acroFPV
Rates and feel
FPV rates explained: ACTUAL rates, expo, and max rate.
FPV rates decide how stick movement becomes roll, pitch, and yaw rotation in acro mode. The goal is not a magic number. The goal is calm center stick control, predictable expo, and enough max rate to recover or finish a freestyle move.
The three numbers that matter
- Center sensitivity
- How much rotation you get near center stick. Lower center sensitivity makes small corrections calmer. Higher center sensitivity makes the quad feel more immediate.
- Expo
- The curve between center stick and the edge of the stick. More expo can soften small corrections while keeping high-stick authority.
- Max rate
- The full-stick rotation speed in deg/s. Higher max rate gives faster flips and rolls, but it also punishes lazy stops and late recovery.
FPV rates calculator
Use this ACTUAL-style FPV rates calculator to compare beginner rates, freestyle rates, whoop rates, and faster race-style rates before you tune the Feel panel. It is built for acroFPV simulator tuning, but the center sensitivity, expo, and max-rate mental model transfers to Betaflight ACTUAL rates.
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Beginner rates vs freestyle rates
Beginner FPV rates are usually not "slow" everywhere. They should be calm near center so you can hold a line, but they still need enough max rate to stop a dive, finish a roll, or recover from a bad split-S setup. Freestyle rates usually raise max rate first, then tune center feel and expo until small corrections stop looking nervous on video.
| Goal | Center sensitivity | Expo | Max rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner acro mode | Lower, usually calmer than default freestyle | Moderate to high | Moderate; enough to recover without surprise snaps |
| 5 inch freestyle | Moderate | Moderate | Higher roll/pitch for flips, rolls, and fast exits |
| Tiny whoop indoor | Soft enough for tight rooms | Often higher | Usually lower than outdoor freestyle |
| Race/snappy | Higher response | Lower to moderate | Enough for fast corrections without over-rotation |
Symptoms and adjustments
| What you feel | Likely rate issue | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny stick movement makes the quad twitch | Center sensitivity is too high or expo is too low | Lower center sensitivity first. Add expo only if full-stick speed still feels right. |
| Flips and rolls take too long | Max rate is too low | Raise roll or pitch max rate in small steps and retest the same trick. |
| Turns feel smooth, then suddenly snap | The curve ramps too aggressively | Use a gentler curve: lower max rate, lower expo, or both depending on the feel. |
| Yaw corrections swing too wide | Yaw center or yaw max is too high | Lower yaw center first. Many freestyle pilots run yaw calmer than roll and pitch. |
Rate tuning checklist
- Pick one map and one simple line.
- Fly a straight approach with tiny roll corrections.
- If it wobbles, lower center sensitivity before touching max rate.
- Try one full roll at altitude.
- If it takes too long, raise roll max rate slightly.
- Repeat with pitch, then yaw.
- Save a short clip before and after the change so you can compare the exits.
FAQ
Is this a Betaflight rates converter?
It is an ACTUAL-style FPV rates calculator for acroFPV and simulator practice. Use it to reason about center sensitivity, expo, and max rate. If you copy values from a real Betaflight ACTUAL profile, treat them as a starting point and match the rest by feel.
Should roll, pitch, and yaw rates match?
Roll and pitch often start close together. Yaw is commonly calmer because wide yaw corrections can make turns and clip exits look messy. The calculator keeps them separate so you can tune yaw without ruining roll and pitch.
What makes rates less twitchy?
Lower center sensitivity first. If high-stick moves still need to stay fast, add expo. If the quad only feels scary near full stick, lower max rate instead.