WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:07.120 So, we've all seen the latest gaming keyboards and mice with support for 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:10.639 macros, but the assumption being made here is that every customer knows what 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:16.800 they are and what they're good for without anyone actually taking the time to explain it. So, in just a few words, 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:22.880 a macro is a way of creating a faster, easier shortcut that lets you perform an 00:00:19.119 --> 00:00:25.519 otherwise multiplestep process in just 00:00:22.880 --> 00:00:30.640 one step. They're most often created to speed up and simplify the execution of 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:35.040 repetitive tasks. Some applications like Microsoft Office actually have excellent 00:00:33.440 --> 00:00:39.680 built-in support for macros, allowing you to create your own shortcuts to 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:43.440 execute complicated presscripted strings of commands. Something I used to use 00:00:41.680 --> 00:00:47.680 quite often in my old job in marketing and product management when sorting out 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:52.559 gigantic spreadsheets. But most of the programs you use, including games, have 00:00:50.160 --> 00:00:58.079 no or very limited inherent macro support. So that is where fancy 00:00:55.280 --> 00:01:02.559 peripherals with macros come in. While some allow macros to be recorded 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:06.799 directly on the device, most use their own custom software to create multi-step 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:10.799 commands and save them to a small built-in memory chip on the device where 00:01:08.880 --> 00:01:15.439 they can be executed with a single button press. This allows the user more 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:19.040 flexibility to customize their macros. All right, Ninus, this seems pretty 00:01:16.880 --> 00:01:22.560 simple. I pre-record something like, "Lol, that's so funny. Thanks for 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.439 sharing it." Then I only have to press one button to have the perfect reply 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:29.119 ready every time someone sends me a sweet picture of like a cat wearing a 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:32.960 hat or something. What could I want to customize about that? Well, actually a 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:38.079 couple of things. The most important of which is the recorded delay between each 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:43.040 of the discrete commands. That pre-programmed input bit from before is 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:47.520 a perfect example. Normally, I can only type as fast as my fingers can move. But 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:52.399 an email client or word processor could easily accept that entire sentence all 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:57.439 at the same time. In this case, I would actually want to execute my macro with 00:01:54.320 --> 00:01:59.759 no delay. But that's not always ideal. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:04.399 In a game, it might be beneficial to create a macro that calls in a holy 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:08.080 strike, waits 2 seconds, activates a lightning resistance buff, and then 3 00:02:06.399 --> 00:02:12.400 seconds later casts, I don't know, Firefly Swarm or something like that. 00:02:10.239 --> 00:02:16.239 So, you can see how this would be a great thing to be able to control. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:19.760 Generally speaking, macros support playing back with the same delay with 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.400 which they were recorded, injecting a fixed delay, or removing all delays for 00:02:22.239 --> 00:02:28.319 instant input, with some supporting manual input of the delays. While this 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:32.080 feature is most often present on products targeted at gamers, there are 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:36.400 plenty of legitimate uses for reprogrammable keys that support macros 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:40.800 outside of games as well. And in fact, when the Logitech G15 keyboard first 00:02:38.959 --> 00:02:44.920 launched with its impressive 18 programmable G keys, it was a gamer and 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:49.599 productivity enthusiast dream come true, and both of 00:02:47.920 --> 00:02:53.280 those groups of people were flocking to buy it. So, there you have it. If you've 00:02:51.440 --> 00:02:56.400 got a gaming keyboard or mouse, there's actually a very good chance that using 00:02:55.040 --> 00:03:00.239 the software included with the aforementioned computer peripheral will 00:02:58.239 --> 00:03:04.319 unlock this functionality for you. And once you get the hang of using macros, 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:08.640 they're fast and easy to create and very, very useful. Speaking of very 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:12.560 useful, Josh from Fractal Design gave me a call the other day about advertising 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.760 on Techquy and he kind of goes, "Well, yeah, I was talking to some of your 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.879 viewers and they were telling me they're tired of hearing you blab on and on 00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:22.480 about sponsors at the end of every video. So, if we do this, I want to do 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:26.000 something a little different. Instead of a normal integration where you talk 00:03:23.920 --> 00:03:30.159 about our quality PC cases and power supplies with minimalistic Scandinavian 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:34.879 design and outstanding customer support, I just want to buy the sponsor spot and 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:38.799 watch you get pied in the face instead. I figure that'll be pretty fun for 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:42.560 everyone. So, I pondered his idea for a moment and then it hit me. I've done 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:48.280 worse for 20 bucks. Never mind what one of these sponsor spot costs. So, here we 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:48.280 go. 00:03:51.519 --> 00:03:57.360 So, um, if you guys appreciate Josh's approach to sponsoring Techquicki and 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:02.720 you want to see more of it, hit up the Fractal Design Facebook page linked in the video description and give it a big 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:06.159 old like. While you're at it, don't forget to like this video and share it 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:09.840 if you liked it. Dislike it if you disliked it, and leave a comment with 00:04:07.760 --> 00:04:13.760 your favorite uses for macros or any suggestions you have for future fast as 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:18.560 possible episodes. Thanks for watching, and as always, don't forget to subscribe 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.560 if you haven't already.