***** Update: Latest v1.6 released ******

Multi-configuration support, POV Hat input, & more.

Download latest release here: https://foxster.itch.io/foxvox

Note: the hosting site gets supported by donations to hosted apps, so it promotes donation, but don’t be confused, it’s completely optional and the software is free.

I am brand new to BMS and going through the learning curve which I thoroughly enjoy. When I came across some posts about voice control, I thought it would be great, but found out after downloading the files that they are maps to be used with commercial software. The software isn’t pricey but I’m trying to get some friends to join with me and adding up a license for everyone was more than I wanted to fork out. I happen to be a software developer so I just wrote my own and called it FoxVox voice recognition :D.

I intend to distribute it for free at no charge, no expiration, no limitations, no licensing required as kind of a thanks to the BMS community for putting out such a great game. Here’s a quick feature overview:

Completely configurable user-built dictionaries
Create command groups with individual commands
Built and designed for Windows only
Runs offline (no internet voice recognition required)
No limits on commands or command chains
Simple interface
Supports creating libraries which can be shared
Works great with BMS!!

I haven’t found out yet how I’m going to distribute the app. Before that, I would like to find a few (not too many!!!) beta testers who would like to try it out, work out any kinks, and help create a good BMS library file for the community to go along with it (remember I’m brand new so I’d like someone with a lot of BMS experience who would know how it should be done). Also, if you’re good with Youtube and want to help make a tutorial video, please let me know.

Anyone interested? Also, even if you don’t want to help beta test, let me know who’s interested as it might help me plan with hosting. If you know any good free ways for app distribution, let me know also. I’d love to get this out to everyone once it’s fully ready. Again special thanks to BenchmarkSims and a shout out to Supernova for your very helpful Youtube videos. I’ve got an early copy ready for him if he’d like one.

Here’s a few screenshots of the app:

OK - I’ve added a video with some instructions for Beta testers. It also provides more info on the app and how it works for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6A6zyxfqg0

A little earlier than anticipated, but here’s the download link. Have fun!

https://foxster.itch.io/foxvox

Uh oh! I’m just now realizing I’ve been scammed and am being sucked in!!! @jayb - you’re right…Where’s the paid DLC… now that I realize it I’d sure like to have to pay someone for something. What’s with all the free stuff that everyone contributes!?! And don’t start on the realism…who in the world likes a little bit of realism? I’d better get back to Ace Combat before I get really swindled here out of my, hmmmm, zero dollars? And my boys playing with me on my internally hosted multiplayer offline server, they’re in danger too. Wow, it’s so much worse than I thought.

An update on the next release, I’m just about finished with the new features, including supporting the Hat switches for PTT functionality and multi-configuration support so v1.6 will be out soon - this weekend-ish maybe? Lets say a couple of days (I know, here everything is a couple of weeks, but honestly - this really just isn’t as complicated).

For the future I’m still contemplating adding in full joystick mapping so that FoxVox will be an all-in-one voice and joystick mapping app so I don’t need to combine it with Joy2Key or Joystick Gremlin. Granted these are both fine and functional software that I use currently, but neither one quite hits the perfect suite spot for me, and I’d really like to have a single app to configure and manage all the inputs. Being the crazy fool to write this app, I may just do it, but in the spirit of upgrades with 4.36 rolling out, I also wanted to ask if anyone would like to see any other improvements beyond this - any suggestions or criticisms you’d like to see addressed (within reason or you risk a derisive witticism from @Aragorn - btw love the sense of humor ) ?

Thanks everyone, best regards and happy flights!

Well I am new to BMS a few months now. I have found the community here replete with many different personalities, thoughts and opinions but generally open and accepting and often encouraging and supportive. I have also found many to be passionate about their work and contributions - which also accompanies strong opinions and feelings. It is difficult for anyone with that passion and commitment to reply with a calm demeanor and even provide encouragement in the face of a derisive emotional assault, but that is what @Seifer has just done. I see no belittling or defensive retaliation. I simply don’t understand how anyone can be so offended by being offered something for free due to expectations not being met. If you really don’t like the sim I guess just return it for a full refund.

As for software development testing, perhaps they’ll just fire the highest paid middle manager for not getting it right. As I see it though, it’s not any worse than my expensive OS each time I install a new version. Honestly though, anyone with any idea at all about what the BMS team has done knows it is quality work, and anyone who can’t/ won’t appreciate that fortunately doesn’t have to.

Thanks BMS team for sharing that passion and all your quality work!

Disclaimer: A small percentage of company profits paid for this message.

Just released v1.4 of FoxVox. This is a minor update with the biggest change being a new ptt feature allowing ptt isolation (ptt will be prevented if any additional buttons are pressed besides the required ones) and some minor tweaks and improvements to the underlying recognition. Nothing really big though. No update compatibility issues with version 1.3. - just download and install over it is fine.

<p>@jayb Thanks, it’s certainly not from anyone here. I’m also feeling a bit melancholy with recent events… need more BMS time <img src=“/plugins/nodebb-plugin-emoji/emoji/android/1f642.png?v=1g16vn91q2r” alt=“” class=“not-responsive emoji emoji-android emoji–slightly_smiling_face” />.</p>

@Le_Beau currently no…the POV isn’t tracked like a regular button but it is something I can add in with a future update. I was planning to anyway, just hadn’t gotten around to it. I’ll add it to the queue along with some other new enhancements I’m working on.

Version 1.6 is now out. Here’s a video detailing a few of the new features. Also, view the changelog here for a complete list and an important note regarding the POV/Hat input for PTT:

https://foxster.itch.io/foxvox/devlog/378235/foxvox-update-v160

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQMY8L91dE

@hoover I’m still working on the new commands for 4.36 video and library update as requested, but coming soon!

@Fluke I’m going to post a page to share community libraries soon. I’ll put mine up there and anyone else who wants to contribute and post the link for you.

<p>@rfxcasey No worries - it’s great that you like and endorse VoiceMacro (although maybe not here as suggested). I didn’t create FoxVox to compete with anything; I simply wanted an alternative for myself and to offer it up for others. It simply gives one more choice in an area I felt was relatively limited. I don’t begrudge anyone deciding that VoiceAttack or VoiceMacro or any other app is a better fit for them.<br /><br />I have found it strange to see the animosity generated against it though…like its very existence is somehow bad.  One site’s single reviewer states “Just get the software this is blatantly trying to rip off.”  <a href=“https://saashub.com/foxvox” target=“_blank”>https://www.saashub.com/foxvox</a>  I have to laugh! Really? How?<br /><br />I have to empathize a little with the BMS team when they hear about “DCS has this, or MSFS does that”. BMS doesn’t compete with them…it doesn’t need to. It just is, and does what it does, and many thanks for it. For me, a newcomer, it has been enthralling, and I know it has for many others and I look forward for things to come. A big thanks to the BMS dev team for simply providing it - an alternative, a choice in the realm of sims - one which I enjoy more each day as I learn and I hope stays around for a long time. That enjoyment is augmented by the many enhancements and tools freely provided by so many other members of this forum - thank you all for your efforts in making this, in my opinion, the best sim to fly.<br /><br /></p>

@oldtommyboy yes, I’ll look into performance with individual ptt defined.

@oldtommyboy It is possibly caused by background noise or a sensitive microphone. I get problems from my computer fan running high unless I use a headset. Just something else to consider. It causes the recognition not to detect the end of speech.

@oldtommyboy The program listens but nothing will execute. I found it helpful to know when it was ptt vs missed recognition when a command didn’t fire during development and even during play but others have requested to turn it off. I have an option in the upcoming version that will allow you to disable recognition notifications (actually it will be the default behavior and you have to toggle them on). I also have some more enhancements like remembering its window position.

@oldtommyboy As to defining PTT, you don’t have to use the global ptt and you can duplicate the same ptt on multiple voice groups and have others defined differently. Mix and match is all OK.

@oldtommyboy For a little clarification on the global PTT: when defined, the global PTT applies to all voice groups except any that have an overriding local PTT set up. An individual PTT will always take precedence over the global.

Sorry for the confusion on editing the name - it’s a double-click-to-edit operation.

@Boxer Trying to keep the explanation simple, the assisting phrases are added to the grammar definitions just like the recognition keys which helps the voice recognition “understand” what is being said. The difference is that the software knows to ignore them as they are optional assisting phrases only so it’s ok if they are missing.

I really should do a video tutorial on why/how they work to improve recognition. I’ll try to add it to my todo list

@Boxer @oldtommyboy There have been other instances where joysticks have sent a continuous button press in the past that I came across. In FoxVox you can completely ignore those buttons if you want in the library settings area of the app. Then they won’t be a nuisance any more, but keep in mind they will be completely ignored by the app unless removed from the ignore list.

@Boxer I’ve left them off of the default library on purpose because I want the software to work fine in its most basic configuration. Start simple then add more complexity as needed.

The assisting phrases will help the speech recognition engine stay locked onto a particular phrase when it matches more words. Something to note is the command names are automatically used as assisting phrases by default so no need to duplicate those. For most scenarios I’ve not needed them by and large but they can make a night and day difference when used with a tricky phrase that needs to support more diversity. The more recognizable words found on a command, the more accurate the recognition. The global dictionary adds those words to all the keys as assisting phrases in the library and that can help as well. Words such as two ship, four ship, f16, and others defined in the dictionary can help.

@oldtommyboy Something must be causing the second button to register. That can happen if you’re using another app like vjoy or joy2key. Good you noticed and deleted it. The ptt can bind to multiple keys on purpose but can be a problem if not intentional. Anyway glad it’s working!

@hoover Keep in mind the new features in the vid were at v1.3 and we’re at 1.6 now. You can make Approach* work as a wildcard by adding the * (as shown) making it a wildcard meaning it doesn’t have to be the first word of the phrase.

In my video my hesitancy with wildcards is not that they don’t work but you need to be careful with them because you can start to get unwanted recognition using too many and creating too much flexibility. But having them available and using them correctly can make the software do some amazing things.

@TxMtb shows a perfect example of doing it correctly.