Why you need a macro pad, even if you have a mouse with 19 buttons — from $10 mechanical numpads to multi-screen window management
Have you ever felt like you need more keys and/or mouse buttons, despite rocking a full-size keyboard and a mouse with way too many buttons?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I constantly find myself running out of shortcut keys, especially when I’m working across multiple programs. Sure, most gaming peripheral softwares these days have an option that lets you program different inputs for different apps, but this requires said software to be open, running, and working as intended when you switch between apps. And as someone who has a lot of experience with gaming peripheral software, I can confidently tell you that this is an extremely tall ask — better to just buy a bunch more buttons.
Enter: the standalone macro pad. An extra set of programmable keys/buttons/knobs /dials/other inputs that you can use alongside your keyboard and mouse. I’m talking about everything from the ultra-basic plug-in 10-key numberpad to a Stream Deck you can control with your feet. They’re incredibly useful for streamlining your workflow… if you make use of them.
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That’s the thing about macro pads — like 19-button mice and dedicated macro keys on keyboards, they require some forethought and setup if you’re going to incorporate them into your life. These days, they typically come with a specific purpose in mind — 10-key numberpads, for example, are designed for people who do a lot of data entry, while streaming decks like Elgato’s Stream Decks are designed for streamers who need to perform a series of tasks while they’re in the middle of playing games and interacting with viewers. But you don’t need to be an accountant or a streamer to incorporate a macro pad into your life; you just need to be a little creative.
But first, let’s take a look at the options:
▶️ The 10-key numberpad
A 10-key numberpad is technically only a macro pad in the sense that many games and apps let you program shortcuts within them, and numberpad numbers count as separate inputs from alphanumeric numbers. You can pick up a standalone 10-key numberpad for pretty cheap — here’s a wireless one for $10 — though, of course, that won’t get you much in terms of customizability or typing experience. For a little more, you’ll find numberpads that are similar to our favorite mechanical keyboards, with hot-swappable PCBs, mechanical switches, gasket mounting, and customizability, such as this one from $36 Epomaker EK21 numberpad or this $34 8BitDo 18-key numpad.
We also recently took a look at the Turtle Beach KP7, which is technically a numberpad. However, this also has extra keys and a programmable knob, which takes it into “gaming pad” territory — see Razer’s Tartarus line. As for when you actually need a 10-key numberpad and not just 10 keys that are not a numberpad, there are a few specific scenarios: data entry (anyone who performs data entry knows this is significantly faster), certain applications (3D modeling programs, such as Blender, often have a lot of numberpad shortcuts), and alt codes for quickly entering special characters (although perhaps my editors would prefer I not be able to quickly enter Alt + 0151). Outside of these scenarios, however, you probably don’t need a numberpad, specifically. And while you can remap numberpads, or even assign macros using programs such as AutoHotKey, you can also just get a non-numberpad macro pad.
▶️ The non-numberpad keyboard
Customizable non-numberpad macro pads come in all shapes and sizes, from mini three-key pads to larger ones with knobs and dials, such as this DIY Raspberry Pi-powered pad we looked at a few years ago. (I will point out that something like The Shrimp keyboard we reviewed a couple of years ago is not a macro pad, as it replicates existing keys and can’t be used in addition to a regular keyboard.) These types of macro pads only get so big, however, because there’s a limit to how many random, unorganized keys you can have and keep track of. That’s why larger macro pads tend to be streaming decks with LCD keys (and various other inputs).
▶️ The streaming deck
Streaming decks — which include, but are not limited to, Elgato’s products with the same name — are customizable macro pads with LCD keys, or several buttons placed over a single LCD screen. The keys are dynamic, with images that update to reflect what they’re currently assigned to do, and can also be set to display information such as time, date, weather, PC stats, etc.
Streaming decks are also (usually) supported by more robust, dedicated software that allows for more advanced tasks than typical macros. You can, for example, set up chains of complex events, such as opening several programs in a specific order, or changing a series of settings. They’re also often designed to work with existing apps and programs, so they can be a little easier to incorporate if you happen to be using said apps/programs.
Streaming decks also often feature other types of inputs, such as touchscreens, rollers, knobs, dials, and sliders. Some are even modular, like Cooler Master’s MasterHUB, which lets you swap sliders for knobs and dials. Of course, the type of input you need will depend on what you’re doing — a knob or a dial is great for things like changing brush sizes in image editing apps, scrubbing through video in a video editor, or adjusting settings like volume or brightness. Sliders are good for adjusting multiple things — such as microphone volumes, in a podcast — quickly and simultaneously. Touchscreens aren’t my ideal input in most situations, but they can be useful for swiping through “folders” of buttons on a streaming deck (especially since it means you don’t have to “waste” a button on being able to move between screens).
It’s not hard to see why streaming decks are aimed at streamers, podcasters, and other content creators who are trying to do multiple things on their PCs at once while also trying to be present and interact with their audience. Or why certain programs, such as photo/video/audio editing software and 3D modeling software, benefit from having extra keys. But you don’t have to be creating media in real time or in a shortcut-heavy program to find ways to use your macro pad. Here are some of the ways I use my macro pad(s):
Basic (short) shortcuts
Shortcuts only exist because we have a limited number of keys. It’s not better to use a shortcut and press two or three keys when you could just press one key (plus, it’s not particularly ergonomic to stretch your hands across the keyboard all the time). Any shortcut you use frequently should be programmed into a macro key. Some of the ones I use are:
- Moving between tabs – (Shift + Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Tab) I program this to a knob so I can just skip through my tabs.
- Close current tab – (Ctrl + F4)
- Open last closed tab – (Shift + Ctrl + T)
- Move current tab right / left – (Shift + Ctrl + PgDn / Shift + Ctrl + PgUp)
- Select address bar – (Ctrl + L)
- Zoom – (Ctrl + – / Ctrl + +) I also program this to a knob.
- Switch apps – (Alt + Tab)
- Select all – (Ctrl + A)
- Copy / Paste – (Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V)
- Find – (Ctrl + F)
- Left click – sometimes I need to click something without moving my mouse.
Opening specific websites / programs / folders
The nice thing about a streaming deck setup is that I can group things together — I can put the apps I commonly use at the same time on one “page,” so everything is right there when I want to use it. I can also program a series of tasks to one button, so I can have multiple applications open at once if I always use them together.
Changing obnoxious Windows settings
This might be more of a “Tom’s Hardware peripherals editor” thing, but I constantly find myself switching between various devices — audio devices, webcams, etc.
Entering text strings
There admittedly aren’t a ton of text strings I use so frequently that I find typing them inefficient, but there are some — for example, hashtags on social media (on the rare occasion I use social media), or ‘site:tomshardware.com ‘ for when I need to find an article on our site.
Extra function keys
If I’m using a keyboard that doesn’t have a function row or doesn’t have enough of a function row, I often just use my macro pad as the function row. This is useful in apps and games that already have function row shortcuts built in, or that have single-key programmable shortcuts.
Organizing my desktop
I have four monitors, so it’s easy to lose things all over my desktop. I can use plugins to automatically snap windows to certain positions or automatically organize all windows on one screen into a predetermined layout.
I do some photo and video editing, as well as some 3D modeling, but not enough that I can really justify setting up a macro pad just for that. But I’m sure everyone reading this uses at least several basic shortcuts that could definitely be programmed to a macro pad — and that doing so will make more of a difference than you think.
