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Plugin Review : ProCam XP by Aerosoft


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ProCam Header.jpg

 

Plugin Review : ProCam XP by Aerosoft

 

I remember back a long time ago, wouldn't it be nice just to see your aircraft arrive at the arrival airport. There are several built in view features in the X-Plane Simulator that can sort of do this...  "Runway View", "Tower View", but if you use them then they jump from airport to airport (the view closest to the aircraft), until you finally got to the actual airport you were landing at. I hated that and wanted a static camera view where I wanted it. That said I do like the X-Plane view, the view (Linear Spot) that tracks your aircraft as the aircraft changes it's heading, and it curves away sweetly into the distance...  spent hours watching that view in a flight.

 

So views are important in getting the most out of your Simulation, also are handy tools for creating video sequences. But the overwhelming issue was always the complicated interfaces, mostly X axis,Y axis and Z axis angles and distances to place the camera, and some views took hours to set up correctly, I don't want to spend hours just setting up a camera.

 

The default go to tool currently is X-Camera by StickAndRudder Studio's and that sells for US$15. And it is powerful, but also has a complicated X,Y and Z user interface, but there is a free version in that you can't save the settings for the advanced features, in meaning you can't save your views, which is a big handicap unless you buy the Pro version.

There were however a few other camera/view tools available, DynamicCam, IZICam and lately ChaseView Deluxe.

 

FSS-FlightSim Studio have now created ProCam XP, and it is being distributed under the Aerosoft banner, it is a more hands on and simpler way of creating specialist views than the older placement systems.

 

Installation

To install ProCam XP is via the Aerosoft One installer application. So if you haven't got the Aerosoft One installer installed, you will have to do that first, it will be to you supplied from the X-Plane.OrgStore. Note the ProCam XP is Windows and Linux only at this time as MAC OSX is not currently supported. On purchase of the product you should be sent via email the application "Product Key".

 

This product key is entered into the authorisation window, found lower left of Aerosoft One. Then you enter in the supplied key and add the product to your Aerosoft product list. An account with Aerosoft is obviously required.

 

ProCam Install 1.jpgProCam Install 2.jpg

 

Once added you can download and INSTALL the product via the library of which the product (ProCam XP) is now listed.

 

ProCam Install 3.jpgProCam Install 4.jpg

 

It will check your computers specifications and see if you have enough storage space to install the product, if correct you can press CONTINUE to install the plugin...  it will require 262.84 Mb of space to be installed and X-Plane must not be running to do the installation.

 

ProCam Install 5.jpgProCam Install 6.jpg

 

Then Aerosoft One's app will download and install the ProCam XP plugin, and when done add ProCam XP to your product list as active. The current version of ProCam XP is also shown (Version 1.0.1.0)...  and your now ProCam XP installed.

 

ProCam Install 7.jpgProCam Install 8.jpg

 

Menu

Starting X-Plane, you will find ProCam XP in the Menu/Plugin list...  "Show/Hide Main Menu", but you can also set this to key command (recommended).

On the first startup, you again have to authorise the key to "Unlock the Full Version". There is a "Demo" version you can download that runs for 10 Minutes, again you have to unlock the full version to get the use of the tool.

 

ProCam Menu 1.jpgProCam Menu 2.jpg

 

You can't type in your details and key directly, but only indirectly by cut and pasting from your clipboard, when done and to authorise, you press the

 

ProCam Menu 3.jpgProCam Menu 4.jpg

 

If authorised you should then have a clean menu bar, and the red dot at the right end hides the menu bar.

 

There are four menu tabs; "Interior", "Exterior", "World" and "Cinema"...  World shows options for; Tower and the Runway views available (RWY17, RWY35, RWY14, RWY32). Cinema gives you very snazzy custom aircraft circles and passes...

 

ProCam Menu 5.jpgProCam Menu 6.jpgProCam Menu 7.jpgProCam Menu 8.jpg

 

Create a view

There is nothing there to really use until you create a few viewpoints, Click the right arrow down to open the editor, then select first if you want an Interior view, or an Exterior view from the top banner...  then Press the + to select a new view. Where is says "ENTER NAME" that is the title of your view. Oddly the first view is set up to name the view early, later however you do the view naming after you set your viewpoint?

 

ProCam Menu Interior 1.jpgProCam Menu Interior 2.jpg

 

When you have created a "Name", here "Pilot" and enter, it will then display options for that view. There are three "View Types" in; Static, Human and Cam. We will look first at "Static" and "Human".

 

ProCam Menu Interior 3.jpgProCam Menu Interior 4.jpg

 

"Static" is what is says it is, it is just a static viewpoint. "Human" adds in human movement elements in "Head Anticipation" and "Breathing", the same elements you would find in the XPRealistic movement plugin, personally I'm not a big fan of these exaggerated movements and here it also denies you of the left-right pan movements (the up-down movements do still however work).

 

On the top-right is a trash can (UK Bin) to delete the current view. On the top-left is a tool logo to adjust the current view selection....

 

ProCam Menu Interior 5.jpgProCam Menu Interior 6.jpg

 

...   this brings up the "CAMERA CONTROL" panel that is modeled on a gaming console. Initially the console panel totally confused me?

Originally I kept pressing the <> or ⌃arrow pads, but that didn't work? The trick is to use it like a game controller and move the centre stick around (circled) in the direction you want to go...   personally I would have rather preferred to have just touched the easier <> or ⌃arrow pads to move the viewpoint around the screen...

 

ProCam Menu Interior 7.jpgProCam Menu Interior 8.jpg

 

....  but the game stick controllers do however work in moving you around the screen and in finding the view you want with all the various axis via the two sticks, but they can be a bit tricky to use as they can move at points very fast on the right stick.

 

ProCam Menu Interior 12.jpgProCam Menu Interior 13.jpgProCam Menu Interior 10.jpgProCam Menu Interior 11.jpg

 

...  additionally the right slider moves the viewpoint directly UP and DOWN, the left slider increases the movements SPEED on the screen.

 

Missing is a "Reset", but you can sort of reset by going out of the controller by pressing the X, and then coming back in again.

 

You can also set the same controller view movements by keyboard commands, which gives you actually more intuitive control than the game style knobs, a tool I prefer. The only other problem there is the commands then take up a lot of the keys for using the controls on your keyboard, but it helps.

 

To SAVE the view you press the on the controller and this sends you back to title card to add in your view name (Pilot), then "Enter" to save the view...  then it enters the view under the "Interior" menu list (or the Exterior view list if selected).

 

ProCam Menu Interior 20.jpgProCam Menu Interior 21.jpg

 

A real time-saving trick is to use your X-Plane "Hotkey" commands to set up the view you want, then press + for a new view, that will take you straight to the Camera Control to press , then to just name your view (here FMGS), and that way it saves you hours of twiddling the knobs or setting up key commands. This trick however works only on the X-Plane internal view, otherwise you have to use the console.

 

ProCam Menu Interior 18.jpgProCam Menu Interior 19.jpg

 

Now you can build up your views quickly, and by clicking the up arrow it will take you out of edit mode. And now also have a banner of the views you have created under the selected menu title (Interior/Exterior).

 

ProCam Menu Interior 16.jpgProCam Menu Interior 14.jpgProCam Menu Interior 15.jpg

 

And at anytime you can go back into the selected/named view by pressing the down arrow, and reedit it, or remove it (trash/bin).

 

Flipping between the views is extremely fast, unlike the "Hotkey" view movements that actually travel between each view, here it moves to the viewpoint instantly, so it very, very fast to switch around the various viewpoint internally (like the cabin views) and switching out to the exterior view.

 

So you can build up a large assortment of internal and external views...


ProCam Menu Views 1.jpgProCam Menu Views 2.jpgProCam Menu Views 3.jpgProCam Menu Views 4.jpg

 

...    but you can't rearrange the order on the menu...  as they are only ordered in the line you create them or can you not even create group types into certain groups (say, instruments, windows or cabin)?

 

So to fix that set list you will have delete them all, then create the new views in the order that you want, but otherwise it works well.

 

Overlays

You can create an "Overlay" to create invisible "Click Spot" regions that you can set to quickly move between views. First you press "Manage Overlays" and it creates a blue overlay in the view you want, that can be sized in any axis, when done you go through your set list and "Add Overlay", and then you can use these overlays in any view.

 

ProCam Menu Door 1.jpgProCam Menu Door 2.jpgProCam Menu Door 3.jpg

 

Personally I was completely flummoxed on how this overlay feature works, pressing the hidden overlay didn't change the view, or the explanation in the manual on using keyboard short cuts to go to that view is not at all explained at all either, so I couldn't get it to work?

 

The click spot idea is great, but doesn't work in practise.

 

CAM

The third selection is "CAM". Here you can create a camera view like with a GoPro camera. To create a (CAM) camera then press "Position" button centre. and this will display the GoPro camera for you to fix to attach to the aircraft. Again you have the (gamers) console to position the camera on the aircraft, which again is quite tricky, but you can attach the camera in almost any angle or degree, like upside down or on the slanting angle of the fuselage...

 

ProCam Menu Cam 1.jpgProCam Menu Cam 2.jpgProCam Menu Cam 3.jpgProCam Menu Cam 4.jpg

 

...  to help if you have positioned the camera close to your set place, then go out via a save and then go back via the "Position" and you get a closer view of the camera to fine tune the view's position and angle. You can fine tune the Gimbal in the "Level Horizon", and "Level Roll", (these items are again not explained in the manual?)

 

ProCam Menu Cam 5.jpgProCam Menu Cam 6.jpgProCam Menu Cam 7.jpgProCam Menu Cam 8.jpg

 

When done, you now have a 3d GoPro camera sitting on the aircraft, positioned here on the outer left wing, and very cool it is... But I don't think that the Jetstar management would be too happy about me putting a camera on the wing of their aircraft?

 

ProCam Menu Cam 9.jpg

 

But the CAM view is excellent! Note you can move the menu banner around the screen to where it does not interfere with your required screen view, but you can't scale it smaller.

 

World

You can also set views away from an Aircraft, in "World". You can create a ground based view like an aircraft view, but you will already have the automatically generated cameras for the Tower and the airport's Runway views available (At YBCG - RWY17, RWY35, RWY14, RWY32) set in the "World" menu. These are the X-Plane default Tower and Runway views.

 

Open the editor (down arrow) then select "World", then press + for a new view, then name your new view in "Enter Name". This will bring up a new menu of the choice of either a; Static, Free or Follow Aircraft choice of views...

 

ProCam Menu World 1.jpgProCam Menu World 2.jpg

 

"Static", is what it says it is, a none moving view, "Free" view is that the camera can be moved via your left click button on your mouse, or by your left/right keys, but as this is in Interior view the external movement is very slow. "Follow Aircraft', will follow the aircraft as it departs or arrives.

 

Here "Gate Ramp" is set to "Follow Aircraft", and "Far Ramp is set to "Free", and I can move the camera view upwards.

 

ProCam Menu World 3.jpgProCam Menu World 4.jpg

 

All the automatic views like here "Tower" and "RWY32" are set in "Follow Aircraft" modes.

 

ProCam Menu World A.jpgProCam Menu World B.jpg

 

So yes, if I set up a camera at any of my arrival airports, I can now see my arrival from a long distance away or at any gate I choose to view.

 

These view settings are all saved in your X-Plane/Preferences/ProCam folder, including the Aircraft and Airport camera locations.

 

ProCam Menu World Prefs 1.jpgProCam Menu World Prefs 2.jpg

 

And as a scenery developer you can include your custom scenery presets within your scenery, with the link Custom Scenery/Scenery Name/ProCam/presets/ICAO. Set also are the 14 X-Plane11 default aircraft to use anytime.

 

Cinema

We have already covered that if you press "Cinema" you get nice tracking shots around your aircraft. But you can also create your own tracking shots via an Editor. To access the Editor you right/click on the "Cinema" title, and the banner turns red. You are given two choices for your views "WRLD" (World) and "ACFT" (Aircraft). you change them by clicking on the first menu option.

 

ProCam Menu Cinema 1.jpgProCam Menu Cinema 2.jpg

 

To set the start of the tracking shot, you select "Slot1", then use your keys to create the tracking shot you want, when finished you select "Slot2" to end. You have the option to set the speed of the tracking shot in the fourth menu option (20 seconds)...  to see your tracking shot you press left/mouse/key on Cinema.

 

ProCam Menu Cinema 3.jpgProCam Menu Cinema 4.jpg

 

The tracking is easy and simple to use, but basically it is useless. Number one problem you can't save your tracking shots? go out of the editor and your work also disappears, worse is the the angles you created are different from the tracking version (aircraft too high in the frame). And overall all you can do is a left to right or in or out track...  it is not very good. FSS note this effect is caused by using OpenGL, but I was in Vulcan all the time and it still did the wrong positioning of the aircraft?

 

ProCam XP in use

You can set commands keys to go back and forward between the views so you don't have to go through the menu each time. They are grouped in; Interior (forward/back), Exterior (forward/back) and World (forward/back). Another key command option is to display or hide the menu bar which I highly recommend to save you time going up to the X-Plane/plugins menu.

 

Time to go...   A quick check of my left front and rear doors says I am now loaded...  the wing (GoPro) camera view makes sure the aircraft from that angle is loaded....     yes I like that!

 

ProCam Flight 2.jpgProCam Flight 1.jpgProCam Flight 3.jpg

 

Time to go...  first a section of images on me checking around the aircraft before pushback, easy peasy in flicking around the views.

 

ProCam Flight 4.jpgProCam Flight 7.jpgProCam Flight 5.jpgProCam Flight 6.jpg

 

On pushback I could stay on the "Gate View" as the aircraft is pushed way back to the taxi line, really loved that as well...

 

ProCam Flight 10.jpgProCam Flight 9.jpg

 

...   so you can flip around all the views instantly, but without being able to edit the list, then "PILOT" my main view forward is however at the end and not the start of the list which I found frustrating in it not being closer and more handy...   Still my "Gate Park" view delivers, framing the departure.

 

ProCam Flight 11.jpgProCam Flight 12.jpg

ProCam Flight 13.jpg

 

A flip around the external views sees the engine start and the aircraft configuration for takeoff...  nice.

 

ProCam Flight 14.jpgProCam Flight 15.jpg

 

Tower and Runway views are good, but they not part of the slideshow change via the key inputs, sadly as they are the usual X-Plane default views.

 

 

ProCam Flight 16.jpgProCam Flight 18.jpgProCam Flight 17.jpg

 

The left wing view is exceptional when ready for the takeoff run. Better still is the view in the air. Once airborne I could rotate through the Internal cabin views of the climbout that like I usually do, but instead of being restricted to only a few views via the HotKey, I can now have as many as I like, the speed is brilliant between the different views as well.

 

ProCam Flight 19.jpgProCam Flight 20.jpgProCam Flight 21.jpgProCam Flight 22.jpg

 

Then a few External views...

 

ProCam Flight 23.jpgProCam Flight 24.jpg

 

The rotating "Cinema" views in flight are sensational...   But not long enough (too fast may be?) or are out of position as the aircraft set too high in the screen, the idea still needs more work?

 

ProCam Flight 25.jpgProCam Flight 26.jpgProCam Flight 27.jpgProCam Flight 28.jpg

 

Checking out the tail view Cam, I think it needed a bit of editing, of which you can do and even in flight by adjusting via the Games Console and then pressing the to lock the new viewpoint in. It looked a far, far better view with more forward sky.

 

ProCam Flight 29.jpgProCam Flight 30.jpg

 

The GoPro style camera is still sitting out there on the wing which is a little cool...

 

ProCam Flight 31.jpgProCam Flight 32.jpg

 

In flight I decided to add in adding another new view, a belly cam view from the low and rear to watch the gear go down and the approach...

 

ProCam Flight 33.jpgProCam Flight 34.jpg

 

Approaching YSSY (Sydney) you can select the runway (16L) camera for the approach...  This is still however the X-Plane default runway camera, so the runways and tower views change as you change airports to the default views...  but if you want to, you can still place a ProCam custom view were you want for the next approach (the view will be saved under the airport's ICAO for next time), and that camera view will be more stable and give a deeper, longer view of the approach..

 

ProCam Flight 36.jpgProCam Flight 37.jpgProCam Flight 38.jpgProCam Flight 39.jpg

 

And you have to admit, this is a killer view of the landing...  and it can be used also in the replay mode.

 

ProCam Flight 40.jpg

 

Another click through the views while in the taxi...

 

ProCam Flight 41.jpgProCam Flight 42.jpg

 

...      I was enjoying myself so much I decided to do another "World" custom view. This view is set at the arrival Gate 49.

 

ProCam Flight 43.jpgProCam Flight 44.jpgProCam Flight 45.jpgProCam Flight 46.jpg

 

And I then watched my own arrival from the receiving gate perspective...   and that was so brilliant!

________________

 

Summary

The X-Plane Simulator comes with a set of programmable keys to set "Hotkey" view commands on your extended keyboard number pad. There is also available custom view tools with currently X-Camera by StickAndRudder Studio's being the most versatile, and DynamicCam, IZICam and lately ChaseView Deluxe as other options. But most have complicated interfaces, mostly X axis,Y axis and Z axis angles and distances to place the camera.

 

So ProCam XP, has been created by FSS-FlightSim Studio and being distributed under the Aerosoft banner, with a much more easier interface and control panel, but to also note it is a more simpler tool as well. The Aerosoft distribution is via it's own client tool Aerosoft One.

 

So with ProCam XP you can create Internal, External and World custom views, place GoPro cameras on any part of the the aircraft or in a ground position. All views are saved, not only for the individual aircraft but for the different airports as well. Notable is that the default X-Plane Tower and Runway views are changed from airport to airport, but custom airport views can also be created and saved under that airport's ICAO. Other features include Cinema tracking shots and an editor to create your own tracking shots, and overlay click points. The GoPro cameras are excellent and 3d realistic... all view and camera placement is via a Game Console style on screen tool. All views also come with movement elements (Head Anticipation and Breathing).

 

So creating views is extremely easy, and there are no end of ideas on what views to create and place not only on the aircraft, but on the ground as well.

 

Overall ProCam XP is really really good if you want to create great views to instantly go to...  but there are a few drawbacks with this version.

 

For one you can't reorganise your menu list, and you have to create the view lists in order, so if you want a particular order you would have to plan ahead. Editing after creating the view is hard as well (not the actual view though, that as can be done via the console). Too many views can also create long lists across your screen as there is no menu scaling. You can't do group views either.

 

Cinema custom (edited) views are also very (if too) simple with only one tracking shot that can't be saved, which is useless for pro-video creators, and the custom tracking doesn't centre the aircraft correctly either when in replay mode.

 

Overlays to create invisible Click Spots just does not work, but you can't work it out either because the manual is simply diabolically bad in providing any information and details on how to set up and use this tool correctly, there is no video either. I had a few CTD as well or Vulcan freezes while using the plugin. So more work is obviously needed for a few elements of this plugin. Mac OS is also currently not supported.

 

Overall here ProCam XP it still needs some development.

 

So what is the main attraction to this view tool plugin...   Overall you still can't beat for it's sheer simplicity that is the default X-Plane HotKey view system, but that said you only really have a set of 10 numbered HotKeys. Which is far too few.

 

So ProCan XP is brilliant in building far, far more bigger and extra sets views to use in the background to expand out your view options, plus the choice to add on really clever viewing angles via the GoPro cameras and siting views at airports for unique viewpoints to heighten your simulator experience.

 

Once started I was creating views for everything, so that shows the idea works, and I had a huge amount of fun using it (once I had worked it all out) So overall ProCam XP in that context is a great addition to my plugin toolbox....  recommended? Yes highly.

_____________________

 

X-Plane Store logo sm.jpg

 

Yes! the ProCam XP by Aerosoft  is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :

 

ProCam XP

Price is US$$16.99

 

Features:
  • Presets for cockpit, exterior and world category
    • Optional 3D camera object in cockpit/exterior
    • Presets for XP default aircraft included
  • Different view types
    • Cockpit: static
    • Cockpit: human
    • Cockpit: cam
    • Exterior: static
    • Exterior: cam
    • World: fixed
    • World: free
    • World: follow aircraft
  • Manual camera control
    • Key combination / joystick / controller mapping are possible
  • Various effects
    • Head rotation based on control inputs
    • Simulated breathing (pilot view)
    • Gimbal control (horizon/tilt)
  • Invisible clickspots
    • Individual clickspot overlay setup
  • Cinema Mode for each aircraft size category
  • Presets can be included in add-on sceneries
  • Cinema presets can be included in add-on sceneries
Limitations:
MacOs as operating system for the ProCam plugin is currently not supported
If you are using OpenGL, there may be an offset when placing the 3D camera object
 

Requirements

X-Plane 11
Windows, and Linux. (MAC OSX not supported at this time)
Serial Number sent in a separate email, a few minutes after order is placed

 

Installation
Download and installation is via the Aerosoft One application, the plugin is deposited into your X-Plane/Resources/Plugin Folder.

 

Documents
Provided are two manuals in English and German. Manual (15 Pages) is simply absolute crap for a plugin tool of this nature, they should hang their heads in shame.
  • ProCam_Manual_EN
  • ProCam_Manual_DE

_____________________

 

Plugin Review by Stephen Dutton

4th June 2022

Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews

 

Review System Specifications: 

Computer System: Windows  -S1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo M2 2TB SSD - Sound : Yamaha Speakers YST-M200SP

Software:   - Windows 11 - X-Plane 11.55

Plugins: Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : RK Apps XPRealistic v2 - US$34.99

Scenery or Aircraft

A320 Ultimate by FlightFactor Aero (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$89.95, but currently on sale US$69.95

- YSSY - Sydney International Airport by Taimodels (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$28.00 - Scenery Review : YSSY - Sydney International Airport by Taimodels

- YBCG - Gold Coast International by Axonos

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved

 

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After reading your report versus the "manual", one wonders if 'they' realize how much this thing does.  Now that you've provided this excellent 'how, what, when, and where', I feel obligated to give it a shot.  Bottom line - how handy is it after all the 'to and froing' required to get it going?

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As the basic XP view commands are so limited, ProCam really does give you a very large scope in creating all those extra views and quickly if you use the shortcut, Setting up ProCam is easy actually, if you are only creating Internal and External views, the GoPro camera is a bit fiddly, but worth the effort on say a bush plane. so It is a nice medium for those that want quick views without all the hassle.

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