Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > macOS > Media keys on a keyboard

Media keys on a keyboard
Thread Tools
Abbas
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 26, 2007, 11:32 AM
 
I have the Logitech S530 keyboard/Mouse combo and I've been using their products for a very long time with Windows. Almost all the keyboards I've used on Windows previously have had media keys for controlling volume as well as play/pause and skipping back and forth.

The S530 also has these keys, however these keys seem to be hardcoded for iTunes. I'm not sure if this is a keyboard issue or an O/S issue. Under Windows, whichever the active application is (Media Player, PowerDVD or WinAMP etc.) would utilize thise buttons. So for instance, if I'm watching a movie using PowerDVD, the pause button on the keyboard would pause the movie. If I'm using Windows Media Player, it would skip the track playing on that.

With the S530, if I have Quicktime on and press the play/pause, iTunes gets loaded and starts playing- very irritiating. Again, not sure if this is a keyboard issue or an O/S issue. Would love to hear from others.
     
Gee4orce
Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Staffs, UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 27, 2007, 06:20 AM
 
It's to do with the drivers for the keyboard. See if this is re-configurable in the driver software preferences. FWIW, being able to control iTunes from the keyboard even if it was in the background I would consider a feature not a bug.
     
Abbas  (op)
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 27, 2007, 12:04 PM
 
The Control Panel offers the ability to customize other buttons but not the media playback buttons.

-a
     
SSharon
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Teaneck, NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 27, 2007, 02:55 PM
 
On my logitech KB the volume buttons control the system volume while the previous/next buttons change the song in itunes even when it is in the background. I am very happy with this setup. I changed a few of the default shortcuts in the logitech prefpane but I don't remember changing those specific buttons.
AT&T iPhone 5S and 6; 13" MBP; MDD G4.
     
Visnaut
Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 28, 2007, 01:45 PM
 
If you were willing to ditch Logitech's drivers, you could program the keys to do exactly what you want using ControllerMate.

You could specify programming for keys either system-wide or application-specific, or a mixture of both. It's really quite powerful.
     
Abbas  (op)
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 28, 2007, 03:07 PM
 
Wow- that application certainly sounds interesting.

-a
     
monkeybrain
Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Dark Side of the Moon
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 28, 2007, 10:09 PM
 
It could be easier to just use the space bar. I think in all OS X multimedia apps the space bar will act as play/pause.
     
   
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:21 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,