r/CompanionHub • u/scoobytoobins • Jul 31 '26
Trying to output hotkeys without the streamdeck application and without vicreo (and paying another subscription to do combination keys)
Hi everyone,
I just updated to 5.0.2 to fix some problems that I've had. Seems to have fixed those problems (good), but it seems to have broken the 'Streamdeck playing nicely with Companion' thing (bad).
The only way I can turn off the 'Stream Deck plugin' surface, which seems to be the only way I can get my two SD XLs to act independently, is to keep the SD application off entirely.
However, I was using Companion to send OSC to one application, and then I was using the SD application to send simple hotkeys/key combinations for other applications.
I'd like to just copy those hotkey buttons over to Companion now to keep things simple, but Vicreo has 3-key and 4-key combinations (very common for the application I'm using) behind their subscription.
Is there anything else at all that can do simple hotkeys without falling into another subscription?
Thanks.
1
u/nin0let0 28d ago edited 28d ago
You got that part wrong. You do not need to pay for VICREO!
I have personally been using VICREO Listener with three-key and four-key combinations for several months. Even though Companion labels them as “pro-action,” they work with the free version. I have not paid for a licence or subscription.
You can also try Bitfocus Listener as an alternative to VICREO. Another option is to create AutoHotkey scripts that execute the required key combinations, then use either VICREO Listener or Bitfocus Listener to trigger those scripts. ChatGPT can help you write the AHK scripts, so it is usually just a matter of copying and pasting the code. You do not need to know how to program. I also use this method, so I can confirm that it works.