Streamdeck (XL) and how to set it up for IL2 updated.

[jollyjack]

RECENTLY I FOUND THIS TO WORK ONLY for Macros with Modifiers: USE 2.4 SUPERMACRO PLUGIN by BARRAIDER.

The Win (Lwin, Rwin)  modifier might crash windows explorer, and they do NOT work with Streamdeck.

 

[VCB]Telf_UK posted this about: Supermacros

Using the KeyDown:xxx and KeyUp:xxx commands I got this to work:
 

{{KeyDown:RSHIFT}}
{{KeyDown:l}}
{{KeyUp:l}}
{{KeyUp:RSHIFT}}

---------------------------

ADDED JJ:    FOR NUMBERS USE THE VK_1 coding for the keyups and key downs

{{KeyDown:RSHIFT}}
{{KeyDown:VK_1}}
{{KeyUp:VK_1}}
{{KeyUp:RSHIFT}}

 

OLD POSTS BELOW the line, not always correct !

 

=======================================================

Get the hardware, the XL version might be the best as it has more buttons, but you might need less?

Especially TankCrew players might find Streamdeck a god sent hardware addition to a normal throttle, joystick and pedals setup.

The last software now is 6.8.1, older versions might not work ....

=================================

 

1) Create a new profile for IL2 (or TankCrew), and install the supermacro plugin from Barraider,

but the standard System Hotkey might be all you need after all, see below !

 

2) Assign the button functions, example for just simple ones like flaps toggle and engine on off.

 

3) Examples: here i use just the Keystroke PTT assignment; just drag the to be assigned function on to the button you want to assign.

 

 

4): fill in the needed command script, set delay for SuperMacro Keystroke PTT and general Supermacro.

 

 

==============================================================================================

Downloads:

 

Supermacro plugin:

https://marketplace.elgato.com/product/supermacro-62195fec-7bcb-403d-b650-c342e9dfec67

 

Basic instructions for using the supermacro plugin:

https://docs.barraider.com/faqs/supermacro/getting-started/

 

Here you can find the supermacro commands for your button scripts:

https://docs.barraider.com/faqs/supermacro/commands/

 

Design your own buttons online:

https://www.elgato.com/eu/en/s/keycreator

 

If i figure out more i will add info to this FIRST post to keep information at one place. Have fun!

 

 

Super Macro works OK, but not always ... with the right codes and pause injected at the right place.

The lowest delay slider needs to be set around 500ms to make the key instruction released properly

Examples: Flaps: down {{f}}, Flaps up: {{KeyDown:LSHIFT}}{{VK_f}}{{pause:10}}{{KeyUp:LSHIFT}}

 

Super Macro Keystroke PTT works for single key codes (no shift, alt etc),

but only with a delay set to around 500ms at the slider under the input command box. see picture below.

Example:  Flaps down: {{f}} Landing Gear Toggle: {{VK_G}{G}}, don't forget plm 500ms delay.

 

System Hotkey does it also for single keys AND MANUALLY moderated coding with L-shift added to the input etc. Delay settings are not possible here BTW.

Examples: Flaps up: F, Flaps down: L-Shift+F, Landing Gear Toggle: {{VK_G}}G.

 

=============================================================================

General conclusion so far: Streamdeck works especially since Streamdeck update 6.7.0.

 

IMPORTANT: setup Streamdeck NOT to run as administrator; seems to behave better specially in interfering  with windows keyboard input. Windows seems to sandbox sometimes streamdeck as ADMIN i read in  the Discord Barraider forum.

 

BarRaiders Super Macro plugin does  NOT always seem to react correctly with the exception of Keystoke PTT.

Both need it to set set the lower delay slider to approx 500ms.

 

Best is to use System Hotkey, or System Hotkey Switch for On-Off situations.

Set the  moderation marker to activate L and R options when needed with Capture input.

 

My current test setup buttons that work:

 

 

 

ADDED August 1st:

Important: Streamdeck v 6.7.1.209846.7.0 software released, and it seems some fixes are done ...

Barraider Super Macro Toggle seems to work now better.

I got AutoLevel working with this:

Upperbox: {{KeyDown:LSHIFT}}{{VK_A}}{{pause:50}}{{KeyUp:LSHIFT}}

Lowerbox:{{KeyDown:LSHIFT}}{{VK_A}}{{pause:50}}{{KeyUp:LSHIFT}}

delay slider 500ms

secondary Enter and delayed keydown mod markers ON.

 

Remark: Sometimes especially during programming Super Macro Switch and testing i found windows 10 key-input with Keydown:Control- (and maybe also Alt-) gets screwed up. The fix: restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager, no re-boot needed etc.

 

ADDED 2: software 6.7.2 is on the loose, download the msi installer as there seems to be a bug when using the internal system updater ..

===============================

PS vJoy and or Joystick Gremlin are not needed and makes things quite difficult to set up.

Edited July 3 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

ADDED 3: with the current version 6.8.1 there seem to be problems when you use WIN keys in (some?) combinations.

A keyboard checker shows keys are correctly out coming, but IL2 does not react, same with DCS.

Also the System Hotkey Switch works with LALT+C and LCTRL+C for Canopy, but not with F and LSHIFT+F for flaps.

 

Reported to Elgato support: they said they were going to look into it.

 

ADDED 4:

Figured out some more. I connected the streamdeck to a Motherboard direct main USB 5Gbps bus (blue, think USB 3.2 v1) and run Streamdeck as Administrator.

Also switched off Game Mode in windows settings.

A lot of keys now work which did not before.But not the WIN keys alas.

Someone on the DCS forums suggested Windows sandbox could be the cause, but it's off on my PC.

 

ADDED  5:

Now July 2st 2025: Streamdeck v 7.0.0 seems buggy especially regarding with the R-alt bug, and win keys crashing windows explorer.

 

IL2 the fix: 

Normal single keys with Hotkeys work, however but [VCB]Telf_UK is right for Macros with modifiers.

 

----------------------

[VCB]Telf_UK posted this about: Supermacros

Using the KeyDown:xxx and KeyUp:xxx commands I got this to work:
 

{{KeyDown:RSHIFT}}
{{KeyDown:l}}
{{KeyUp:l}}
{{KeyUp:RSHIFT}}

---------------------------

ADDED JJ: FOR NUMBERS USE THE VK_1 coding for the keyups and key downs

{{KeyDown:RSHIFT}}
{{KeyDown:VK_1}}
{{KeyUp:VK_1}}
{{KeyUp:RSHIFT}}

Edited July 2 by jollyjack

[subitodan]

Hello from July 2025. I am just now getting into IL2 (despite my account age) and setting up controls. I'm using a (regular) streamdeck as a button box so I thought I would share my learnings and some things I learned about SuperMacro. I'm adding it here because this is the first hit when looking for IL2 Streamdeck and I thought it would be nice to put the info in one place

I am on StreamDeck 6.9.1
The advice about KEYDOWN and KEYUP is sound for IL2. IL2 Responds okay to single hotkey macros from Streamdeck but not to ones with modifiers. Something about the timing which I could not find a way to adjust in the native software. On to supermacro.

When put in a column style like this
{{KeyDown:RSHIFT}}
{{KeyDown:l}}
{{KeyUp:l}}
{{KeyUp:RSHIFT}}

Supermacro adds some delay with newline processing. One can avoid this by checking "Don't treat "New Line" as Enter or by putting the commands in a single string. For me anyway this changes how key repetition and other things work. 

Multiple Purpose Pads
By using the regular SuperMacro action one can configure a "short press" and a "long press." Giving two actions for one button. I am configuring this for some non-critical items. Things like Map/Briefing on the same pad. Autolevel/Autopilot. etc.

There are some rubs here. The LONG PRESS action will repeat the key if you accidentally hold it too long. For the briefing window, I don't have a problem because I let it go as soon as the window comes up. For autopilot there was a bit of an issue because the Tech chat doesn't tell you AP is on (what I was using to gauge test) until a few ms after it's actually on (causing me to flip it back off)

The fix is to add a pause after the long-press macro command but it doesn't work as expected in the current default store version. If you put a pause at the end of the long press, the pause doesn't start until you RELEASE the long press (not solving the key repeat problem) and while that pause is in place you can't do either a short or long press, annoying!

In the official discord for the SuperMacro maker (found on the docs page) there is an Early Access build you can freely download which corrects the behavior, and makes the pause effect in the long-press loop appropriately.

Now I can comfortably figure non-critical (ie not used in the heat of combat) features on multiple buttons giving a bit more real estate.

Attached are my working macros with SuperMacro and the default SuperMacro action

[=7s7=mahu]

Hi, for me a double assignment of the streamdeck buttons doesn't make sense at first glance, especially in terms of clarity in the heat of battle. I personally work with folders, e.g. lights, camera, commands etc. and the Auto Exit option (e.g. 1s). For example, after pressing the Landing Lights button (RShift+L) in the Lights folder, the Lights folder is automatically exited after 1 second and I am back at my overview. I also use the Supermacro, but only Short-Press, no Long-Press. For short press I set the delay to 100ms, otherwise no option is activated.
Regards

[subitodan]

15 hours ago, =7s7=mahu said:

Hi, for me a double assignment of the streamdeck buttons doesn't make sense at first glance, especially in terms of clarity in the heat of battle. I personally work with folders, e.g. lights, camera, commands etc. and the Auto Exit option (e.g. 1s). For example, after pressing the Landing Lights button (RShift+L) in the Lights folder, the Lights folder is automatically exited after 1 second and I am back at my overview. I also use the Supermacro, but only Short-Press, no Long-Press. For short press I set the delay to 100ms, otherwise no option is activated.
Regards

I'm new using that feature because I only looked at it when looking into the plugin Supermacro recommended in the top post.

I am only using the long press for actions that I would not use in a critical phase of flight, as I said in my original reply. Ideally this will remain true of anything on the streamdeck. Currently there are three I do this with Map/Briefing. Autolevel/Autopilot. Pause/"ESC". In all of those situations the most important command is the "tap" in the 'heat of combat.' (Though none of those actions are particularly...)

Since I'm in VR, I'm not looking at the streamdeck. I'm memorizing the button positions (it's mounted in front of my throttle). I'm not looking for the pause button, I know if I tap the bottom right pad it will always pause. So while I may run out of buttons eventually, I will try to avoid folders and navigation of multiple screens for the time being.

As I start to get into more complicated engine management and other things. I might need to start using folders and auto-moves like you do also. I also have voice attack I could use (I bought it but never ended up using it...) And I have a VKB Gladiator and TWCS throttle which has many buttons and hats, potential for modifiers etc. For now I'm trying to keep the Streamdeck isolated to... "simulator commands" as it were.

By the way my long press delay is now at 150ms and my short press delay is still 10ms. The pauses after KEY UP I have set to 300. It's like morse code.

Here is a short clip of me taping 3 short and 3 long presses (they're actually a little too long) the way they are currently configured. They work in game at that speed. 
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6ED_LqYfw_s

Who knows, maybe something else for your toolkit!

EDIT:

Upon you're use case I looked into folders and I think I will use it for voice commands. I have auto exit set to 0 for the time being. That means when I enter the folder, it exits as soon as I choose an action in the folder, rather than waiting 1s. I suppose there may be a time where I want to hit multiple buttons in that window, but we'll see

Edited July 10 by subitodan

[jollyjack]

Now august 28th 2025, and Streamdeck 7.0.0.22005 on the loose.

 

Still the same bugs, and Elgato Tech-support has no working fixes for the bugs.

With macros including Win keys like L-win and R-win. Still don't work.

Pressing R-alt in checking keystokes still produces L-Cntl + R-Alt.

 

Set Keyboard to US-English, and i have a US windows 11 installed as they suggested would fix it ... NADA.

With Barraider Supermacros no difference.

 

BTW tested a Razer Tartarus v2 game pad and a Steelseries Apex PRO keyboard ... Both work fine with Macros including Win keys.

Edited August 28 by jollyjack