Why Keyboard Maestro Is the Mac Power User’s Secret Weapon

I recently came across Stephen Millard’s write-up on routing Mac Studio audio through a HomePod mini. He ran into some disconnect hiccups, but, unsurprisingly, solved it with a handy Keyboard Maestro macro.

Lately I’ve noticed a wave of seasoned iPad power users making the jump to macOS, and almost invariably the first app they rave about is Keyboard Maestro. It’s the one tool on the Mac that can truly automate almost anything you can imagine. No other utility comes close to its depth and flexibility.

I like the app so much that I made a Keyboard Maestro Field Guide to help you get up to speed quickly and start building your own custom macros.

One idea I noted from Stephen’s article was audio routing. I record with a mic connected to my audio interface with an XLR cable, so those built-in USB-connected mic mute software buttons don’t work. But I bet I could mirror Stephen’s output-switch macro on the input side, muting my mic’s audio channel with a single keystroke. That’s now officially on my “research projects” list.

More on the New iPadOS

I don’t think there’s been any more effective advocate for the iPad over the years than Federico Viticci. Federico got an interview with Craig Federighi about the iPadOS changes. It’s an excellent interview. I think this new balance of adding power user features while still keeping the single window mode will (finally) turn out ot be the right fit for the iPad.

Fantastical’s New Email Event Capture (Sponsor)

One productivity struggle I constantly hear from readers (and have faced myself) is keeping events and meetings organized when the details live in email. Fantastical, which Apple made “App of the Day” earlier this week, has brilliantly solved this problem with their Forward Emails to Fantastical feature, and I can’t imagine going back.

Here’s how it works: When you get an email confirming an appointment, a webinar registration, or even something informal like coffee with a friend, just forward that email directly into Fantastical. The app intelligently parses the content, extracting dates, times, locations, and participants, and automatically creates a perfectly formatted calendar entry. It’s magical—and a huge time-saver.

I’ve always appreciated how Fantastical seamlessly integrates into the Apple ecosystem, syncing effortlessly across my Mac, iPad, and iPhone. This latest feature just adds another layer of smart automation, eliminating manual entry and reducing the risk of typos or overlooked details. If you’re as obsessed with automation and efficiency as I am, you’ll quickly see how this small change makes a big impact.

Congratulations to the Fantastical team on being featured as App of the Day—it’s well-deserved recognition for continually improving an already indispensable app.

Give Fantastical a try or explore this clever new email-forwarding feature yourself at flexibits.com/fantastical. Your calendar will thank you.

Focused 232: Useful Not True, with Derek Sivers

Derek Sivers joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about personal agency, idea ownership, saying no, and (of course) journaling.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
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Clicky Keyboards and Complicated Feelings

I’ve been trying a physical keyboard again.

For years, I’ve had this strange relationship with clicky keyboards. I love the idea of them. The satisfying sound, the mechanical precision, the cool factor. But when I try to use one long-term, it never quite clicks. (See what I did there?) I inevitably fall back into the arms of Apple’s slim, quiet keyboard with Touch ID and that dedicated dictation button. It’s just so damn convenient.

That said, I’ve held on to one mechanical keyboard through all the purging: the Keychron Q1 Pro. This thing is a tank. It’s made of aluminum and weighs enough that I’ve occasionally considered it might double as a home defense device. It looks fantastic on my desk. And unlike most of the mechanical keyboards I’ve tried in the past, this one has Bluetooth, so I don’t have to run a cable across my desk like it’s 1987.

I’ve had it out for the past three days, and it’s been…pretty great?

I used the Keychron Launcher web app to rewire a bunch of key settings—something that used to be a pain but is now surprisingly simple. I even swapped the switches and keycaps ages ago based on a recommendation from Myke Hurley. I couldn’t tell you what I installed; only that it feels nice and sounds satisfyingly clicky.

Still, not having Touch ID is a friction point. Right now, I’m handling authentication by typing my password or letting my Apple Watch unlock things for me. It works, but it’s not as seamless as a fingerprint authentication. On the flip side, however, I’ve got some pretty great remapping on this keyboard that is not possible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

Mechanical keyboards, in my experience, are an all-or-nothing kind of thing. Either you fall in love instantly, or you start bargaining with yourself about what you’re gaining versus what you’re losing. For me, it’s always been the latter.

So, we’ll see. The Keychron Q1 Pro has earned a spot on my desk — for now. But I’m not holding my breath that it’ll still be here in a week. Like I said, this kind of keyboard has always been a slow burn for me. And I’m just not sure clicky love works that way.

Whisper Memos Now Summarizes

One of the easiest ways to take advantage of artificial intelligence right now is voice-to-text transcription. I’ve been dictating to computers for decades, and I can tell you it’s never been easier than it is now. My weapon of choice for this on my iPhone is Whisper Memos. (The app has in the past sponsored MacSparky, but I was a paying subscriber long before that.)

The developer recently informed me that he was working full-time on his various Whisper-related applications and this change is already paying dividends. A recent update to Whisper Memos adds an auto-summarization feature. So now, in addition to reliably catching your words, you can also get a summary of anything you dictate to the application.

Below is a video that I created for the MacSparky Labs over a year ago, showing how I’ve combined this application with the action button on my Apple Watch to give me a seamless dictation workflow. I’m still using it daily.

Also, want to join the MacSparky Labs? The discount code: HOORAYWHISPER gets you 10% off, but it’s only good until Sunday.

WWDC25 Meetup • MacSparky Labs

This recording was made the day after the WWDC25 Keynote that took place on June 9, and all Labs members were invited to join the call. There were lots of discussion about Apple’s new interface, new features, and, of course, Artificial Intelligence. Many interesting viewpoints were shared throughout the call.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.