Dictate with a foot pedal

Which pedals work

A pedal works with OliType if it acts like a keyboard key or a mouse button when you press it. Most USB pedals sold for computers can do this. Some are set to a key at the factory; others are set up with the maker's software once, and the setting stays in the pedal.

Not supported yet: pedals that only talk to their own app and never send a key press or mouse click, such as some pedals made for one transcription program. If you have one of these, tell us the model; support for them comes when people ask.

Check your pedal before you buy OliType

1. Plug in the pedal and open TextEdit (or any text box).
2. Press the pedal. If a letter or number appears, or the cursor reacts like a mouse click, it sends something OliType can use.
3. Then try it in OliType during the free trial: click the hotkey box in Settings and press the pedal. If the box shows a key or mouse button, it works.

Set it up

1. In OliType, open Settings and click the hotkey box.
2. Press the pedal itself, so OliType learns exactly what the pedal sends.
3. Under How the hotkey works, pick Tap (one press starts, one press stops) or Hold (talk while the pedal is down, let go to stop). Double-tap works too.

Good to know: OliType listens without blocking keys, so the key your pedal sends also reaches the app you're typing in. If your pedal is set to a letter, change it to a key that does nothing in your apps (guide section 8, Settings).

Pedals we've tested

• iKKEGOL USB single foot pedal (2023 digital optical model, USB). Works well on a Mac. Set it once with the iKKEGOL software that comes with it to the key you want, and the setting stays in the pedal: after that, you don't need the software again. Then choose the same key as your OliType hotkey.

Using a different pedal with OliType? Tell us which one.

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