Controllers and retro sims part 4: DOSBox

When it comes to configuring DOSBox, we'll want to take a look at the joystick section:

[joystick]
joysticktype                = auto
timed                       = true
swap34                      = false
deadzone                    = 10

These settings will take some trial and error as they'll depend on your controllers and on your personal preference.

DOSBox Staging

You need to try some test flights, to see if they need to change.

I set my joystick type to 4axis.

If you experience controller drift as you fly you might want to try setting timed to false. After a few tests flights my controllers were ok so I left this setting at the default.

If the throttle/collective acts as the rudder and the rudder acts as the collective you can swap these axes. During my first test flight, this happened so after quitting the sim and DOSBox I had to swap axis 3 and 4 by changing swap34 to true.

I also prefer a smaller deadzone but that's just personal preference.

In my case I ended up with the following settings:

[joystick]
joysticktype                = 4axis
timed                       = true
swap34                      = true
deadzone                    = 1

In DOSBox-X the deadzone option doesn't exist, instead there's a mapper section immediately following the joystick section, with a deadzone option for each joystick and axis:

[mapper]
joy1deadzone0- = 0.60
...
joy2deadzone7+ = 0.60

I tend to set mine to 0 but you can tweak them to your personal preference.

DOSBox Keymapper

DOSBox Staging mapper

Also known as just the Mapper in DOSBox Staging. This utility allow you to assign buttons to keys and shows you which of your controller axes are mapped to the 4 axes in DOSBox. If you aren't using profiling software, this utility will allow you to rebind DOSBox axes to your controller axes.

Each axis is split in half into a negative and positive area. Clicking on the box representing a joystick axis shows the current axis mapping.

Depending on your controller(s) you may want to rebind the axes if you're not using your HOTAS profile utility or you don't have one. You have the ability to delete the current binding and then add a new one. Once you click the add button, move the controller in the appropriate direction.

Setup the game

You'll probably have to return to the game setup to configure and calibrate your controllers.

First flights

So it's time to fire up the flight sim and kick off free flight or a training mission. The aims of these tests will be to ensure the controller(s) behave as expected. So get up into the air (if you can) and test each of the axes you have configured. Might also be worth ensuring your disabled axes are actually disabled!

When I first set up pedals, the pedals controlled the collective and the rudder pedals controlled the collective, so I had to quit the game and swap axis 3 and 4 in my DOSBox config before trying again.

Once the testing is over you're done, now go enjoy all that hard work!