Can I begin recording with a hotkey?

[gyro89]

Hello,
I wondered if there was anyway I could begin recording with a hot key. For example if there is a way to designate the F9 key start audacity recording whenever audacity is running.
I'm currently running Windows 8.

Thanks!

[kozikowski]

Whenever Audacity is "in front," yes. You can't start it during game play.

Koz

[gyro89]

@ kozikowski
Thanks for the info. It was worth a shot.
Its kind of funny that you correctly guessed that I wanted to use it during gameplay, but I guess what else would I need a hotkey for?
I currently use FRAPS to record gameplay footage and audio from my mic. However, the audio isn't very high quality. I've had audacity for a while and its a pretty good program so I thought, "Hey! Maybe I can use it to to record". But, if you can't use a hotkey I guess I'll have too look for another alternative. If you have any suggestions let me know.

-gyro89

[steve]

Perhaps you could "Alt+Tab" to switch to Audacity, the "R" to start recording, the "Alt+Tab" to switch back to your game?

Computer games are often very demanding on computer resources and Audacity will not be able to work if the computer is working flat out to run the game.

[kozikowski]

Its kind of funny that you correctly guessed that I wanted to use it during gameplay,

Nobody has ever asked us that before.

FRAPS is nobody's favorite audio program, but the complaint is usually stability, not sound quality. Are you sure you have it set up right? Are you using headphones and a microphone or a headset with both in one? Trying to record with your voice on microphone and game play on speakers can distort the recording no matter who's doing it.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

Its kind of funny that you correctly guessed that I wanted to use it during gameplay,

Nobody has ever asked us that before.

It sounds like another vote that Audacity should support "global shortcuts" that work whatever program has focus.


Gale

[steve]

It sounds like another vote that Audacity should support "global shortcuts" that work whatever program has focus.

Which is terrific provided that the Audacity global shortcuts don't clash with any shortcuts used in gyro89's game.

[kozikowski]

...and any other game on all three computer platforms.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

It sounds like another vote that Audacity should support "global shortcuts" that work whatever program has focus.

Which is terrific provided that the Audacity global shortcuts don't clash with any shortcuts used in gyro89's game.

All this is hypothetical, but what else is the original poster asking for? Shortcuts clash is a problem with any global shortcuts feature, but is that a reason to oppose it? Winamp didn't think so. Simply change the global shortcut (or change the application shortcut) if there is a clash.


Gale

[steve]

I'm not opposing it, I'm pointing out that it is not all a bed of roses.
If we went charging ahead and added dozens of global shortcuts, then I suspect that would NOT be what the user wants , and I suspect that we would get a lot of complaints.

What gyro89 has requested is a global shortcut to start recording.
He has not said so, but he may also was a global shortcut to stop the recording.

Many modern games have dozens of keyboard shortcuts. If the user is familiar with a game and uses the shortcuts, then they will NOT want to change the shortcuts in the game.

Yes, the feature request is for global shortcuts, but only in a very limited sense. I imagine that what would suit gyro89 would be "options" (there's that word again) to tie a few basic functions (such as Record and Stop) to global shortcuts. They should probably be disabled by default so that the user does not discover them by accident just as they reach the climax of the final shootout.

Serious game players are usually familiar with the idea of "reading the manual".