I would like to set up a foot switch to punch in out record from motu device in Splat

Hello folks.
I guess the subject matter says it all.
There's no way for me to aim my mouse at the record button, click it, and get to my instrument in time to play/record along with previous playing tracks. I have a foot switch and a slot for it in my motu 828mk3 hybrid. I can enable it but I know there's more to it than that. Something has to be set in sonar platinum, but I don't have a clue.
If that's too difficult, is there anyway to delay start...sort of like a camera with a timer, so you can get your ass in the picture?
Thanks for any help you might be able to render.

Not exactly what I was looking for but a big thank you anyway for showing me that link. I'm sure I'll find use for many of those suggestions.
 
I do have an update...to some degree;
I got Platinum to recognize the footswitch. It's making its way to the daw thru the audio interface and not thru midi, btw.
The selections for choosing what the footswitch does can be found by going to edit/preferences/keyboard shortcuts. I guess the footswitch just triggers sonar just as if it were striking a key.
Thing is, there's options for 'record, play/stop, and many many others. But there's no selection for record/stop. I'm just wondering if you can create a keyboard shortcut.
Also the audio device has a selection for 'pedal down' and 'pedal up'. What I need it to do is start recording at pedal down and stop at the next pedal down, like the play/stop option that's in the keyboard shortcuts. if I could use that play/stop option and change the configuration in it somehow, that would work...
almost there...

Set the Count-in for some large number of beats/measures.