Bug Report Hotkeys from second keyboard issue

[guyThatStreams]

in macOS, hotkeys only work on a second keyboard if OBS is the active screen (ie if I am typing in chrome, the hotkeys do not work on second keyboard). The first keyboard hotkeys work even if OBS isn’t active. I tested in windows, and it’s only a problem in MacOS. Why? To recreate, make a hotkey, plug two keyboards in at the same time, and notice that only the first keyboard hotkeys work outside of OBS.

 

[Narcogen]

This is a known issue.

https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...-another-program-is-active.53462/#post-234723

https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/hotkeys-dont-work.37654/#post-175557

https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/i-am-unable-to-get-hotkeys-to-work.28510/#post-142950

Not sure why it's not on the actual "known issues" list.

 

[Herolordman]

Although he did mention the "only works if obs is selected", this particular issue is new because hotkeys DO work even when OBS is not in "focus", EXCEPT on a second keyboard (which only works when obs is in focus).

 

[Manuel Martensen]

Can confirm.

Hotkeys do not work from a second keyboard or a midi-to-keystroke app like midiStroke if OBS is not the active window.

Any updates on this or someone with a super finicky workaround? :)

 

[Manuel Martensen]

Found a workaround for the second keyboard/midi pad problem:

1) get MidiStroke (free) and install, set to turn at logon
2) set up all midi-pads/inputs so that they are recognized by MidiStroke, don't add keystrokes yet
3) give every scene in OBS a keystroke hotkey (ie. alt-shift-cmd-1 for scene 1, alt-shift-cmd-2 for scene 2, etc)
4) open Automator
5) make a new Service
6) select "no input" in "every app" at the top somewhere
7) double-click "execute AppleScript" on the left somewhere
8) add your script (tell application "OBS" activate end tell)
9) save as service called "OBS Activate"
10) open system prefs
11) go to keyboard
12) go to hotkeys
13) go to app-hotkeys
14) click the + button
15) under App select "all apps" (important, or else it won't work if you are in a different "app" than the Finder)
16) under Menu type "OBS Activate". Just that, nothing else.
17) give that mothers*cker a keystroke combo (ie. alt-shift-cmd-t)
18) in Midistroke give the first midi-pad/input two keystroke combos:
18a) first line the keystroke for "OBS Activate" (in this case "alt-shift-cmd-t")
18b) second line the keystroke for your first scene (in this case "alt-shift-cmd-1")
19) repeat this two keystroke combo lines mumbo jumbo for all scenes
20) win

Wrote these steps from memory, some commands are prolly named slightly different plus English is not my first tongue.

 

[evns]

Found a workaround for the second keyboard/midi pad problem:

1) get MidiStroke (free) and install, set to turn at logon
2) set up all midi-pads/inputs so that they are recognized by MidiStroke, don't add keystrokes yet
3) give every scene in OBS a keystroke hotkey (ie. alt-shift-cmd-1 for scene 1, alt-shift-cmd-2 for scene 2, etc)
4) open Automator
5) make a new Service
6) select "no input" in "every app" at the top somewhere
7) double-click "execute AppleScript" on the left somewhere
8) add your script (tell application "OBS" activate end tell)
9) save as service called "OBS Activate"
10) open system prefs
11) go to keyboard
12) go to hotkeys
13) go to app-hotkeys
14) click the + button
15) under App select "all apps" (important, or else it won't work if you are in a different "app" than the Finder)
16) under Menu type "OBS Activate". Just that, nothing else.
17) give that mothers*cker a keystroke combo (ie. alt-shift-cmd-t)
18) in Midistroke give the first midi-pad/input two keystroke combos:
18a) first line the keystroke for "OBS Activate" (in this case "alt-shift-cmd-t")
18b) second line the keystroke for your first scene (in this case "alt-shift-cmd-1")
19) repeat this two keystroke combo lines mumbo jumbo for all scenes
20) win

Wrote these steps from memory, some commands are prolly named slightly different plus English is not my first tongue.

Thanks very much for this, going to try tonight and expect to have all my problems solved

 

[evns]

Thank you, this works beautifully!