headtrack VS aitrack

This will allow you and/or the developers to compile plugins to arm64 for native Apple Silicon (M1 etc.) support. I recompiled the HeadTrack (https://github.com/amyinorbit/headtrack) plugin as a test and it now loads fine without having to run X-Plane through Rosetta on my M1 MacBrook Pro.

To get head tracking, install the HeadTrack plugin found here: https://github.com/amyinorbit/headtrack and connect SmoothTrack to it (it runs on port 4242 once you activate it in X-Plane)

Additionally you can use https://github.com/AIRLegend/aitrack to get good head tracking and you don't need to run it with the same WINE prefix, since it uses UDP to communicate. Just run it casually from your OS (via WINE for example). But OpenTrack still need to run in the same WINE prefix ofc.

Software to setup a camera with head tracking https://github.com/AIRLegend/aitrack

For rudimentary head tracking, you can use a webcam with AiTrack.

If you have a decently modern phone you can get the smoothtrack app on your phone for $10. You can use that as an input for opentrack. I've been using that for a while, and it seems to be working well. Apparently you can also use a regular webcam in opentrack using aitrack, but I haven't personally used it so I can't vouch for how well it works.

I would use ai track (https://github.com/AIRLegend/aitrack) instead of a track ir system since it only uses a decent webcam and in my experience is pretty reliable.

OpenTrack plus AITrack is 100% free. If you don't have a webcam, toss in DroidCam for Android/iOS and use your smartphone.

run opentrack https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack/releases to get the curves and mapping and aitrack https://github.com/AIRLegend/aitrack for head tracking. 200% better for me.

I use AITrack to use a webcam to read my face. This means that the only peripheral I need is a webcam, no other headsets or hats.