Sending Keystrokes with TouchOSC (Ultimate Guide to TouchOSC)

[@gtubgle]

Hey all, TIM. MAC has a separate script available in the same github place you shared. Only difference is with MAC you will only be working with a script. AMAZING!

[@DCPImages]

Thanks once again, Tim. Using keyboard shortcuts is a fundamental part of any DAW. Most DAWs have many, if not hundreds, of useful key commands. So it is puzzling that Hexler seems to have deprecated key commands in TouchOSC v2. Hexler really needs to upgrade the handling of keystrokes and make it much more user friendly. I really appreciate you showing this 'work around', which I probably wouldn't have discovered otherwise 🙂

[@TimCorpus]

Happy to help! Ya it's unfortunate that it's not native and it needs to be scripted. My Premiere Pro template is really just a lot of hotkey shortcuts with a few MIDI messages too hah. There's been a lot of talk about this on the forums, so I'm hopeful that one day soon they'll figure out adding a new type of message for that.

[@bramdevries6075]

Thanks for taking the time highlighting this template, I'm sure I'll be using it soon! :-)

[@thiagodollor]

For those having problems using a mac system, go to Security & Privacy, Accessibility and let Touch OSC Bridge control your computer. This should open port 12101 and let you send keystrokes.

[@k_mitch]

It's more about allowing TouchOSC bridge access to the keyboard handler to 'inject' keystrokes than it is about the network port. Access to the keyboard handler also allows the app to 'record' keystrokes, which is why it has to be allowed by the user. At least on Ventura (and probably going forward), you get a message from the system telling you to go into System Settings and allow it. Another thing I've found on a Mac is any keystroke with a modifier, such as COMMAND, has to have a VERY LONG delay (like 5 seconds) before the next keystroke can be sent. Might be something with my Mac, but I'm going to start a thread on Discord and see if anyone else is seeing this.

[@NeilABliss]

Really enjoying this series! It makes TOSC seem so much easier. I'm sure that will change...but.... I want to build one template to control (or one each) Digital Performer, Reason, Audition and Finale

[@TimCorpus]

So glad the videos are helpful! You could also use a pager with one template and then different pages for each program. That's what I do. Although I do also have different templates for different functions.

[@eprohoda]

Hiiya!. outstanding !man- =)

[@ChristianSee2023]

This Video is so helpful! But I have one Problem. Keystrokes like COMMAND+V for example don‘t work. (MAC)

[@TimCorpus]

Ya my video is a bit old. Felix has a different script for MAC users. I recommend checking out that script. It's on the same GitHub he runs.

[@shwanaskari]

Thank you so much Tim!! This is amazing! Would you recommend using MIDI or keystrokes when a DAW can receive any of them?

[@TimCorpus]

Depends on the function and the DAW. In Reaper or Ableton it's so easy to set up MIDI learn and set up the button/fader/encoder, so that works easily. This is not the case in Pro Tools. Be aware that some hotkeys may do different things in different programs. So you may have CTRL + P set up in Reaper as "print stems or freeze items", but then if you're accidentally selecting your browser like Chrome or Firefox to check an email, it will be the hotkey for "print". So I'd suggest, if there's something that's already made in the program that's easier than setting up a MIDI learn, go that route. Things like Faders and knobs will need MIDI or OSC.

[@shwanaskari]

@@TimCorpus thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@greenysmash5662]

Awesome video Tim, Thanks so much for taking the time. Im having some trouble with the script thou, ie my main configuration from the mix window in cubase is set to SHIFT+Y (there are 8 configurations) Iv'e set up a button in touch osc to do this and it sends through to notepad. However when in cubase the button does not work. Is there something im missing ? Many Thanks

[@TimCorpus]

If you're on a MAC, I've learned that this method doesn't work well. Try this for Mac: github.com/F-l-i-x/TouchOSC/tree/main/examples/send_keystrokes

[@StayFunKey]

Hi Tim, do you know if touch OSC can delay a midiCC message from sending. I made a cool macro in cubase which works when I run it inside cubase but when I trigger it with Touch OSC and generic remote which triggers the macro or PLE commands it does not work correctly. Looks like it goes too fast. Cubase does not have a pause/delay command unfortunately. So I was thinking maybe touch OSC can send the first part of the macro wait a bit and then automatically send the second part. Hope you can point me in the right direction. Brgds S

[@StayFunKey]

I found already some info on github

[@TimCorpus]

I would recommend sending the message via a script then. I don't have a script like that handy, But I know folks on the Discord server have things like this. I recommend asking them for an example script for a delayed message.

[@skuthepoo]

Hi Been following your tutorials for years, they’re so insightful! I am hoping to do the reverse of this video to utilise all mappings of a steamdeck gaming handheld (Linux computer). I want to do: keystrokes into touchOSC to output an OSC value. Any advice??

[@TimCorpus]

Hmmm that I'm not sure about. I haven't played around with the game control stuff. I'd recommend asking the forums for more ideas.

[@skuthepoo]

@@TimCorpus for anyone that sees this - I spoke directly to Hexler and after lots of testing, it's not possible. However, I found a linux app that turns keystrokes into midi. So I mapped the back paddles on the device to midi notes, lined those up in touch osc and have them relay osc messages out. It's an awkward work around but does what I need!

[@roloftilanus1933]

Hello Tim, I followed your video on sending keystrokes with Touchosc. It is working in all app. except in Nuendo. (notepad, bitwig, outlook, word is not problem). I'm testing on a laptop win windows 11 and sending OSC keystrokes for my Android phone. As said it's working everywhere but nuendo/cubase. Do you have any idea what can be the problem. (The same is happening in MIDI translator, sending keystrokes) Great work by the way all these video's on Touch OSC really helpfull !!! Thanks Rolof

[@TimCorpus]

Hey! I'm glad the videos have been helpful. Unfortunately I don't think that nuendo or at least I know Cubase, do not receive OSC messages.

[@sonorityscape]

Is there a way to use keyboard modifiers to send different strings from clicking on the same button (from the desktop version)? For example, if I click on a button it would send "string A" but if I Ctrl + click on the same button it would send "string B".

[@TimCorpus]

Interesting idea, but not that I know of. The closest thing would be a Toggle where you send one message when it goes "on" and a different message when it goes "off". This of course does not add in a macro, it's just already a function of a button object.

[@EchaAnggara]

can you combine in 1 project midi button and keystrokes button?

[@TimCorpus]

Yes, you can use multiple types of message in a template or even on a single object.

[@HalValla01]

9:32 Doesn't the template state that there isn't a modifier order? I thought it read that the only order is "{modifier(s)}+{letter}"

[@tolisgamer]

Need to buy the mobile app and computer app to?

[@TimCorpus]

The computer version is free.

[@TimCorpus]

Or at least, free for an unlimited trial.

[@tolisgamer]

@@TimCorpus Oh all right.thank you

[@actuacion]

Thank you Tim! Very helpful. Do you happen to know how to add a tab/page to a template? Can't find it in the manual.

[@TimCorpus]

You'll need to add a pager. You can set the color and title of the pager once you put it in. Make it the size of the screen and your objects (buttons, toggles, etc.) will go inside the pager.

[@TimCorpus]

My latest video shows pagers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b37bi2NjodRgnMk

[@musicalimpro]

@@TimCorpus 🙌

[@gtubgle]

Is anyone working with this on the MAC side? I cant get "command" to work? Everything else seems ok.

[@TimCorpus]

Ya I know of some Mac issues, so far they haven't been solved yet as far as I'm aware. I'm told it's an issue due to the OS.

[@gtubgle]

@@TimCorpus crazy. Great videos btw. They've helped me out a lot.

[@mineaflorin]

Hi Tim. I lost a lot time figuring this out but not positive results. My connection are the same as yours but i got no letter sent from my ipad to pc. Can you help me out?

[@TimCorpus]

Sure thing, are you on Mac or PC?

[@mineaflorin]

@@TimCorpus Pc

[@TimCorpus]

@@mineaflorin Cool. Have you checked Protokol to see if any of your messages are coming through? Or have you synced it up with a daw and you can see midi or OSC messages? That would be a good way to test if the connections are right to begin with. After that I'd recommend checking the links panel in your tablet, so check to make sure that you're using the right port number for keystrokes, because that is different than the regular port number that I showed in one of my early videos.

[@alparbalazs]

Thanks Tim for the wonderful series! Highly useful info, clear presentation! Bravo! An issue I came across recently is that not all programs receive these OSC keystroke messages. Scenario: laptop with win10, notepad and many other programs read the messages without any problem, but Cubase does not react (while it receives MIDI data through OSC bridge, it does not read keystrokes like "p" or "CONTROL+SHIFT+p"). What's even more frustrating is that these same buttons DO work like charm on my other machine (running win7). Have you ever encountered such a thing, that some programs may filter out OSC keystrokes messages? Thanks in advance!

[@TimCorpus]

Very interesting. I haven't come across this problem before. Are you using the Lua script or OSC messages? I have found that sending multiple keys like CONTROL+SHIFT+F1 or CONTROL+SHIFT+T send better with the Lua script.

[@alparbalazs]

@@TimCorpus Thanks for getting back to me. I used the OSC, but will definitely give the Lua script a try.

[@AvithOrtega]

@@alparbalazs have you found a solution? I have the same problem :(

[@dwiedy9325]

is it possible working on androidphone Sir?

[@TimCorpus]

Yes, the app works on Android.

[@Trimpopo]

Thank you Tim for your great Tutorials. Do you know how I can program numeric keys? Lets say Num 1. I haven't been able to get it to work yet. What do I have to write at the position: SHIFT+ ???? in this case? I would be very happy about an answer from you. Many greetings Andi

[@TimCorpus]

Hey! Ya you can send numbers as well as letters. You can also use shift, alr, or control. Check out Felix's original GitHub post to see more about how he uses this script. github.com/F-l-i-x/TouchOSC/tree/main/examples/send_keystrokes

[@Trimpopo]

@@TimCorpus Thank you very much for your answer. Yes, of course, numbers also works. I had already programmed some normal numbers. However, I do not mean the normal numbers, but the numeric (eg Num1). The additional number field on some keyboards on the right side. Shift: Num1 and various variations do not work. There must be another command that I can't find.

[@TimCorpus]

@@Trimpopo This gets complicated. The code for the numpad is different on different operating systems and I honestly haven't found a way to get send properly.

[@zanesigh7965]

Sending single letters, SPACE and ENTER works, but not SHIFT+K or COMMAND+V for instance. Gone through all versions of setup but to no avail. What can be wrong?

[@zanesigh7965]

I am on a Mac, by the way. I have done all that Tim is doing here, double and triple checked.

[@TimCorpus]

Ok, let's check the script. Here's one I'm using on a momentary button: function onValueChanged(key) if (key == "x") then if self.values.x > 0 then sendOSC({ '/key',{{ tag = 's', value = 'CONTROL+ALT+F5' }, { tag = 'i', value = 0 }}}) -- send key down else sendOSC({ '/key',{{ tag = 's', value = 'CONTROL+ALT+F5' }, { tag = 'i', value = 1 }}}) -- send key up end end end

[@StayFunKey]

Tim, is it possible to send an OSC message like SHIFT+ALT in combination with a midi CC message? In cubase you can not add SHIFT and/or ALT in macro's. What I would like to do is to activate a button in TOUCHOSC that can do SHIFT+ALT clicking the "e" button (edit channel settings) in Cubase. This will show all insert plugin windows of the selected track. SHIFT clicking the "e"button will hide them again.

[@TimCorpus]

First thought is, did you try having both messages on the same button? If you're having trouble with that, it may be the timing of which message is being sent first. Let me know if combining messages works.

[@StayFunKey]

@@TimCorpus I think it is not possible, if I take the OSC message out of the equation and hold SHIFT+ALT actually on my keyboard while hitting the button with just the Midi CC message it won't work. I think Cubase needs an actually mouseclick on the "e" button in cubase.

[@TimCorpus]

Another thought that comes to mind (although it's not TouchOSC) is Auto Hot Key which can do some pretty badass stuff like that. I'll be digging into Cubase 12 more this week and I'll let you know if I find an answer.

[@StayFunKey]

@@TimCorpus yes, that could work, I watched a few KZbin videos about auto hotkey. Looks promising but I'm not a script programmer. They also have a recorder I believe. Also saw a video about keyboard maestro but it's only Mac unfortunately. Looking forward to your video.

[@polloloco6353]

Many thanks for your guide and template, but I really need a help... the ideia is using a TouchOSC with a third monitor with touch glass for controlling software like Davinci Resolve, After Effects, etc. but all on the same PC, is that posible... many thanks in advance, and thank you again for the template.

[@TimCorpus]

So I don't have a touch screen (besides the tablets) to try something like this out. You could definitely try (and the Editor has a free trial), but I don't know that you can push a button in the editor without activating the TouchOSC program window and selecting away from what you were using before (After Effects, Davinci Resolve, etc.)

[@polloloco6353]

Yes Tim, you described the problem, the active window... I will keep trying, many thanks for the reply.

[@TimCorpus]

@@polloloco6353 Ya, I don't know of a way around that yet, but if I find one, I'll let you know.

[@polloloco6353]

@@TimCorpus Thank you very much again, from Brazil... Great channel..!

[@oliiloTUBE]

can an ipad talk to a PC using bridge? ...i'm sorry to say, i can't even get past that step :/

[@oliiloTUBE]

server is enabled on the PC and available just keeps spinning on the ipad client.. same wifi network for both

[@TimCorpus]

@@oliiloTUBE Are you using WiFi or cable? You activated the Bridge too right? Did you check out the first video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/np7YmaJ6rZxjh68