| I have recently written a simple tool to record and replay my flight and would like to share it with the community.
And thanks IamSean for allowing me to include his video as a showcase of the tool's capability and the awesome graphic fidelity of MSFS.
Instructions
Extract and run FlightRecorder.Client.exe.
Features
- Record and replay with your aircraft or an AI aircraft in the sim
- Change replaying speed
- NOTE: when speeding up, your computer might not be able to load scenery fast enough and that will negatively affect frame rate.
- Save recording into a file to replay later or on another computer
- Export the recorded data into CSV for further analysis
- Quickly jump to any time in your recording (you have to Pause Replay first)
Notes: The tool records this list of variables from SimConnect Structs.cs for each sim frame. Some of them are only for analysis and display and don’t affect replay.
Incompatibiity
- FBW A32NX
- The 32NX starts to replace existing code that works with SimConnect with new code that ignores SimConnect. This means the aircraft will ignore the replay data Flight Recorder send to the sim. You will see that certain variables get replayed as in other aircraft, and the rest don't.
- Workaround (suggested by Abriael): since the recording still has correct data, you can replay it on stable/dev variant of the 32NX, or even the default A320.
- Default A320 and A23NX
- Aileron reacts wrongly to simvar `AILERON POSITION` when aircraft is in the air.
- I have reported this in ZenDesk #95574. I'll wait for Sim Update 4 before working on a workaround.
Other Limitations and Notes
- When starting a replay, your aircraft might be teleported to a far away location which doesn't have loaded terrain. This means the ground can jump up/down really quickly and you might get a crash (not CTD) due to damaged landing gear. Disable crash detection might be a good idea if you frequently replay your flight.
- I don’t know a reliable way to tell if an engine is running or not, so this tool does not auto-start the engine (because it doesn’t know when). Hence, you should start recording/replaying when engine is already running (or the aircraft will move without a running engine) and stop recording before turning off the engine (not really a problem, but the tool might not shut the engine down for you). Not doing that won't prevent you from replaying or using any features, but replay can look like your aircraft is powered by magic ;).
- Replay looks weird when turning on the ground. I’m not so sure what is happening there yet.
- To prevent fighting with MSFS own calculation, the tool sends freeze command when you start replay and unfreeze when you stop replay.
This means replaying might conflict with other tools leverating the same freeze feature (e.g. YourControl when you are not in control, other replay tools). - AI aircraft jitters back and forth during replay, especially at high speed. I'm still trying to figure out the reason.
Reporting Issue
If you have any issue with the tool, please report it in our GitHub page with information for troubleshooting such as screenshots, logs and profile exports.
https://github.com/nguyenquyhy/Flight-Recorder/issues
You can also join my Discord server for further discussion https://discord.gg/azqQrWWEbV.
Other useful links
Source Code: https://github.com/nguyenquyhy/Flight-Recorder
Releases: https://github.com/nguyenquyhy/Flight-Recorder/releases
flightsim2
Hi, could you please update your software to include PMDG 737 and inibuilds A310? I did some recent recordings on those recently and the replay doesn't work well, for example some replayed events are not in sync with recorded events, ie flaps etc..
This software is powerful, thank you.
CaptainRasmus
Hi! I cannot open the .exe-file. I have extracted the content to my C:\-drive but when I try to open the .exe-file FlightRecorder.client it says "you'll need a new app to open this .exe file" and I get directed to Microsoft store. I have googled this and checked the settings for .exe-files in the registry and also reset the Microsoft Store app. I have only problems with FlightRecorder. Any other apps seem to be running without any problems. Anyone else with the same problem?
mroschk
Hello all,
after i found this Flight Recorder i was really happy to have now a Tool for easy replaying in MSFS.
That works like a Charme since the beginning.
Then you must know i have a Homecockpit and dont want to use a Keyboard or Mouse.
For that i have a own program which controls most of the Functions i need.
The Problem with the Flight Recorder was that i have to save the recording before i can start a new recording.
For that i ask the developer on Discord to add this functionallity.
After a short conversation on Discord he adds this functionallity just for me !!
Even i think it is a nice function for all of us, i would give the Developer a BIG THANKS for adding this just because of my Request.
Thanks a lot so much
Matthias
LAFter900
I got a warning from my anti-virus a couple of days ago say that this app was not trusted and was accessing the internet so with my antivirus I blocked the app from accessing the internet. One week later this tool still works fine with it being blocked from the internet so why does this tool connect to the internet?
nguyenquyhy 13 day(s) ago
Most antivirus will say the software is not trusted because it is not signed by a trusted certificate. Acquiring a certificate costs several hundred dollars a year and a lot of documentation, so I couldn't get to that yet.
Regarding accessing to the Internet, right now there is no essential functionality that requires Internet access. The software does report crash logs via Internet though.
bobsk8
This app is great. I love the way you can replay and switch views from one to another.
PilotFelix9640
First of all the tool is great but I have one problem: flying with flightrecorder recording the flight in the background is no problem, i get stable fps. Then after the flight I start the replay. Takeoff and cruise is very nice but when I skip forward to the approach and wait for the scenery to load and then resume the replay after one minute of pause I only have about 10-15 fps and it stays that way all the way to the gate, then I exit the flight recorder and want to go on with my next flight but MSFS is still at 10 fps. I need to go back to the main menu and reload to get my regular fps back. This only happens when using flight recorder. The recorder itself works very well but the fps go down way to much for some reason in certain flight phases.
nguyenquyhy 29 day(s) ago
Does this happen to all aircraft or any specific ones?
PilotFelix9640 26 day(s) ago
Hey the problem somehow doesn't occur anymore since I tweaked MSFS with Nvidia Control Panel.
nguyenquyhy 25 day(s) ago
Awesome! Are you able to share if you tweaked anything? Just in case anyone get similar issue.
PilotFelix9640 24 day(s) ago
I'm still not sure what caused and fixed the issue. I watched several tutorials on how to increase performance, fix bugs etc with registry editor, Windows settings, MSFS ingame settings. So it could be anything that fixed it. And I think that your tool wasnt the problem now that I tested it some more. Now every thing is running well and if there are any stutters or low fps its because of my hardware or flying around detailed scenery.. I changed my rating for your Flight Recorder from 4 to 5 stars and I really enjoy it! Only thing that would be cool is if the replay would include flap and gear position settings. When I watch the replay after landing it is always gear down and flaps up all the time.
francsal 13 day(s) ago
Experiencing the same exact situation. I have tried to troubleshoot with nvidia control panel following plenty of tutorials, but still the same. Even tried the method where you install the bare bones driver, and sill the same issue. Happens on all airports, with any plane. Would love to know a bit more about what your control panel settings are, if possible? thanks!
francsal 13 day(s) ago
Ok, quick follow up. After reading your comment, and seeing that the behavior was that I seemed to be CPU bottlenecked, I reactivated the "Threaded Optimization"on nVidia control panel and that apparently did the trick. Just did a quick test landing with the CS 777 landing on EHAM and it appears to be working ok, testing on other airports and with other planes, but it looks promising.
PilotFelix9640 12 day(s) ago
Hello. Good to hear that you solved the issue. My CPU is also the bottleneck (I think many players have weaker CPU than GPU) and the fps falling to 10 or even 2-3 fps were most likely memory leak problems and using Flight Recorder maybe increased the possibilty of memory leak occurance due to fast teleporting, unnormal things happening in the sim or something like this... I heard that Asobo managed to fix these memory leak situations with Sim Update 11. Yesterday I did an 8 hours flight with the A310 and I also recorded the approach phase with flight recorder and I had no technical issues at all.
JayviatorUK
I like the video recorder today I have noticed for some reason my friends aircraft does not show in the replay, I have seen other aircraft in my replays before is it supposed to show everything, i could see him during the recording but as soon as I replayed it he was invisible.
nguyenquyhy 29 day(s) ago
Unfortunately, this tool records only your aircraft and doesn't record multiplayer aircraft.
Thomas_EDFW
Thank you for sharing!
CptPhil
On approach I get lag spikes up to 10 fps and its literally unlandable
idk if its the mod but potentially
ponny2oo2
update 10?
timeo81
thank you, this is an amazing add-on! everyone must have it!!
edompires2021
I just want to know if it is possible to record the traffic AI generate by me. It would be very interresting to make some formation
FlyingTiger 2 month(s) ago
yes it records everything
noe.hunziker
hey i just downloaded it so i just put it into the community folder and it works. Or do i have to do some other stuff
nguyenquyhy 2 month(s) ago
Don't put it in the community folder. Please read the description above for more instruction.
hzyoni
will it allow to change camera views during the replay?
the replay mod in the sim doesn't allow that.
bizonek78 3 month(s) ago
spruitt626
Nice addon. What happen to the "stay on top" button?
agbm9999
So, I have used this with the fenix and unfortunately the control surfaces are inverted. I have seen that this is an issue with most of the planes, so if there is any way you can fix this, then I will give 5 stars instead of 4!!
plutodaddy
not hating just asking for help when i went to replay my flight/landing i started free falling through the sky
Juampi 3 month(s) ago
Disable all failure and damage options before replay
vignnn
great add on for free 6 stars
nguyenquyhy 4 month(s) ago
Thank you for the additional star!
TenPatrol 4 month(s) ago
and better than payware 😉
LowOnCash
Absolutely flawless recorder - works perfect and MP4 oututs are sharp and stutter free - thanks so much!
Mike
PsychicTimelord
Really nice replay tool. Good job!