This is a Macropad to manage calls and chats in Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Discord, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. It is easy to assemble and it works in Windows without dedicated software.
You can learn how to assemble it and you can download the configuration file for free.
Moreover, you can search Makers around you to manufacture personalized macropads based on your needs.
Overview
A macropad is a small keyboard that provides extra functionalities to supplement your main keyboard. They can be pre-assembled or they can come in kits that you can assemble and program manually. They’re particularly handy for programming things on them like media controls, shortcuts, and macros.
These devices come in many shapes, sizes, and budgets. Some only have a handful of programmable keys and knobs, while others rival full-size keyboards in functionality. Many macro pads come with swappable mechanical switches to give users a personalized experience.
For this project, we’ve focused on one specific task: video conference management via macropad. As there are plenty of apps for video calls and conf calls, we’ve focused our attention on the most popular ones. The idea is to expand functionalities over time based on the feedbacks we will receive.
Hardware
For the hardware, we’ve chosen the little almighty duckyPad by dekuNukem. It’s a 15-key mechanical macropad that allows you to consolidate and speed up your workflow by automating keyboard inputs.
Key features:
- Open-source
- Hot-swap mechanical switches
- RGB
- USB-C
- OLED screen showing what each key does
- Multi-line scripting with duckyScript
- 32 profiles of 15 keys, 480 macros in total
- microSD card storage, move between devices without losing macros
- No driver needed, works out-of-box on anything that supports USB keyboards
DuckyPad can be purchased on Tindie for 69.99 USD plus shipping.
Software
For the software setup of the duckyPad macropad, we’ve listed down the most common actions for each video conference app and arranged them in dedicated profiles.
We have a total of 6 profiles (15 actions each, as many as the keys on the macropad) including one dedicated to the most common actions in Windows:
| Profiles | Actions (one for each key) |
|---|---|
| P1: Windows | Move to previous virtual desk Move to next virtual desk Add virtual desk Minimize/maximize window Swap screen Extend screen Open file manager Open task manager Run command Lock Windows Turn off PC Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| P2: Microsoft Teams | Accept video call Accept audio call End call Turn on/off your camera Mute/unmute yourself Start screen share session Start new chat Raise or lower your hand Blur background Open chat Open teams Open calendar Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| P3: Zoom | Accept video call End video call Decline call Turn on/off your camera Mute/unmute yourself Start screen share session Open meeting chat Raise or lower your hand Gain remote control Go to previous chat Go to next chat Search Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| P4: Discord | Answer call Decline call Direct message Toggle emoji picker Mute/unmute yourself Upload a file Previous server Next server Mark server as read Previous channel Next channel Mark channel as read Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| P5: Google Meet | Turn on/off your camera Mute/unmute yourself Raise or lower your hand Show or hide meeting chat window Show or hide participants Show or hide captions Increase the number of participant tiles Decrease the number of participant tiles Minimize or expand your video Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| P6: Cisco Webex | Accept call End call Decline call Turn on/off your camera Mute/unmute yourself Start screen share session Send a direct message Raise or lower your hand Attach a file Go to all (Spaces and direct) list Go to direct message list Go to spaces list Volume down Volume up Screencap |
| Please note | This setup only works in Microsoft Windows. |
Download
This is the setup file for duckyPad to be used as a macropad to manage videoconferences in Teams, Zoom, Discord, Meet, Webex. It has been tested in Microsoft Windows 10 and 11.
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