Roccat Swarm Software Guide
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Last Updated: December 21st, 2021
Roccat is a German manufacturer that specializes in PC gaming peripherals i.e. mice, mousepads, keyboards, headsets, and various other accessories.
Roccat Swarm is a piece of software that is free to download from the Roccat website, which you can use to group together and manage all the settings for each of your Roccat peripherals (non-Roccat products are not supported) in one place. In doing so you can synchronize the RGB settings of each peripheral together, set up custom profiles with pre-specified settings for your mouse, keyboard, and headset that you can easily switch to depending on the game, and generally open up a degree of customization and functionality you wouldn’t otherwise have.
In this guide, we will go over all of the essential information you need to know when installing and operating Roccat Swarm on your computer.
Mục lục bài viết
Where To Buy Roccat Peripherals
Roccat Kone Pure Ultra
DPI
16,000
Sensor
ROCCAT Owl-Eye Sensor (3389)
Weight
66g
Size
Medium (117 x 60 x 38mm)
Color
Black or white
Buttons
7
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Roccat Kone Pure Owl-Eye
DPI
12,000
Sensor
PMW 3361 (optical)
Color
Black
Buttons
7
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Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo
Switch
Titan Switch (looks like Cherry MX switch)
Backlight
RGB Lighting
Wrist Rest
Magnetic Wrist Rest
Other Features
Dedicated Volume Wheel, Media, and Macro Keys
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ROCCAT Vulcan 121
Size
Full-size (100%)
Backlight
RGB
Switch
ROCCAT Titan switches
Wrist rest
Can be bundled with a detachable wrist rest
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ROCCAT TAITO Control Endurance
Size
15.74’’ x 12.5’’
Material
Cloth
Features
Stitched border, very inexpensive
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Roccat Swarm Features – Explaining What The Software Can Do
Before we get into installing and setting up the Roccat Swarm software, let’s take a moment to familiarise ourselves with some of what it can help you do for those who might not know the terminology.
Binding Commands and Macros
Macros are a string of commands condensed down to one quick and easy shortcut, saving you time and energy (and nullifying potential input error) compared to if you had to re-enter each command every time. In the context of gaming peripherals, macros can be particularly useful for RTS, MOBA, and MMO games, where you can pre-program a chain of commands together (and crucially can specify the amount of delay between each) and bind it to a single click of a button or press of a key. This means you could say, set up a single-click autorun button for Day Z rather than having to double-tap the ‘W’ key and keep it depressed for 15 minutes, or set up a perfectly timed sequence of mutually supportive spells for a specific type of encounter in DOTA 2. Roccat Swarm allows you to do all this and set up specific macro profiles for each game you play.
Mouse settings – CPI/DPI, click speed, polling rate, repeat rate
There are a lot of settings you can tweak for your mouse in Roccat Swarm to ensure you have the most perfectly tailored experience. Here the definitions of all the main ones:
CPI/DPI – Counts Per Inch (CPI) effectively means the number of pixels the mouse cursor moves on the screen when the mouse is moved by one inch. Essentially this is a measure of sensitivity. Although commonly referred to as DPI (Dots Per Inch) the correct terminology when talking about mouse sensitivity is CPI.
Click speed – Fairly self-explanatory – governs the minimum amount of time that can pass between clicks of a button.
Polling rate – The rate (measured in Hz) at which data is being sent from the internal buffer of the mouse to the PC via the USB connection. Higher polling rates can reduce lag between you moving your mouse and this being replicated on-screen, however increasing it does not always lead to any real tangible benefit, and furthermore is only worth doing if you have a particularly powerful computer, as the strain on your PC would otherwise make it counterproductive.
Repeat rate – This applies to both keyboards and mice. Basically repeat rate is the pause when you hold down a key on your keyboard between when it types out a single letter/figure/symbol and when it repeats a long line of the same symbol. This same functionality can be set up on certain mice with Roccat Swarm.
Key Deactivation
As you might expect this enables you to turn off certain keys on your keyboard, which may be useful if they are faulty pending a replacement, or if you are worried about accidentally pressing them mid-game (the Windows key for example).
Headset settings
All the standard audio level tweaking is possible within Roccat Swarm, and it comes with a full equalizer. Beyond this though there are more gaming-focused functions like the ability to improve the audio quality of your mic to be better heard in-game, or to dramatically alter how it sounds with various effects, not to mention various presets that greater emphasize certain sounds like footsteps, whilst taking the edge of gunshot sounds – great for use in titles like CS:GO.
Roccat Talk FX and Alien FX
Roccat Talk FX is a way of programming the RGB settings of your keyboard and mouse etc. to react to events in-game. You could for example set up a certain lighting arrangement to signify how much ammunition you have, or how much damage your character has taken, or whether or not your base is under attack. Note: this is only compatible with certain games that support the feature.
Alien FX is the RGB system that comes with Alienware products, made by Dell. Roccat Swarm allows you to interface with Alien FX and set up all your peripherals accordingly, should you have an Alienware PC.
Roccat Swarm App
Finally, the Roccat Swarm App can be installed on your phone to give you handheld monitoring details for the entire PC (GPU usage, SSD/hard drive space etc.), an APM counter, and the ability to switch profiles and launch programs/games remotely.
How To Install Roccat Swarm
Installing Roccat Swarm is fairly self-explanatory. Navigate to the Roccat website, and Download under Roccat Swarm Driver (despite the name this is actually an executable file for the software installation). After you have downloaded it, open the Swarm.exe file and follow each step of the installation wizard.
Once the product has installed you can search for it in your start menu search bar. The program should now open up in your toolbar.
How To Update Roccat Swarm
Before you begin using Roccat Swarm, it is advisable that you make sure it is fully up to date. To do this, follow the below steps:
- Click on the cogwheel icon in the top right of the window to get to the Settings menu.
- From within the Settings menu, click General.
- Beneath Update Settings click on Search Now. If an update is available, the software should download and install it for you. Toggle Check For Updates Automatically if you want Roccat Swarm to do this.
- You can click on Update Center on the left-hand side to see what version of the software is currently running, along with changelog details, and the driver details for each specific device.
How To Add A Device To Roccat Swarm
If you plug a compatible Roccat device into a functioning USB port on your computer, the Roccat Swarm software should automatically detect the device and it should appear on the top menu of the Swarm window (see pictured). If you click on the picture of the product you will be able to see the options available for it.
Is My Mouse/Keyboard/Headset Compatible With Roccat Swarm?
The first step is to make sure your device is compatible with Roccat Swarm. Obviously, it needs to be a Roccat product, but beyond this certain Roccat products are not supported by this particular software (the Roccat Tyon mouse for instance is not supported). Unfortunately, there is not a ready list of these available from the Roccat website at the time of writing (somewhat of a failing on behalf of Roccat), so the only way to see if your specific products are compatible is by having a Google and/or just downloading the software and having a go (it is free after all).
Roccat Swarm Is Not Detecting My Mouse/Keyboard/Headset
If you are still experiencing problems and your peripheral is not appearing in the Roccat app, try each of the below steps in order, checking to see if the device is functional at each stage:
- Verify that the product is correctly connected to your computer by making sure the USB connector is correctly inserted.
- Make sure Roccat Swarm is fully updated (see above). Plugging in a new device can sometimes prompt the software to update again, even if you have recently done so.
- Restart your PC.
- Uninstall Roccat Swarm and reinstall it.
If you try all of the above and are sure your device should be compatible yet it is still not working, we recommend you get in touch with Roccat directly.
How To Create Custom Profiles On Roccat Swarm
Custom profiles essentially allow you to save all of the specific device settings, macros, RGB setups etc. in one grouping, which you can switch to easily at any time, or indeed to an entirely different profile. There are 4 default profile slots as standard, but additional profiles can be added.
Follow the below steps to create your own custom profile:
- Select the device you want to create a profile for at the top of the window.
- Click on the plus icon at the bottom right of the window. A new profile should appear, you can rename this profile as you like. If you want to set a particular profile as the default one, click the drop-down arrow next to the profile slot and select Set Desktop Profile.
- Now you’ve created the profile you can go into the tabs at the top of the screen which say Settings, Button/Key Assignment, Advanced Settings, and fiddle around with the settings to your heart’s content.
The Profile Manager section at the bottom of the window allows you to delete existing profiles, set up auto-switch, and assign different games and other programs to automatically use particular profiles.
How To Import Custom Profiles On Roccat Swarm
You may want to port over an existing Roccat Swarm profile from a different machine, and this is fully supported within the software. Simply follow the steps below:
- Click on the Profile Manager tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Once you are in the Profile Manager window, click on the Import Profile button in the top right of the screen. You should now be able to select the profile to import from wherever it is saved on your computer.
How To Create Macros On Roccat Swarm
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To create macros for any device that supports it, follow the below steps:
- Click on the specific peripheral you want to create the macro for in the top menu.
- Select the Macro Manager tab at the bottom of your screen.
- In the Macro Manager window, select the new folder icon in the top left and name it as you like.
- Click the Add A New Macro icon from the dropdown menu of your new folder and name it as you like.
- Click in the space to your right and press the Start Recording button. Now any button/keystroke you make will be recorded in order as part of the macro.
- Once you are happy click Stop Recording then press OK. You can then edit the commands should you wish.
- Click the Button/Key Assignment tab at the top of the window.
- Select the button or key you want to assign the macro to from the list on the right, using the visual representation as a guide.
- Once you have assigned the macro there may be a slight delay whilst the new setting is applied. Once it has applied, test it out to make sure it has worked.
Other Roccat Swarm Troubleshooting Tips
How To Make Roccat Swarm Open On Startup?
Unlike most modern-day software, Roccat Swarm doesn’t have a built-in feature for you to toggle the program to open automatically on startup. You can however set this up yourself in Windows. Follow the steps on how to do this below:
- Right click on the Windows Start Menu and select Run.
- Type shell:startup into the Run window that appears and then press OK. The Startup folder should now open.
- Right-click inside this folder within Windows Explorer, then click new, then select shortcut from the dropdown menu.
- Click Browse from the pop-up, then navigate to the installation location of Roccat Swarm and select the ROCCAT_Swarm_Monitor.exe executable file. Click Next, then Finish.
- Make sure the process has been successful by restarting your computer – Roccat Swarm should now automatically open in your start menu tray.
How To Stop Roccat Swarm Opening On Startup?
Should you wish to undo the above process at a later time and prevent Roccat Swarm from opening when you boot up your computer, follow the below steps:
- Press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys in Windows, then click on Task Manager.
- Navigate to the Startup tab along the top of the Task Manager window.
- Scroll until you find Roccat Swarm among the list of programs then right click it and click on Disable.
- Make sure the process has been successful by restarting your computer – Roccat Swarm should now not boot up automatically when your computer turns on.
How To Disable Roccat Swarm?
The most straightforward way to disable Roccat Swarm short of removing the program altogether is to close it and check that the taskbar icon is gone as well, otherwise right click on it and hit Close.
How To Uninstall Roccat Swarm?
- Click on the Windows Start Menu and type add or remove programs into the search box at the bottom. Click on add or remove programs once it appears in the list.
- Scroll until you find Roccat Swarm among the list of programs then right click it and click on Uninstall. Confirm that you do want to uninstall the software if asked, and then let the uninstall wizard remove the program.
Roccat Swarm Is Not Working/Opening, What Should I Do?
If Roccat Swarm isn’t working or fails to open there are some basic things you should check as most of the time these resolve the problem:
- Restart your PC.
- Unplug all of your Roccat peripheral devices (use alternative mice and keyboard) and launch Roccat Swarm. Plug your Roccat devices back in and, when prompted, download the latest drivers and firmware for the device.
- Uninstall and reinstall Roccat Swarm making, sure to download the latest version from the Roccat website.
If none of the above measures resolve the issue, we recommend you contact Roccat themselves directly.
Final Word
This has been our Roccat Swarm Software Guide. We hope it’s answered all the questions you’ve had regarding the Roccat Swarm application, if not, feel free to leave a comment below about what you would like to see added to the page. Stick with WePC for more software guides on all the biggest gaming applications. Until next time, happy gaming!
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