTY by default, there is an option to change this to AZERTY or QWERTZ style keyboards.
Do you use a QWERTZ style keyboard, by chance?
If so, there is a bug already reported and I plan to address once the new BMS Radio menus are finalized - there is word that there will be few changes in an upcoming patch or minor update for BMS 4.36, so I’m waiting for that.Until then, I have create a workaround for QWERTZ keyboard users, details and download link for the fix are here: https://veterans-gaming.com/forums/topic/11144-avcs-bug-report-commands-not-functioning-as-expected/
To test the output of any AVCS4 BMS voice command keypresses, just open notepad and place the cursor so it can type – say a command and see what letters/numbers are printed out by VoiceAttack into notepad.
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@SemlerPDX No sir, QWERTY here
@SemlerPDX said in AVCS4 Immersive Voice Control Radios for VoiceAttack:
just open notepad and place the cursor so it can type – say a command and see what letters/numbers are printed out by VoiceAttack into notepad.
“tanker request refuel” is recognized with good confidence level but outputs “t5” in notepad. Obviously, PICNIC here (problem in chair, not in computer!!) and I was issuing the wrong command. “tanker request air refuel” gets me what I want. I would’ve thought that specifying “tanker” didn’t work.
I guess I need to learn the profile and commands. Is there a guide somewhere? Apologies for the basic questions and many thanks for your patience and help!