To set up keyboard shortcuts in OBS Studio, open its Hotkeys settings and assign keys to the actions you use most, such as changing scenes, muting your microphone, or starting and stopping a recording. In Streamlabs Desktop, open the Settings cog, choose Hotkeys, and assign combinations to actions, scenes, or sources. Test each shortcut before going live, including with the app unfocused if you need it to work while using another program.
Choose the actions worth putting on shortcuts
Hotkeys are most useful for frequent actions you need to trigger quickly without navigating menus. Start with a small set you can remember and reach reliably:
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- Switching between your main scenes.
- Muting and unmuting your microphone.
- Starting or stopping a stream or recording.
- Saving a replay or skipping an alert, if those controls are part of your workflow.
- Showing or hiding a source, or adding a recording marker.
Assign only actions you will use. There is no universal shortcut layout; choose combinations that fit your keyboard, software, and habits.
How to set up hotkeys in Streamlabs Desktop
- Open Streamlabs Desktop and select the Settings cog.
- Select Hotkeys.
- Find an action, scene, or source, then assign the key combination you want.
- Use a combination of at least two keys. Streamlabs recommends this to reduce the chance of another application triggering a shortcut accidentally.
- Test each assignment before going live. Check it in the state you intend to use it, including while Streamlabs Desktop is out of focus if you need the shortcut to work from another application.
Streamlabs Desktop’s hotkey actions include stream and recording controls, microphone mute, replay saving, alert skipping, scene changes, source visibility, and recording markers. The available controls and your assignments are visible in the app’s Hotkeys settings.
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- 18 Programmable Keys Macro Keypad: This stream controller deck comes with 18 customizable macro keys (15 LCD visual keys + 3 physical buttons). Users may program single actions or multi-step sequences for daily operation. The keys support in-game combos, app launch and media playback control for multiple usage scenarios. Each LCD key accepts JPG, PNG and GIF images and animations to mark separate functions
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How to set up live-action hotkeys in OBS Studio
For live controls such as starting or stopping a stream or recording, switching scenes, and controlling audio, use the Hotkeys section in your own OBS settings to assign or review shortcuts. The exact assignments are configurable and can differ by user and version, so check the settings in the OBS installation you use rather than assuming an example mapping is a default.
OBS’s official Keyboard Shortcuts reference is useful for built-in editing and preview operations, including undo and redo, source-list actions, source transforms, nudging a selected preview source, and preview zoom or positioning. It has separate Windows/Linux and macOS columns; use the combination for your operating system rather than treating one platform’s modifier keys as universal.
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Test shortcuts before relying on them live
- Trigger each shortcut and confirm that the intended action occurs, especially for stream and recording start/stop controls.
- Check scene changes and source visibility in the relevant scenes.
- Test microphone mute and unmute while monitoring your audio state.
- If a shortcut needs to work while you use another app, test it with the streaming software unfocused. Do not assume every shortcut will behave the same way in every focus state.
- Resolve accidental triggers by choosing a less common combination, and retest before broadcasting.
Keyboard shortcuts, Stream Deck, and Talk Studio
A keyboard is enough to use software hotkeys; a dedicated control surface is optional. Streamlabs says a Stream Deck can trigger configured hotkeys, which may be useful if you want physical buttons for frequent actions. Check that your software and device integration supports the controls you need before choosing hardware.
Talk Studio is different from Streamlabs Desktop: Streamlabs describes Talk Studio shortcuts as preconfigured and usable without changing hotkey settings. Consult its own shortcut instructions rather than applying the Streamlabs Desktop setup path.
Rank #3
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Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
Rank #4
- [Customizable LCD Macro Keys] Ampligame D6 stream controller features a total of 15 customizable macro keys , allowing you to create and assign different operations according to your live stream needs. Launch the software or application through a simple finger press, and switch your OBS scenes, control your audio levels, which is very easy and convenient to use.
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