We might earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
The Elgato Stream Deck sits on the desk of your favourite Twitch and YouTube streamers, simply off digicam. It is there, belief me. I do know, as a result of utilizing its customizable LCD buttons is among the best methods to launch and handle apps with out disrupting what you are doing. In different phrases, what makes the Stream Deck helpful for streamers additionally makes it a robust productiveness software.
I have been advocating utilizing gaming peripherals for productiveness for—is it already virtually a decade?—and the Stream Deck takes that recommendation to the subsequent degree. It is is rather more customizable than your typical gaming keyboard, permitting you to assign frequent duties, launch apps, and automate advanced workflows from a single button. And you may slap by yourself colourful icon, too.
All fashions of the Stream Deck—I’ve defined the variations between all of them on the backside of this text—depend on the identical Stream Deck software program for Home windows and macOS to customise your keys. That app is the place the actual energy lies, so this is profit from it.
Launch your necessities immediately
Generally, it is simpler for me to get began working when I’ve a visual reminder of the place to start out, and the Stream Deck can assist me with that. My default Necessities structure offers me shortcuts to the apps and websites I exploit for work, and it will probably launch every with a fast button press.
The Stream Deck’s “Open” motion (below System) enables you to open generally used apps, and even particular recordsdata. Pair this with the “Web site” motion to launch web-based instruments like inside dashboards or undertaking administration instruments and your complete workflow is well accessible. You’ll be able to even use Multi Motion (extra on that beneath) to launch all of your instruments directly with a single button press.
Management your assembly chaos
Each mic is at all times sizzling, or so my audio engineer buddies maintain making an attempt to inform me. So, I’m continuously, justifiably paranoid about whether or not my mic is muted. Luckily, the Stream Deck makes it simpler to keep away from muting mixups. The official Elgato plugins for Zoom, Groups, and Discord offer you buttons to mute your mic or toggle your digicam. These buttons may also present you whether or not your mic or digicam are on, even when the window is not in focus.
You may as well entry options like display sharing, recording, and even leaving the assembly immediately, no matter whether or not the assembly window is lively. As a result of nothing’s extra awkward than being the final two folks nonetheless within the assembly, based on my persistent nervousness dysfunction.
Automate textual content snippets and replies
The easiest way I’ve ever discovered to mechanically insert incessantly used textual content snippets is, properly, the Logitech G600 I am nonetheless utilizing. But when I did not have that, the Stream Deck can be my go-to. The “Textual content” motion (below System) enables you to pre-write 500-character blocks of textual content which you could insert with one button. There are even primary formatting choices like font, alignment, daring, and italics which you could add to the textual content blocks.
If you wish to take this additional, you should utilize the SuperMacro plugin to create advanced macros, although it would require a little bit of consolation with primary scripting. You’ll be able to retailer variables and paste blocks of textual content that change primarily based on these variables, permitting you to make considerably extra custom-made textual content snippets.
Management your good dwelling
The one piece of good dwelling tech I can not reside with out anymore is sensible lights. Particularly, those from Philips Hue. They’re costly, however I have never discovered a greater software program ecosystem. To wit, this Philips Hue Stream Deck plugin that permits you to management particular person lights or rooms from a single button. You should use this to set your lights’ brightness, activate particular scenes, or regulate colour temperature with out having to open an app or use a voice assistant.
What do you suppose to date?
If you happen to do not use Philips Hue, you’ll be able to nonetheless get in on the motion by way of the IFTTT plugin. This allows you to join your Stream Deck to the extraordinarily highly effective IFTTT service, which helps a ton of good dwelling units.
String all of it along with Multi Motion
That is the place the actual worth of the Stream Deck actually resides. The “Multi Motion” characteristic enables you to chain a number of Stream Deck actions (already highly effective in their very own proper) collectively to grow to be highly effective scripts. If you add one in all these to your deck, you may then add different actions from the right-hand menu to run, so as. So, for instance, you would have this one button launch Photoshop, Lightroom, and open up your electronic mail unexpectedly.
The Multi Motion Change motion takes it even additional, letting you specify two separate lists of instructions to run, swapping between them every time you press the button. Constructing on the earlier instance, you would have a change additionally set to shut your work apps on the finish of the day. Multi Motion builds on an already strong set of instruments to automate tedious duties that eat up your day.
What sort of Stream Deck do you want?
Most Stream Decks that Elgato affords have an array of customizable LCD buttons, however there are just a few necessary variations which are value contemplating:
-
Stream Deck MK.2 ($150): That is the essential mannequin of Stream Deck that you simply’re more than likely to have seen round. It has a three-by-five grid of customizable buttons, plus a detachable stand to prop it up in your desk.
-
Stream Deck Neo ($100): If the value of the Stream Deck places you off, the Neo is a bit cheaper, and nonetheless comes with eight buttons. It additionally has a small data bar with customizable clock designs.
-
Stream Deck + ($200): This mannequin drops a number of the LCD keys (right down to eight), nevertheless it provides 4 customizable dials which are useful for media professionals. You should use these to regulate variable settings like brightness, saturation, or quantity. Plus, there is a contact strip that may show labels for these dials, in addition to different helpful widgets you’ll be able to swipe by.
-
Stream Deck XL ($250): If you happen to do not suppose there can ever be sufficient buttons in your desk, the Stream Deck XL is for you. It packs a 32-key array of the customizable LCD buttons Stream Decks are recognized for. That is most helpful in case you want lots of capabilities out there at a look (like whereas streaming) with out having to leap by a number of pages and folders.
-
Stream Deck Cell (iOS/Android): If none of those are interesting, you’ll be able to nonetheless use Stream Deck instruments with out spending a dime. The Stream Deck cellular app offers you six customizable buttons (and as much as 10 pages of them) without spending a dime. If you happen to want extra, a Professional subscription offers you as much as 64 buttons for $3/month or $25/12 months. A lifetime subscription can also be out there for $50, in case you’re utilizing it frequently.
The Elgato Stream Deck markets itself as a streamer’s accent, however anybody can profit from its instruments. It takes a little bit of time to arrange your actions, though Elgato has made it surprisingly quick for even primary customers. And since you’ll be able to attempt it free with the cellular app, there is not any purpose to not take a couple of minutes and see if it will probably enable you to get your work carried out quicker, too.
