Macros and Hardware Macros... ? Confused!

All right guys Im attending my first ever Evo next year and Im checking out all of the rules. Im going to need some help here. On the Evo website it clearly says, All macros available via the in-game controller configuration menu are allowed. But then it says, Hardware macros are strictly forbidden. Can someone break all of this down for me? What the hell is a macro? And Whats the difference between macros and Hardware macros?

Things like FRC button in GG, roll button in CvS2, dash button in MvC2, PPP in ST, etc, are allowed (you can find all those dumb things in the in game options).
Things that are only possible in programmable pads and such are banned (programing a special/super move or even an entire combo to be performed with the press of a single button, etc).

It’s way more simple than it sounds.

Any command that you can set to a normal, first-party pad controller using the in-game menu is allowed. These would be considered software macros because you can legitimately select them through the actual software.

Anything you cannot set through the in-game menu would require either special wiring or some sort of programmable microprocessor in the controller, and is considered a hardware macro because it requires specific hardware to achieve.

Software macros are legal, hardware macros are illegal.

Basically, unless you’ve specially made or modded your controller, or you specifically bought a programmable controller, you’re in the clear.

I always wondered about this too, If you have a button that is wired to the square and triangle button for example on a PS pad, and you use that button for dashing, is that considered a hardware macro? Half the time you wouldn’t be able to tell because HRAP’s and such have 8 button layouts, and you can’t simply disallow someone from using an controller because it has more than the standard number of buttons.

that is a hardware macro, and they can ask to check the stick and if you’re found using wiring like that they’ll forbid you from using that stick, or straight up DQ you.

1 wire per button (well 2 technically if you count ground), anything more than that is forbidden.