Level 1

10 points

Peripheral issue - Mac now treating foot pedal as a mouse

Since the Monterey update, when I press the play/stop button on my transcription foot pedal, it brings up a contextual menu, as though the system is now treating it as right mouse click. This just destroys my workflow.

I have spent all morning on with Apple support, and they are sending the report to the engineers to see what they can diagnose.

This happens without the transcription software running, and the pedal has no driver, it is plug and play, so there are apparently no settings I can adjust to fix this behaviour.

Downgrading back to Big Sur is not a great option as it means wiping the computer so I can first reinstall El Capitan (which it shipped with), and then installing Big Sur. Not loving the idea of wiping the system as I don't quite trust that all my work will be safe on backups. It may end up being the only option if there is no fix for this in an OS patch. I can't imagine anything is going to get fixed quickly, whatever the cause.

I share this only in case someone else has stumbled into something similar and found a simple, painless solution.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 27, 2021 6:56 AM

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Rainee1

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2022 11:55 AM

I just spoke to a representative from VEC Electronics who confirmed that the issue of the MAC recognizing the foot pedal as a mouse is rectified by the Infinity 3 foot pedal. He explained to me that it is a matter of an upgraded chip in the 3 compared to the 2 that solves the problem. The only glitch is that the chips that are in the 3 are being impacted by supply issues. In order for them to meet demand they did furnish some Infinity 3 with the former chip, which will work just fine on PCs. He offered a way to tell if you are getting the new chip that is needed for our MAC computers. If you order the Infinity 3 MAKE SURE that it is marked as "A" and you'll know it has the right chip in it. If marked with a "B" then that is the older chip they are using. They are just starting to mail these out now, so just be sure, or you will have the same problem with the 3. Just wanted to pass along that info to further save us all a huge headache again.

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jag1963

Level 1

8 points

Apr 16, 2022 1:29 PM in response to Rainee1

I just wanted to confirm Rainee1's observation too. I purchased three VEC 3 pedals (to remedy my Infinity 2 problems), but purchased Version B (as indicated on the bottom of the foot pedal; there was no indication of the version on the Amazon listing). And as it would happen, these new pedals suffer the same problem as my Infinity 2 pedals. Back they go...

mbmendo Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 28, 2021 10:40 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Instructions here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201372

Nov 2, 2021 5:05 PM in response to mbmendo

Any updates on a fix? A bootable installer is beyond my pay grade...

Nov 4, 2021 10:28 AM in response to mbmendo

Yep, will do. Many thanks for the info. I've dropped a line over to VEC as well.

Oct 27, 2021 7:59 AM in response to mbmendo

I hope you get this fixed, but while you'd have to wipe the drive to install Big Sur, you would NOT have to go all the way back to El Capitan.

You can download Big Sur, using Safari, from this site:

Then make a bootable installer on a thumb drive, and use that to boot your mac, run Disk Utility, erase the drive, install and then migrate your accounts.

Still a nuisance, still something to avoid if possible, but still a bit less than going back to EC, and less opportunity for stuff to break.

mbmendo Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:48 AM in response to MattDerby

Same pedal. Apple told me it was either the software or the hardware drivers. But as you may have noticed, this problem occurs without the software being active, and the pedal has no driver or settings. It seems unavoidable that this is an OS problem. I was promised an investigation and two different supervisors assured me they would call back to continue trying to sort this out, but neither called back.

I could find no workaround. I just have to keep clicking the actual mouse to get rid of the menu. It is incredibly disruptive to my workflow. If you find a solution please post it here, and I will do likewise.

mbmendo Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 22, 2021 6:56 AM in response to __13__

"I am having the same issues with the VEC Infinity USB-2. Has there been an update? Is Apple trying to fix the issue?"

Apple cannot fix it - the only solution I know of is to buy the USB-3 pedal. A number of users can confirm that it does not have the issue. But if you see my latest post, I found that the new pedal causes the same glitch on Big Sur, as the old one does on Monterey. They are apparently just not compatible. Fortunately the pedals are $50, not $500.

Jan 22, 2022 1:07 PM in response to mbmendo

Been having the same issue today, same runaround when calling Apple. Here is what VEC had to say about it:

The upgraded Monterey is conflicting with the USB IC Chip that is in the IN-USB-2 Ver. 14 and thinks that it is a mouse. Mac needs to fix this as the older USB IC Chip in the IN-USB-2 cannot be altered, our newer INFINITY-3 USB Ver. A has a different USB IC Chip and works fine with the updated Monterey so that is an option for you.

I have gone ahead and ordered the new VEC Infinity-3 off Amazon. $70 after tax. Disappointed to have to spend more money on the new pedal, but relieved there's a solution. Apple really was about to have me go through 4-6 hours of downgrading my macOS to Big Sur, which I was not willing to do. Thank goodness for this forum, and for the quick email response from VEC!

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Peripheral issue - Mac now treating foot pedal as a mouse