Keyboard iTunes
So my keyboard is full of neat functions like Volume Up/Down, Pause, Stop, Play, etc. Volume controls my main system volume and the rest of the keys do nothing at all. How do I get them to work in iTunes? I want to be able to skip and pause songs while I am playing MapleStory.
Specs: Eclipse II keyboard by Saitek, Windows 7, iTunes v11[.]1[.]5[.]5
Thanks!
April 7, 2014
12 Comments • Newest first
[quote=Flare0080]I have the feeling that I am out of luck...[/quote]
The review refers to the "media keys", but it may be that those keys only work with specific media applications they're pre-configured for
If the program(s) you want to use isn't among those applications, you may be right, unfortunately.
@BobR: The review on CNET ( http://www.cnet.com/products/saitek-eclipse-ii-illumintated-keyboard/ ) states that it has no additional keys or customization software. The Saitek website only has drivers for the Eclipse III, which I unfortunately don't own.
I have the feeling that I am out of luck...
[quote=Flare0080]I checked in the original box, but no disk.[/quote]
Check with their web site then, like easyrolling suggested. There may be instructions there telling how to configure the special keys.
There may be a special combination of keys that has to be pressed to allow setting up the special keys.
@Easyrolling: Thank you, I'm going to give that a shot.
@BobR: I checked in the original box, but no disk. In the Control Panel, it is in "Devices". Keyboard settings allows me to change Repeat Delay, Repeat Rate, Cursor Blink Rate, and it allows me to check/change drivers. No key configuration settings of any kind.
@Flare0080 Devices like keyboards with extra functions usually provide a driver that will allow you to define what you want each key to do when its pressed.
When you installed the keyboard did it come with a disk you had to use to install the keyboard..?
Is there an icon next to the Windows clock in the Windows taskbar that says anything about "Eclipse keyboard"..?
Check in the Windows Control Panel to see if there's anything that says something like "Eclipse Configuration".
An icon like that or a Control Panel program should have some kind of setup that would let you define the keys on the keyboard and assign functions to each one.
The Eclipse website might have software that will allow you to customize keyboard inputs / sync with other applications
My HP desktop had software preloaded for it, however I was also using the keyboard that I got with the computer
[quote=Symbolics]@Flare0080: Eh... mine works fine with MapleStory... it basically responds to the media controls whenever I press the key no matter what program is open. Sadly, I have no idea what's causing your issue, maybe you can try rebooting? You're using windows 8?[/quote]
Working on Windows 7. Rebooting was no help.
@Flare0080: Eh... mine works fine with MapleStory... it basically responds to the media controls whenever I press the key no matter what program is open. Sadly, I have no idea what's causing your issue, maybe you can try rebooting? You're using windows 8?
[quote=Symbolics]@Flare0080: I think iTunes takes precedence over VLC. Uh.. by default it shouldn't do that... Stop and play will start the song you last played. If nothing can be done, you could just skip to the previous song. I don't really know because I use VLC for my playlist. But as long as it works, it works. [/quote]
That was a really strange way of getting it to work, but thank you! ^__^
Edit: I did want to say that it still doesn't work when I'm in MapleStory. Any suggestions on that?
@Flare0080: I think iTunes takes precedence over VLC. Uh.. by default it shouldn't do that... Stop and play will start the song you last played. If nothing can be done, you could just skip to the previous song. I don't really know because I use VLC for my playlist. But as long as it works, it works.
[quote=Symbolics]Do the pause/play/skip controls work with other media players i.e VLC or Windows Media Player? If it does, then it's probably a problem with iTunes. Did it work with the previous version? I've heard of cases where keyboard media controls fail after updating iTunes. If it doesn't, then either the keys aren't functioning, or the keyboard driver isn't completely installed. I'm still using iTunes v11.1.4 so I can't really comment. But my Logitech G105 keyboard media controls work fine with my version.[/quote]
I just tested the buttons with VLC and nothing happens in VLC, however (!) iTunes is suddenly skipping tracks and playing music... Wth?
Edit: Closed VLC and it still appears to be working, but something's a miss. Hitting Play starts a new song in the playlist and Pause pauses said song, but hitting Stop and then Play starts a new song on the playlist. Is that right?
Do the pause/play/skip controls work with other media players i.e VLC or Windows Media Player? If it does, then it's probably a problem with iTunes. Did it work with the previous version? I've heard of cases where keyboard media controls fail after updating iTunes. If it doesn't, then either the keys aren't functioning, or the keyboard driver isn't completely installed. I'm still using iTunes v11.1.4 so I can't really comment. But my Logitech G105 keyboard media controls work fine with my version.