Mice with extra buttons aren't going anywhere. The same can be said for keyboards with special macro keys, and many games don't hesitate to suggest using a gamepad for better precision — but there's something else we can use: our own voice. This is possible thanks to applications like VoiceBot, which helps us create voice-controlled macros compatible with games and general software.
I'm a staunch defender of the mouse and keyboard combo, but I have to admit (reluctantly) that some games offer a better experience with a gamepad. The so-called Metroidvanias (like Hollow Knight or the Blasphemous series), Electronic Arts' Star Wars Jedi series, and basically every soccer game are excellent examples, yet there are titles that incorporate a huge number of commands, and it's very difficult to process them all (Elite: Dangerous comes to mind).
So what alternatives do we have? Depending on the game's features, a mouse with extra buttons and a keyboard macro can solve specific problems, or guarantee a ban from the anti-cheat, but there is a third option: our voice. This brings us to applications like VoiceBot, which has been around for about eight years.
How to Create Voice-Controlled Macros with VoiceBot
The easiest way to use VoiceBot is through presets. Its community has shared a long list of configurations for popular games, although I must admit its Spanish selection is very limited. Naturally, it's all about training: The best VoiceBot tutorial I found was published by Erick Christopher Diaz Gonzalez on YouTube (you can watch it below), but in general we create a profile, followed by a macro. Inside the macro we assign an action (say, holding down a key), and then we configure our voice so that it's associated with it.
Now, the video confirms that VoiceBot is anything but a 'fire-and-forget' application. Its responsiveness depends on the game, the microphone quality, its volume level, ambient noise, and other potential conflicts. I can only add that VoiceBot is excellent when it works well. The experience of giving verbal commands in a simulator like Elite: Dangerous and seeing the HUD respond is unique, but you have to take the trouble to configure all commands correctly. Finally, the free version (which starts with a one-week trial) limits the number of profiles and actions per macro (5 and 3), while the Pro Standard edition costs $13 (it's also on Steam).
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