Elgato Stream Deck Classic - Live production controller with 15 customizable LCD keys and adjustable stand, trigger actions in OBS Studio, Streamlabs, Twitch, YouTube and more, works with PC/Mac

TL;DR:The Elgato Stream Deck is a streamers new best friend. With the push a button, adding a GIF, sound effect, tweet, or scene change, it takes a stream to the next level. 15 customizable buttons with screens for each button make for not only a beautiful piece of equipment that can proudly be displayed on a desk, but a highly functional one. You can create folders for even MORE options, so you're not just limited to the 15 buttons you see. As a casual streamer, this is a fun product for me to play around with. For full-time streamers, this is the new holy grail pieces of equipment.Initial thoughts:Out of the box, the Elgato stream deck is a sleek design with adjustable dock which is really nice, allowing for it to sit at different angles rather than just flat on a desk. The matte black is another plus because I dislike shiny black products due to the glaring fingerprints that show up. The buttons have a nice feel to push, not feeling cheap at all but quiet as well.Setup:I plugged it directly into my PC (instructions say not to use a USB hub so make sure you put it directly into the PC!) and it lit up with the *new* Elgato logo (which I love by the way). I went to the site listed in the instructions to download the Stream Deck app. Installation was easy and setup within just a couple minutes.The software/product:The first thing I tested was the tweet feature. You connect your Twitter account, type your message, and just by pushing the button - VOILA - the tweet is sent. I typically set my tweets up ahead of time and push them on my phone once I'm live but this is SO MUCH EASIER! You can even set up Twitch messages to the chat - great for using your commands without having to type them! The software has a great design, the button layout on the left and the different types of programs/websites (GameCatpure, OBS, Twitch, Twitter, etc) on the right with the function to collapse the ones you don't use. There is also a hot key feature that I want to test out more thorougly and if possible use for drawing in Photoshop. I use my Razer Naga mouse buttons but only a few of them for shortcuts. Having the Stream Deck along with the Naga will make for getting around Photoshop much quicker!I opened up OBS to test the scene switching, something that I'm pretty slow at doing when having to alt tab out of a game and find OBS manually. It immediately accessed all my scenes without me having to do a thing. Switching scenes has never been easier. There is even ways to change audio on OBS and multimedia with the Stream Deck.In the end, this product is 100% geared towards streamers and knows what streamers want and need. Amazing product, definitely worth the price, and I can't wait to see if more integration with other sites become available.

As a dedicated content creator and streamer, I've always been on the lookout for tools that can simplify my workflow and elevate the quality of my productions. The Elgato Stream Deck Classic has proven to be a game-changer in this regard. With its 15 customizable LCD keys and adjustable stand, it's a powerhouse of convenience and efficiency.The 15 customizable LCD keys are the heart and soul of this device. Each key can be tailored to execute a specific function or command, making it a breeze to switch scenes, control audio levels, launch applications, and even send out pre-written messages during my live streams. The ability to personalize each key with custom icons and labels adds a delightful touch of personalization.One of the standout features for me is the adjustable stand that comes with the Stream Deck Classic. It might seem like a small addition, but it has made a significant difference in my setup. I can now position the Stream Deck at the perfect angle for my workspace, ensuring that it's both ergonomic and visually accessible. Whether I prefer it flat on my desk or tilted for better visibility, this flexibility is a game-changer during those long streaming sessions.Moreover, the Stream Deck Classic seamlessly integrates with the software and platforms I use regularly, such as OBS Studio and Streamlabs OBS. This integration has streamlined my live production process and reduced the need to switch between different applications constantly.

STREAM DECK is a command center for a computer. Its the best new computer interface since the mouse and touch screen, I say.Why?You push buttons to control your computer. Buttons are easy - they take no precise motor control; you dont watch your hand or fingers, memorize key combinations, or coordinate two fingers on different hands while hoping you dont delete your work. You push them without looking or with a slight glance.Buttons have been around since typewriter days. How are these different? You can program them to suit your task at hand, and they light up showing their purpose. Programing is easy.How I use for text editing:The device replaces about 30 or so "hot keys " during text edits with pretty lit up buttons. Hot key combos like cmd V, cmd C, and cmd B are notorious. They take you out of writing flow because they need total attention with 2 fingers or hands, slow you down, and making you remember the combinations. A wrong hotkey combo can delete alot of work which you might not get back. So with the SD you push just one button with its key name lighted up.Why Stream Deck over similar devices?There are other programable keypads, but this one has snazzy, jazzy hardware and software.Is it worth while?Yes. Its worth getting for writers or photo editors. It can be set up for LightRoom hot keys too. Its intended for online streamers, with OBS integration, but this is a hit tool thats good for everybody who uses a computer.How you workYou change how you work on a computer. Every thing is different. Much less of your work is mouse or touch pad based. You eliminate key combinations. Sorting thru folders and files is much faster. Closing a mess of open windows is a breeze. Casually opening the clipboard or checking a website becomes a snap. You get power and control you did not have before.Some caveats:Pick a small demo project first. Set up hotkeys for a word processor, or buttons to launch apps or websites. Do not over reach, or do get comprehensive until you figure out the device. Its easy to use, but that ease can get you over your head.A total command centerThe SD can be a total command center, but I had allot of false starts and reprograming. I finally did make it a command center, but with much fiddling around until I got it right.Example:One button got me straight into a website.One button selected everything I had written.One button opened an editor,One button pasted it.One button closed the file.ModulesI use work modules like Lightroom, with its separate Library, Develop, and Print modules. Complexity goes up with the SQUARE of the number of options, so that design reduces complexity alot. Apple’s Aperture, a competing product, did not follow that design, and it was a nightmare. Apple dropped the product.How to use modules?Do not do everything in one place. You will have another Aperture.I have Docs, Web, Vids, Pics and Music work modules, each with tools needed to work in that domain - file, folder, app and website launch buttons, hotkey buttons and more.Its amazing!Push a button to bring up a folder of pics, switch modules, then another button for a music file (never mind iTunes), push a third one to start a slide show… wow that is cool.DetailsSub program unitsProfiles are sub program units, each with a set of buttons. Use them often, but dont invoke a profile with a computer App in a comprehensive structure. If you do, your buttons screens will constantly change.SD folders are also sub program units - they can be used like profiles. How? Copy a button that sets up a folder. This is not quite obvious at first. Then a button screen can be used anywhere.Profiles can be saved and reused anywhere, or sent over the net. Folders are not so easily reused.You can jump around to different profiles using the switch function. Be careful, this can become a mess of spaghetti code. With my text edit profile, I set it up to switch to the top profile, or my Document profile. And make sure that all profiles are used in a consistent way. With buttons in expected positions.For exampleThe switch to top profile button is alway at the upper left, blue background with magenta letters.More vs DeeperSet up a folder and label it “More” to add more buttons at the save level. Use a different label for nested or deeper actions in a folder.Undocumented featuresSome things are not quite obvious at first. You can move an app directly to a key, without setting it up as launch button. Also move an image to a button, but only when you edit that button.Some improvementsMore buttons!My text edit profile span 2 screens plus a bit of a third. A 5x7 set of buttons would be huge. More power! My hot keys span at least 6 button screens, so often the key is not available.Sometimes I have to go back to the old ways - like pushing cmd C to copy. Ancient creaky thing, like a motorcycle with a piston engine - look at the electric reviews!Multi threadedMost Mac apps can have two or more windows open. Each one works like it has its own copy of the app. Not so with the Screen Deck. You want two different apps using separate instances of the SD, so you could switch. Not so.You can use the app to switch the SD software (set up in the edit profile area of the SD), but that does not work well. It only works when the app changes to foreground, so you might not have the button set you want.So…Despite the shortage of keys, Is the Stream Deck the next “electric motorcycle” for serious computer command and control? You bet it is.Me: I am not a super reviewer, I paid good money for the SD, and do not have a relative who works for them.Review: more about the SDCommand and controlCommand and control are different things. On the SD, command is launching apps and websites and opening files. Control is about hotkeys. Setup control profiles for you favorite apps, with one or more screens for each app filled with hot keys. You may need to make new hotkeys on the Mac, easy to do.Command modules are differentYour command modules will list out your favorite pics, videos, docs, apps, websites and more, with a button for each. They are different from control modules. Yet some hotkeys, like open and close, need to be carried across your system.PopulatingFor each favorite file, app, picture, playlist, website and more, you want a button. Going 4 folders deep, you have room for 10,000 favorites! This goes 10 deep for each folder, not 15, because of overhead. It could take you months or years to fully populate your SD system.OverheadEach SD screen will have control buttons, those to get you up a folder or switch you to another profile. you need from 1 to 3 key for nearly every screen. And you cary some hotkeys everywhere, adding 3 or 4 more keys. Thus overhead could take up 4 to 7 keys out of 15! This is another reason for more keys on the SD. In a worst case, 11 keys are needed for overhead.DebugingWork with your stuff. In the above example, I changed VID GO VLC from a multi-action key to a single action (just a folder) to get it to work right. I also deleted 4 of the control keys, as they are duplicated in the VLC control module.The new screen:This frees up 4 keys and works better.DesignDesign to minimize overhead, and to get all the functions you want on each 15 key set. This takes some doing! Thus new STREAM DECKER’s should not get elaborate - like a control system for the entire US electric grid. Can you do that eventually? Sure you can, just not tomorrow.

Me gusta mucho, ya tiene algunos meses que la compre y todo funciona de maravilla.

Does the job we want it to do, used to assist with projection of church services.

Awesome product.

Streaming

Ich habe dieses Streaming Deck empfohlen bekommen, da ich mit dem Streaming jetzt auch angefangen habe.Es erfüllt ALLE Wünsche, die man sich vorstellen kann. Es werden Youtube und TwitchTV unterstützt.Man kann ganz einfach zwischen den Scenen wechseln mit nur einem Knopfdruck.Auch einzelne Zusatzfunktionen, wie das hinzuschalten einzelner Quellen (Ton, Videoquellen) ist auf Knopfdruck ein Kinderspiel.Ich bin mega zufrieden und kann eine klare Kaufempfehlung aussprechen.Leider ist der Artikel auch nach langer Zeit, die er auf dem Markt ist, noch etwas teuer in der Anschaffung.Aber es ist in der Art einzigartig und es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall.