The base of the Elgato Stream Deck is simple. Connect the device to your computer, install the Stream Deck software and begin customising. On the right hand side of the software you will see your actions. Each action is stored in the respective folder. When you’re ready. drag one of the actions onto the key you want to assign it to. You will then be given options to customise how the action works.
What is the Elgato Stream Deck and What does it do?
Put simply the Elgato Stream Deck is a macro pad. Using the software you can set actions to occur when you press the keys on the device. These actions can be as simple as launching a program or incredibly advanced. The general purpose of a macro pad is to save time and increase productivity.
How Does it Work?
The Elgato Stream Deck allows for you to set one or series of actions as a script. The scripts can be assigned to the keys on the device. Once the key is pressed the series of steps or action will play.
Elgato Stream Deck Sizes
There are three sizes of the Stream Deck, each has a different amount of keys available. For most users the standard size has enough functionality for their needs.
XL: 32 keys
Standard: 15 keys.
Mini: 6 keys.
There is also a mobile app version of the Elgato Stream Deck. This is a cheaper alternative to the physical products. You can place a phone stand on your desk to make it easier to use while streaming.
Is the Elgato Stream Deck Worth it?
Whether or not the Elgato Stream Deck is worth it is entirely dependent on you. You may have an extensive amount of uses for the device or very few. There is also a major time factor to consider. Although the stream deck is great for productivity, it does take time to program and setup each macro. If you take the time to create advanced scripts for daily tasks you can see a huge increase in productivity.
Is the Elgato Stream Deck Worth it for Non-Streamers?
Although the Elgato is targeted towards streamers it uses don’t end there. The ability to make add keybinds and macros to a single key can be useful in numerous professions. If you find yourself constantly performing the same actions on your computer there may be a use for you. Graphic designers, video editors, and YouTubers may find adequate use for an Elgato Stream Deck.
Elgato Stream Deck Alternatives
There are other macro pads on the market which you can use instead of an Elgato Stream Deck. In fact some keyboard even feature programmable macro keys. You can find these keys in high end gaming keyboards like the razer chroma. The beauty of gaming keyboards is that their supported software often allows for you to rebind and setup macros to the existing keys. This allows you to turn the numpad into a functioning macro board.
As a cheaper a;an alternative you can also use the Elgato App. The base of the app will function like the physical version. The app can also be a good way to test if the stream deck is right for you.
StreamLabs OBS Remote
If you are using StreamLabs OBS you may want to try out their free app. You don’t get the full computer control and endless possibilities of a stream deck. However for streaming purposes the app can be quite handy.
With the StreamLabs remote you can control your stream via your phone. It makes switching between scenes and recording your content easier. This app can be especially useful for those running a single PC stream.
Touch Portal
Touch Portal is another good mobile option. The app is available on both iOS and Android devices. The functionality of Touch Portal is great and is capable of working with different programs. Allowing it to be used for other purposes and not just OBS streaming purposes.
The learning process of Touch Portal is pretty simple. They have video tutorials readily available to help you setup the software. You can create pages for each program that you want to use the macros for allowing you to keep organised. There are also premade pages that you can use for popular programs like Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere and Davinci Resolve.
LUAMacros / HID Macros
The best alternative to an Elgato Stream Deck is to create your own macro pad. You can do this with any keyboard or numpad. Using HID Macros allows you to create in depth macro scripts similar to the stream deck. The only disadvantage is that the setup isn’t as easy and takes longer.
There are many macro programs available however most of them assign a script to a key. This means that if you were to assign it to 2 on your macropad your main keyboards function would also change. LUAMacros or HID Macros can distinguish the difference between each input device. Effectively allowing you to assign scripts solely to one keyboard.
The Max Falcon RGB MacroPad
With the Max Falcon you have the choice between a 20 key and 8 key option. You can select between a DIY and prebuilt version. With these you can select the mechanical switches used. The board is essentially a mini keyboard soley for macros and keybinds.
The pad is programmable through the supported software. With the software comes the ability to change the lighting options. Because the Max Falcon is a keyboard it opens up room for key customization
Elgato Stream Deck Macros / Profiles / Presets
The Stream Deck software allows for you to assign actions to profiles. You can create different profiles for different uses. You can manually select the profile you want to use or take advantage of smart profiles.
With smart profiles the Elgato Stream Deck will automatically determine which profile to display based on what application you have opened. This prevents manual input when switching between programs.
How to Enable Smart Profiles on an Elgato Stream Deck
1. Launch the Elgato Stream Deck application.
2. Open the settings by clicking the cog icon.
3. Select the profile that you want to assign to a program.
4. Click on the drop down menu next to the word “Application”.
5. Choose the program you want to activate the profile. If you don’t see the program listed then select “Other” and navigate to the appropriate
What can you do with the Elgato Stream Deck?
The functionality behind the Elgato Stream Deck comes from the actions. There are various actions that give you the ability to create different useful tools.You can use the integrated actions or the system and stream deck specified ones.
OBS Studio Actions
The OBS and Streamlabs OBS actions offer the same functionality. With them you can switch scenes, adjust active audio sources, record, steam and even activate/deactivate a source. For streamers all of these features are great to have in the click of a button.
Twitch and Mixer Actions
The Twitch and Mixer actions are fairly similar. Both give you control over the chat mode, making controlling your chat easier. The ability to quickly save a clip on both platforms also comes in handy for content creators. Allowing you to swiftly save a highlight for future videos or promotional content.
For variety streamers you can even setup premade stream titles and games. With these actions setup you can change the stream information with one press. Another great Twitch action is the ability to play an ad. This can allow for you to monetize your content better during intermissions.
Twitter Actions
There are two great twitter actions available; change name and tweet. The ability to change your name allows for you to input a message for anyone viewing your profile. A good way to take advantage of this is to have it say when you’re live streaming.
Another good method for promoting your content or stream is tweeting. With the stream deck you can directly tweet images or videos with prewritten text. You can assign different video clips to tweet out at the click of a button. Giving you the ability to promote your stream in an instant.
The media that you assign to these actions will remain even once tweeted. Meaning you can create an array of different promotional clips for your content and use them every stream.
Multi Action
If you want to create an advanced script you can use the Multi Action function. This will allow you to add multiple actions in a row that will automatically play when pressed. Setting up long advanced multi action scripts can take time to get right. To make sure the script works properly you will also have to test the action as you go along. The downside of creating multi action presets is that not all actions can be used in a queue like this.
Hotkey Action
The hotkey allows for you to assign a combination of inputs to the one key. You can use this for activating shortcuts inside of a program. When doing so it is best to set your shortcut in the program to a combination unlikely to be used by something else. An example of this would be Alt+Ctrl+Shift+F7. You then assign this same shortcut to the hotkey action. This can be used to save clips in OBS or shadowplay. The hotkey feature is also incredibly useful for video editing and graphic design.
Open Action
The open action can be used to launch applications and files. Allowing you to quickly open commonly use documents on the fly. You could use this tool to launch games, editing software or Photoshop. Allowing you to switch between video creation and thumbnail design in an instant. You can pair smart profiles with the open action for quick workflow shifts.
Random Action
The random action is a unique tool. It allows you to set various actions to occur when the button is pressed. However only one of the actions will be played when the key is activated. This can be used to set random effects on your stream.
Website Action
An often overlooked feature is the website action. It is primarily used to open commonly visited web pages in a button press. However there is more than meets the eye with this tool. You can set the desired URL to be accessed in the background. Effectively preventing the page from being opened on your computer. When paired with IFTTT you can create some awesome actions controlled by your Elgato Stream Deck.
Soundboard Action
A more fun use for the Stream Deck is the soundboard action. With this you can play any audio file you have on your keyboard. This is a cool way to make your content and streams more entertaining.
How to Import Elgato Stream Deck Profiles
1. Enter the settings via the cog.
2. Choose the Profiles tab.
3. Click the arrow under the profile list and choose import.
4. Locate the profile file you want to import. This can be a single profile or complete backup.
5. Select and Open the profile.
How to Export Elgato Stream Deck Profiles
1. Launch the Stream Deck application.
2. Open the settings via the cog icon.
3. Ensure that you are on the “Profiles” tab and select the profile you want to export.
4. Click on the arrow below the profiles list.
5. Choose to export. If you want to save them all then “Backup All” and “Create Backup”.
6. Select a folder and a name for the file.
7. Press Save to confirm.
It is recommended that you regularly save your profiles as a backup. This will ensure that you never lose your profiles. It can also be used for sharing your macro scripts and transferring them between devices.
Elgato Stream Deck Icons
There are default icons that the stream deck will display based on the actions you set. However you can also make your own or get them online. Elgato also offers a free web-based logo creator.
With the Elgato Stream Deck you get the full customization of the keys. Most image files are compatible with the software including GIF. Because GIF files are supported it allows for you to get creative with the aesthetics. Adding motion to the Stream Deck is a great look and helps make your setup more appealing. You can set each key with a unique motion design or combined them all to make a bigger image.
With the motion feature you can create awesome RGB effects. You can create an effect to match your keyboard and mouse.
Another good option is using software like Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo. These allow for you to be more creative and create more unique images.
Does Elgato Stream Deck work with PS4 or Xbox?
Unfortunately the Elgato stream deck does not work with an Xbox One or PS4. This is because there is currently no supported software for the consoles.
Does Elgato Stream Deck work with Streamlabs OBS?
You can directly control your Streamlabs OBS using the provided actions. Using hotkeys and multi action macros you can even expand this control. There are also a number of actions that allow for you to control your Streamlabs alerts. These can still be used with the standard OBS provided you are using Streamlabs alerts and widgets.
Conclusion
The Elgato Stream Deck is a complete macro and multi-functional tool. It was created with streamers in mind. However that doesn’t mean the device is restricted to live streamers. You can use the device for saving time or replacing hotkeys in your favorite programs. In general the Elgato Stream Deck will help you save time and even simplify complex tasks.
