AutoPTT
How to: Push-to-Talk, Push-to-Mute and Toggle Mute on a game controller
You can use AutoPTT with any type of game controller, like a gamepad, a steering wheel, or a joystick.
However, we should first talk about a potential issue with using a game controller…
Automatic input mode switching
Many games automatically switch input modes based on the kind of device the latest input came from. For example, when you press a key on the keyboard, the Sprint action on the UI might show SHIFT next to it, and when you press a button on the controller, the text turns into RT and an icon for the right trigger instead.
Having the UI constantly switch between keyboard/mouse and controller as you communicate is quite annoying. Luckily, there are ways around that – provided that the target game or app supports Open Mic or Voice Activity.
Push-to-Talk
Method 1
- Input mode switching: No
- Requires: Open Mic / Voice Activity
The Open Mic to PTT and Open Mic to Tap activation modes work by unmuting/muting the microphone system-wide when you press/release your Push-to-Talk key. If your game supports Open Mic, you should probably use this method, as it avoids the input switching problem of Method 2.
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Make sure you have at least one Push-to-Talk key
- Add a hotkey for Secondary PTT and use a button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Open Mic to PTT or Open Mic to Tap (I recommend Tap as you can use it exactly like Push-to-Talk but it also includes the Activation Window and Release Delay features)
Method 2
- Input mode switching: Yes
- Requires: Push-to-Talk
You can effectively remap a button on your controller to a keyboard key, and use that as Push-to-Talk ingame. You press the controller button, and AutoPTT presses the keyboard key.
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Add a hotkey for Push-to-Talk and use the same key as the PTT key in your game/app
- Add a hotkey for Secondary PTT and use the button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Push-to-Talk
Push-to-Mute
Method 1
- Input mode switching: No
- Requires: Open Mic / Voice Activity
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Add a hotkey for Push-to-Mute (Global) and use a button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Push-to-Talk (a Push-to-Talk key is not necessary though since you won’t be using it)
Method 2
- Input mode switching: Yes
- Requires: Push-to-Talk
The traditional way to get Push-to-Mute in AutoPTT is to simply use the Voice Activity mode and have the app press and release the key for you.
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Add a hotkey for Push-to-Talk and use the same key as the PTT key in your game/app
- Add a hotkey for Push-to-Mute and use a button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Voice Activity
- Adjust Activation Threshold so that it goes into the green when you speak, and back into the red when you stop
Toggle Mute
Method 1
- Input mode switching: No
- Requires: Open Mic / Voice Activity
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Add a hotkey for Toggle Mute (Global) and use a button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Push-to-Talk (a Push-to-Talk key is not necessary though since you won’t be using it)
Method 2
- Input mode switching: Yes
- Requires: Push-to-Talk
Instructions:
- Click on Hotkeys in the left side menu
- Add a hotkey for Push-to-Talk and use the same key as the PTT key in your game/app
- Add a hotkey for Toggle Mute and use a button on your controller
- Click on Audio in the left side menu
- Set Activation Mode to Voice Activity
- Adjust Activation Threshold so that it goes into the green when you speak, and back into the red when you stop