3.7 Auto Keys

The auto keys feature lets you define keys, that Soundpad will press automatically, when you play a sound. So, you can play a game and let Soundpad press the Push-To-Talk key for you.

You can configure auto keys at File ▶ Preferences ▶ Hotkeys ▶ Auto Keys.

Auto keys are limited by security restrictions of Windows and may not work in certain situations. If you come into such a situation, then you can make Auto Keys work again by running Soundpad as administrator.

3.7.1 Conditions

Auto keys are really powerful and in some situations they can even be dangerous. Therefore, you should take some time and configure the conditions as strictly as possible.

You'll find below window at File ▶ Preferences ▶ Hotkeys ▶ Auto Keys ▶ Add.

Auto Keys conditions
Let's go through each condition and see what they do.

Enabled

It's a general switch to enable or disable an auto key.

You can also switch an auto key from the status bar of the main window by left-clicking or right-clicking on
.
Auto Keys icon right-click Auto Keys icon right-click
Besides of that, auto keys are only pressed, if the active play mode is set to speakers and microphone or microphone only, because there is no need to automatically press Push-to-Talk keys when the sound is played on speakers only.

Press only if sound is played by hotkey

This condition is turned on by default, thereby auto keys are only pressed when you play sounds by hotkey.

You can uncheck this option for each auto key separately if you want the auto key to also be pressed when you play a sound from the user interface, e.g. by double-click or from the toolbar.

How to press

You can choose between press and hold and press before and after.

Press and hold

When you play a sound, the specified key is pressed and kept pressed. As soon as the sound has been fully played, or you stop the playback, the key is released.

Soundpad will not press the key again if you press and release it on your keyboard while playback.

Press before and after

When you play a sound, the specified key is pressed and released before the sound starts to play. As soon as the sound has been fully played, or you stop the playback, the key is pressed and released again. To make it more human-like and reliable, there is a short delay between press and release.

When to press

Always

When you play a sound and the above conditions are met, then the key is always pressed.

Foreground application is fullscreen

When you play a sound, the key is only pressed if the foreground application is running in fullscreen mode. This also applies for games, that are displayed in a fullscreen borderless window.

Certain application is running

After choosing this option, you'll see a list, where you can add applications. The key will only be pressed if at least one of these applications is running.

Auto Keys - Certain application is running

Certain application is in foreground

When you choose this option, you will see a list, where you can add applications. The key will only be pressed if one of these applications is the active foreground application at the moment, you play a sound.

3.7.2 Examples

Here are some examples to show, how auto keys can be used in real scenarios.

Scenario 1: Press the Push-to-Talk key of my game, when I am in-game

In the game itself, you need to set a simple key as the Push-to-Talk key, e.g. K or Mouse4.

Then configure the auto key like below:

Auto Keys Scenario 1 - Conditions
After applying the preferences, you'll see that entry in the status bar of the main window by left-clicking or right-clicking on
.
Auto Keys Scenario 1 - Status bar icon right-click Auto Keys Scenario 1 - Status bar icon right-click

Scenario 2: Mute me in Teamspeak, Discord, Mumble or similar

Set a key to mute/unmute yourself in the voice application, e.g. B or Mouse5.

Then configure the auto key like below:

Auto Keys Scenario 2 - Conditions
After applying the preferences, you'll see that entry in the status bar of the main window by left-clicking or right-clicking on
.
Auto Keys Scenario 2 - Status bar icon right-click Auto Keys Scenario 2 - Status bar icon right-click

Scenario 3: Mute me in the voice application and press the Push-to-Talk key in-game

This is a combination of the first two scenarios. Add an auto key entry like shown in Scenario 1 and another entry like shown in Scenario 2.

After applying the preferences, you'll see both entries in the status bar of the main window by left-clicking or right-clicking on
.
Auto Keys Scenario 3 - Status bar icon right-click Auto Keys Scenario 3 - Status bar icon right-click

3.7.3 Toggling Auto Keys

You can disable or enabled all auto keys in different ways:

  • Double-click
    in the status bar of the main window.
  • Right-click or left-click
    in the status bar of the main window and check the top most entry of the context menu.
  • Define one of the special hotkeys to disable, enable or toggle auto keys.