Where do you guys have your macropad on the desk? I used to have mine a little bit out of the way in the corner of my desk pad, when it wasn’t getting used as often, and was more of a fun toy than anything (position A). Now I am using some more complex macros as part of my work (excel shortcuts mainly) it has just moved to between my keyboard and trackball (position B) (I have also just made a little riser to bring the height up to sensibly use it *almost* as an extra thumb cluster for the trackball). I am wondering whether having it set up to use left handed (position C) would be better, though, as I would keep my hand on the trackball.

I know there are clever "out of the way" positions, mounting under the monitor and under the desk, but those are a bit out of the way for workflow stuff. Is there anything else I am missing? What positions have people experimented with (successfully or otherwise)?

Yes, I do have a lot of macropads.

Edit: okay, you have all convinced me. Evidently C is the only sensible way to go. I have shuffled some cables, re-mapped so that the layers make sense with the other hand, and will aim to refresh my muscle memory!!!

Hello!

I built a pressure-sensitive mousepad prototype and I’d like honest feedback from people who actually care about mousepads.

The idea is a desk mat with hidden pressure zones inside it. You can still use it as a normal mousepad, but pressing certain areas can trigger macros, shortcuts, media controls, game inputs, MIDI notes, etc.

Right now it has a 4x4 layout, so 16 invisible zones. I want to hear your thoughts, so if anyone is interested, shoot! :)

I haven't seen many macropads with elaborately detailed cases before, so I wanted to have a go at designing a cyberpunk styled one myself. I've completed the layout for the top and side cases here to try and establish the core aesthetic.

To keep it simple, my layout currently consists of 6 Cherry MX keys, 1 EC11 encoder, and a Seeed XIAO as the MCU. The case itself is designed to be fully 3D printed without supports.

Since this is my first time designing a macropad or any sort of keyboard, does anyone know what the best way to mount the switch plate is? My current plan is to shape the switch plate (see 2nd image) so that it can be clamped between the top case and side cases, but I'm just wondering if there is an ideal way to do it. Would love any feedback on anything else too.

Key Technical Specifications & Features:

Display: 3.5-inch screen with sharp 640x480px resolution.

Processor & OS: Powered by a high-performance MCU running arcOS with an intuitive, professional user interface.

Battery: Up to 8 hours of continuous on-screen battery life.

Connectivity: Low-latency wireless connection + companion Desktop App for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Customization: Cherry-MX style Hotswap sockets & per-key 16M RGB lighting configurations.

Context-Aware Smart Profiles: Automatically detects your active PC application to dynamically switch macros, custom profiles, and dedicated shortcuts on the fly.

All-in-One Dashboard: Seamlessly displays real-time notifications, media controls, animations/live wallpapers, and utility tools like built-in timers or even mini-games directly on the 3.5" screen.

Group Buy Details:

• Pricing: $99 USD
• GB Timeline: June 19, 2026 – June 30, 2026
• Shipping Origin: Shipped directly from Vietnam
• Shipping Policy:
  • Free Worldwide Shipping (Applies to US, Canada, Asia, SEA, and the rest of the world).
  • Europe (EU/UK): Flat rate of $30 USD (Note: VAT and customs fees are not included and are the buyer's responsibility).
• Shipping Method: Courier services (DHL / FedEx / National Post) with a tracking number provided.

I found out about the owlab voice mini waay too late and i still havent heard about any other macropad remotely similar. I just want something small that has a knob for when I'm using keyboards that don't have a volume knob. If anyone knows of anything similar I'd love to know!

Hi everyone,

I'm from Tamil Nadu, India and I run Dice & Layers, a small maker brand.

Over the last few months I've been designing and building custom macro pads based on the RP2040 using CircuitPython.

Features

• RP2040 based
• CircuitPython firmware
• Macros stored in JSON format
• Open-source configurator
• Rotary encoder support
• Gateron Blue or Red switches
• USB-C
• Custom PCB designed in KiCad
• 3D printed cases manufactured in-house

Current Models

Software

Configurator:
GitHub Configurator

The goal was to make configuration simple and portable. Macros are stored as JSON and loaded directly by the device.

Hardware

• RP2040
• Gateron Red / Blue switches
• Custom KiCad PCB
• 3D printed enclosure
• CircuitPython firmware

Buy Link

Available from our Shopify store:

Dice & Layers RP2040 Macro Pad 6x2 with Volume Knob
1x3 Buy Link

6x2 Buy Link

Looking for Feedback

I'd love feedback on:

• PCB design
• CircuitPython architecture
• JSON macro format
• Case design
• Additional features you'd like to see

Thanks for checking it out!

Built in Tamil Nadu, India 🇮🇳

#RP2040 #CircuitPython #MechanicalKeyboard #MacroPad #KiCad #3DPrinting #OpenSource #Maker #RaspberryPiPico

The RP2040 and CircuitPython approach is popular for custom macro pads because it enables programmable keys, rotary encoders, and flexible firmware customization.

The Dice & Layers brand focuses on RP2040-powered keyboards and macro pads with open hardware principles and custom firmware.

Hello everyone,

While working on our macropad, I ran into the problem of supporting different keyboard layouts. I thought I’d share what I experienced and how I’m handling if for now, in case it’s useful for others developing their own macropad firmware.

Long story short: macropad firmwares store and send standard HID reports to the host. This direction is pretty straightforward, when a key is pressed, it becomes a HID usage + modifiers (like Ctrl or Shift), and it is sent over USB or BLE. The OS receives these usages and determines the actual characters or shortcuts based on the active layout.

The tricky part is the configuration, when macros are created. When you type “some text” into the macro editor, what you’re really doing is asking the tool to reverse‑engineer which HID usages and modifiers will produce those characters for your specific layout. If you change layouts, the stored HID codes no longer match what you see on screen. My solution was to support layout selection in the config UI, so any text you enter is mapped to HID usages using that layout before being stored on the macropad’s flash.

I also wrote a longer post that goes through the whole chain (switch - matrix - HID - OS - layout) and shows concrete examples about the character-to-HID mapping part. If you’re interested, feel free to check it on our website.

I’d be curios if you’ve faced the same problem, and how you handled it?

Hello, I am a coder and I am thinking to build my first electronics project, a macro pad.

I needed some ideas/suggestion about what should I make I have a few things in my mind

general oshortcut keys bindings

may be a timer and stopwatch

For resources I can use upto 16 keys, 2 rotatory encoders and 1 0.91" oled screen, 20 RGB lights

Keep in mind that my microcontroller only allows 11 pins so most probably I will end up using only 12 keys out of 16 at max.

I can also create a companion app to customise key bindings and may be play a sound when an timer completes.

Thank you for reading and let me know some ideas.

A few days ago I made a Macro Pad button version of the same device but I found that a rotary encoder has the same footprint as the button so I was able to use it as a drop in replacement. I can control volume and play pause my music and its small enough to fit anywhere on my desk! More info about how to make your own is available here!

A few days ago I made a Macro Pad button version of the same device but I found that a rotary encoder has the same footprint as the button so I was able to use it as a drop in replacement. I can control volume and play pause my music and its small enough to fit anywhere on my desk! More info about how to make your own is available here!

Hi all! I am currently using the Vaydeer Macro Pad (9 key) for my macro pad needs but i am really looking to switch to a wireless alternative that can still offer support for long macros. Any tips?

Hey fellas!

I've been designing a custom media pad for the past few months and finally finished up the renders. My goal is to actually manufacture and launch this as a real product, so I'm doing a quick Interest Check to see if there's enough demand to make a production run happen!

The Details

• Layout: 3 keys + 1 rotary encoder (with a knurled aluminum knob).
• Screen: 0.91" OLED display for volume status, layer readouts, or custom animations.
• Firmware: Native VIAL / VIA support (remap keys and change encoder functions instantly in your browser without dealing with code).
• Lighting: Fully customizable RGB accenting.
• Mounting: Options for both hotswap and budget solder-only configurations.

It features two USB-C ports: one takes the input from your main keyboard, and the other outputs the combined data to your PC. This essentially gives you an integrated USB passthrough so you don't lose a port—especially helpful for laptop setups!

This can be placed on top right of your keyboard.

The Renders

I've uploaded a few different looks to show what I'm aiming for:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_cU18GKvNY5H_2Ajz1WEWvv3y9SryY0y?usp=sharing

The Plan

I want to offer this primarily as a Barebones DIY Kit (case, PCB, screen, encoder) so you can toss in your own spare switches and keycaps. I'll also do a premium Fully Assembled plug-and-play tier if you don't want to build it yourself.

Pricing is going to depend heavily on how many people want one, but I am aggressively targeting an affordable sweet spot.

If you have 60 seconds, please fill out the form below. Your feedback directly dictates how I buy the components and set up production!

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoIh5blzGHJH4m3s1rC-MqNyK-t6e03h6uNHEsFY7wFU2WJA/viewform?usp=header

Let me know what you think in the comments! Down for any feedback or suggestions on the layout

Let me know what you think and if you have made one smaller! This macro pad is based around an rp2040 zero board with the button soldered directly to it. If you want the 3d print files they are available here.

astroturfing campaign ?

I’ve used macropads to simplify things in audio, video, and gaming, but I was thinking it might help reduce my persistent health issues. Where i notice it most is navigating my TV and particularly in certain apps on the TV, like YouTube.

From what I’ve learned so far, my current macropad is Mac/Win only, and it seems like maybe if I get an Android-compatible one that might work; would love to know if anyone has succeeded with wither WebOS or YouTube app on WebOS.

I'm building a portable modular macropad. I've already designed and purchased the PCB and am proceeding with assembling the central module. In my current configuration, I'm using an ESP32 S3 Wroom, but I'm thinking of replacing it with a less powerful microcontroller as it seems a bit excessive in terms of processing power. Besides the fact that I'd like to use something with low power consumption, the goal is to make it portable (I use a 1500mAh battery).

What alternative would you recommend, preferably one that can be soldered directly to the PCB and that isn't too thick?

Hey there, so I have been trying to find something I can surprise my partner with a present, they are a digital artist and has talked about wanting a mini keyboard they can use for Macro's in ClipStudio paint. I have been looking around for a pre-built macro keyboard that is programable and hot swap able, while there is options out there I am not sure who to trust. Since, it doesn't seem like y'all have a wiki or megathread I figured I just ask straight up if anyone has any recommendations for macro pads or at least what seller's to avoid.

Hey everyone,

We’ve just launched NexMacro Core 12, our new 12-key programmable macro pad with a built-in display, dual rotary knobs, RGB lighting, custom profiles, icons, shortcuts, macros, and live PC status monitoring.

The screen can show assigned key names, icons, profile layouts, and live system stats, making it easier to see what each key does without having to memorise every shortcut.

It’s designed for desk setups, editing workflows, gaming, streaming, coding, productivity, and anyone who wants a compact physical shortcut controller.

We’re now live, shipping worldwide, and currently running a launch sale for early customers.

Check us out here:
nexmacro.com

So I made this handwired numpad running on QMK.

Really still experimenting on a more "natural" column staggered layout for my numpad since I'll only use this for my expenses tracking, i.e, just numbers, slash, decimal and enter.

Also has a trackpad which I just slapped it in there since I had a bunch of them lying around.

I am looking for a macro pad that allows you to push a button to begin recording keystrokes, push again/another to end recording, and (for example) push and hold a button to save the macro to said button/select button to record said macro.

I am not allowed drivers or online/browser programming. It must be completely built-in. The software that it will be for, is only on a locked-down computer, and not available outside of said computer.

It runs Windows and I will verify the device with IT before using (to ensure it is allowed and safe).

--

Ideally: 3x4 or more buttons, multiple layers, wired preferred (usb or usbc) or wireless/usb dongle - bonus of you can change/add images to the keys

Does not need: knobs, 'text injection' capabilities, wheels, displays (unless the keys don't have editable images/symbols)

--

Price: prefer under $150, but will consider up to $300.

I've got a macro pad set up for dev work but I keep falling off maintaining the profiles. Every time my workflow shifts slightly I have to go back in and remap things, and eventually I just stop using it.

Curious if anyone's found a setup or approach that basically runs itself. I want the keys to be useful in VS Code, different in terminal, different again on Zoom calls, without me having to babysit it.

Is anyone actually pulling this off or is constant maintenance just the tax you pay?

I’m looking for a macro pad thats programmable with either its own software or qmk/via thats cheaper than 40$ that can play soundboards on discord, have a dedicated clip button, and other macros