Skip to content

Setting Up Microphone Buttons & Keyboard Shortcuts

Configure microphone button actions and keyboard shortcuts at app.presto.run. Settings follow your account — they apply on any workstation where you sign in.

Sign in to app.presto.run and select Microphone Buttons from the sidebar.

Presto settings page showing the Microphone Buttons editor with PowerMic III selected

Select your microphone model from the Device dropdown. Only assignable buttons are shown — transport buttons used by PowerScribe (Record, Rewind, Forward) are reserved and cannot be reassigned.

DeviceAssignable Buttons
PowerMic IIITranscribe, Play/Stop, Custom Left, Custom Right, Enter/Select
PowerMic 4Enter/Select, Play/Pause, Function 1–4, Command
SpeechMike PremiumInstructions, End of Letter/Priority, Insert/Overwrite, Play/Pause, Function 1–4

PowerMic 4 button assignments

SpeechMike Premium button assignments

Click a button on the device graphic or use the dropdown. Four actions are available:

  • Merge Findings — merges current findings into the report
  • Refresh AI Findings — requests fresh AI-generated findings
  • Toggle Findings Only — opens or closes the findings panel in PowerScribe
  • Not assigned — button does nothing in Presto (default)

A common starting configuration:

ButtonAction
Transcribe or Function 1Toggle Findings Only
Enter/SelectMerge Findings

Step 4: Clear button conflicts in PowerScribe

Section titled “Step 4: Clear button conflicts in PowerScribe”

For any button you assign in Presto, PowerScribe must not have its own action on that same button — otherwise PowerScribe intercepts the press first.

In PowerScribe 360, go to Tools → Preferences.

PowerScribe 360 Tools menu with Preferences highlighted

Select PowerMic in the left sidebar and change each button you plan to use:

  • Set the button to Nothing
  • Exception: Stop/Play cannot be set to Nothing in PowerScribe — use Deadman play audio instead (a quick press still triggers the Presto action)

Click OK to save.

PowerScribe Preferences showing PowerMic button settings

Click Save Mappings. Changes apply immediately — no restart required.

To test:

  1. Open a draft report in PowerScribe
  2. Press your Toggle Findings Only button — the findings panel should open
  3. Dictate some test findings, then press your Merge Findings button — Presto should begin the merge

If a button doesn’t respond:

  • Verify the button was cleared in PowerScribe Preferences (Step 4)
  • Confirm Presto shows Ready with a green link icon in the status bar
  • Check that your microphone is connected and recognized by the system

Select Keyboard Shortcuts from the sidebar. This lets you trigger Presto actions with keyboard combinations instead of (or in addition to) microphone buttons.

Presto Keyboard Shortcuts page showing shortcut assignments

Click Add Shortcut. Enter a key combination (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+M) and select an action from the dropdown. The same four actions are available. To remove a shortcut, click the next to it.

Keyboard shortcuts are global — they work even when Presto is not the focused window. Use modifier keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift) to avoid conflicts with other applications.

Click Save Shortcuts. Changes apply immediately. Test by pressing your shortcut while Presto is running and connected to PowerScribe.

Changes aren’t reaching my workstation Presto receives settings over a live connection. If the widget shows a yellow or red status indicator, try closing and reopening Presto.

PowerScribe still intercepts my button press Confirm the button is set to Nothing (or Deadman play audio for Stop/Play) in PowerScribe Preferences → PowerMic. PowerScribe must be restarted after changing its preferences.

My device isn’t listed Contact your Presto rep.