Description
Boasting 32 customizable LCD keys poised to launch unlimited actions with a tap, Stream Deck XL takes live production control to a whole new level. Instantly activate scenes, launch media, switch cameras, tweak lighting, adjust audio, post tweets, and more. Directly control your entire setup. And get immediate visual feedback to confirm your every command. Stream Deck XL integrates seamlessly with your favorite tools and platforms, including OBS Studio, XSplit, Streamlabs, Twitch, YouTube, Mixer, OvrStream, VoiceMod, vMix, and StreamElements. All so you can easily power through your workflow, and engage your audience like never before.
From the manufacturer
K. Potts –
Quality Piece of EquipmentI myself am a cinematographer and editor (Blah blah blah cameras and movies and stuff) and I purchased this Stream Deck (XL) to improve my productivity while I do my editing. This beats any Macro keyboard or custom keybind kind of thing you could get out there. You can label the LCD buttons with text in the program, as well as put a background image (You can upload your own, or there is an open plugin hub where you can get other people’s custom stuff) to each key. The keyboard usually links to most of my software and I can use the macro buttons, but if it doesn’t, I can set it to press a custom keybind (it also has Function keys as an option all the way from F1 – F24) to do specific tasks like saving a file.PLUGINSPlugins are usually tailored to specific programs. I have a plugin for DaVinci Resolve Studio, VoiceMod, StreamLabs OBS, and a couple of the other things I like to tinker with.The keyboard can have more than one saved layout. I have twenty something versions of the board (Some for sound effects for discord, some for editing and working).There are different plugins for different things. Some plugins are just so you can have more pictures to use on your keys, some plugins are made to work with commonly used software like VoiceMod.So far, There is NOT a plugin made yet to work with Discord, but like I said before, you can always set custom keybinds to toggle mute, push to talk, deafen, and even share screen.FUNCTIONThe Stream Deck functions in a similar fashion to your PC. If your PC is off, so is your Deck. If your PC is on sleep, so is your Deck. It applies for pretty much anything.LCD keys are bright and combat my extremely heavy studio lighting. I have no trouble seeing each button clearly.HARDWAREThis is sturdy in build (It looks cheap in the picture but it is quite heavy and rugged) and works nicely on the desk. The USB to USB-C cord is a thick braided cable, and will last a very long time if handled appropriately. The back end of the stand is detachable so you can lay the Stream Deck flat. There is traction pads both on the back of the tablet and on the bottom of the stand to stick on your desk nicely. You WILL have to rout the wire through the stand which is a hassle for me personally because of my horrendous lack of cable management, but ultimately It’s worth the money.SOFTWAREThe software is easy to install but can be hard to navigate to new users. YouTube is a reliable resource for tutorials if you’ve never used a Stream Deck, and If I’m right, I think El Gato has their own set of tutorials, but I may be wrong so take that with a grain of salt. It is easy to learn, and fun to mess with.CONCLUSIONGreat product. Design is outstanding, and it’s mostly user friendly. I would recommend using this only for a PC or a Mac, as I don’t think this would be beneficial on other devices. My user experience has been great, and I would recommend this to any editor, gamer, or PC enthusiast as an investment in your capabilities while you work / play.
Jonathan A. Goss –
A vital resource to any YouTube channel!We utilize this for our YouTube channel, “The Gosslings”, and it is tremendous fun that is easy to use and full of features! Well worth the money. If you’re into making videos for YouTube, you NEED this in your arsenal of kit for added fun and extra capabilities!
Frank L. –
Great for podcasting!The easiest way to set up pre elected short cuts when podcasting!
Todd Shipp –
Great for custom buttons on MSFS 2020I bought this because of the customizable buttons that tie in well with MSFS. It allows me to set up buttons for cockpit controls while flying in the flight simulator. It is good for that.
SouthPaw –
Most Useful PC Peripheral Ever?If you haven’t already decided to purchase a Stream Deck you’re probably balking at the price and/or saying “I can do that with a programmable keyboard and some stickers!” And you’d be right… if you weren’t also completely wrong.Each key is a mini screen that can display just about whatever you want and even change conditionally based on what you have active or pressed last. You can rearrange and re-label those keys and their graphics at will by just dragging them around in the software. Try that with stickers and a key pad! If you want macros the software again makes it much easier than most other devices or scripts do, and you don’t have to assign and remember a keyboard combo to activate it or worry about key conflicts – it’s all contained to that one Stream Deck key.While it can do nearly anything you can dream up, the Stream Deck’s focus is, of course, streaming. Where it’s just plain nifty in general usage it becomes absolutely indispensable if you’re a streamer. It supports all major streaming software either right out of the box (OBS, Xsplit, etc) or with easily downloaded add-ons (GeForce Experience controls). Just drag and drop the actions to a button and configure what source, scene, etc it points to.Naturally it integrates with other Elgato products seamlessly. I have one page of my XL dedicated to volume control of my Wave Link sources as well as toggles to change speaker/headphone outputs. If you have Elgato’s keylights it can control those, too. You can even control your Stream Deck with another Stream Deck! (Insert meme here…)The software is continuously being developed and updated – with the most recent update adding a plethora of sound effects and royalty free music to download and use at will. The open SDK allows third parties to make add-ons, too. I have added controls for Nvidia and TeamSpeak 3 to mine and they work seamlessly, once again eliminating the need to assign and remember keyboard macros.For gaming, there’s still plenty of uses. While you wouldn’t use it for critical functions like motion or firing, you can still get plenty of uses out of it for things like menu shortcuts, dropping position markers, chat macros, etc. I use my mini to access my most used commands while racing so I don’t have to hunt and peck at my keyboard at 200 mph, for example.The main con is the price. The standard and the XL will make you pause at first, but I’ve found them to be worth every penny and I’m continuously evolving the way I use them. The mini… is overpriced. Not gonna lie. I got mine on sale at about half price, and I only really recommend it at around that price. The standard and XL pretty much never go on sale, so don’t hold your breath on those two of that’s what you’re after. The other cons, minor ones at that, are the lack of removable USB cable for the standard and mini, and the flimsy stand that I constantly flatten accidentally when I move the standard 15 key Stream Deck around.So to make a long story longer – if you are a streamer, content creator, or use a lot of macros in your workflow then you will not regret getting a Stream Deck. If you’re looking at it for game purposes, make sure it’s not for fast-paced stuff like movement in an FPS. For flight and racing sims it’s pretty much the perfect “button box” replacement.
Rebecca –
Still LearningStill learning how to use it but really enjoying it. Making it easier to use with adobe and other art programs I use.
DOCS –
One button action readyThis is my go-to for launching my Livestream, scenes, presets and more. Very durable and pretty good material… Looking to add the new Stream Deck Plus to my setup.
Dallas –
Does was its suppose to do.Does what i need it do to and more.
Vadim D –
Must have gadget for productivity!Expensive, but… fantastic! Must have gadget for productivity!
Chris –
Amazingly useful – you don’t know what you’re missing until you use itI have not been paid for this review, nobody solicited me to write it, I have no relationship with the manufacturer, and I purchased this at full price after reading about it online.This is one of those products you have never heard of, but when you use it, you immediately wished you’d found it a long time ago.As someone who has multiple monitors in front of my eyeballs all day long, I have dozens of windows/apps open across multiple screens and virtual desktops. I have many productivity and utility apps to help me manage all this information that’s always screaming for my attention.The Stream Deck gives me a whole new way to interact with my data. In addition to the myriad of keyboard shortcuts, app launchers, menu bar customizers, trackpad gestures and more that I use all day, this thing lets me access some of my most important workflows (and create new ones) by simply pressing a single key. This isn’t just a glorified app launcher (although it’s a really good at that too). You can chain together a limitless set of actions across your entire system. The dynamic keys mean I can also re-arrange them, create folders for less used actions, and much more.There are also a few ‘plugins’ that run right on the keys themselves. A have a digital clock and my current WAN IP address always ticking away right in front of me, at a glance.I’ve only had this for a day, and already I’m starting to experiment with how best it can work for me. Right now I’m finding the volume controls most immediately useful. I can swap between headset, system audio, mute audio, mute microphone, and more all with a simple press of a button. This is way faster than even some of the best third-party audio management apps I use. Example: on video calls… mute! While I can certainly use the app’s mute/unmute feature, I always find that I am switching between apps and windows during calls, and the audio controls are not always immediately available. The built-in keyboard audio-controls for Mac/Windows systems are not always reliable. But now I know exactly how to mute/unmute myself regardless of which virtual desktop, full-screen app, screenshare, etc. that I am using. I can quickly put my headset on and press a button to make it active right away. No more having to hope that the OS does the right thing with my audio, while I have a room full of people watching me explain something for 20 seconds before someone is able to remind me “you’re on mute” … NICE!There are some more cool features, like profiles that are activated when a certain app is being used. That means I can dig down into specific applications and create super-efficient workflows on a per-app basis.I’m hardly an expert with this after just a day, but I see a ton of potential here.It’s a bit expensive, but it’s also a niche product that will easily justify its cost for certain people… me included.