Key Takeaways
- The Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 provides customizable buttons and options for streamers.
- Whereas in any other case spectacular, its performance exterior streaming might not justify the associated fee.
- The Mk.2 may very well be helpful for streamers however might not be vital for all customers.
If you happen to’ve spent any period of time watching people stream any content material on Twitch or YouTube, you’ve in all probability heard a streamer make reference to their Stream Deck. The Stream Deck, to not be confused with the Steam Deck , is a smooth little gadget made by Elgato that permits for fast actions to be taken throughout a livestream. Whereas there are others on the market, Elgato’s is nearly actually essentially the most well-known.
From the second I laid eyes on the Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2, I had only one query: Is it really helpful for anybody apart from a streamer? It is an admittedly foolish query to ask a few product with the phrase “stream” within the identify, however there are lots of items of kit streamers use that are not completely helpful for steaming. Even streaming software program comparable to OBS can discover use exterior content material creation. So why not the Stream Deck? I attempted it out for myself.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is a improbable gadget for streamers, however its bonuses do not totally justify it for the typical consumer.
- Premium feel and look
- Extraordinarily helpful for streaming
- Very customizable
- Troublesome to justify exterior of streaming
- Occasional visible glitches
- Absolute mud magnet
Worth, availability, and specs
The Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2 is on the market directly from Elgato and third-party retailers. It prices $150 and contains the gadget itself, a stand, and a USB-C cable.
The Stream Deck’s faceplate is black by default, however it may be changed with a customized one so as to add somewhat extra character to the gadget.
The gadget options fifteen LCD buttons and every has a satisfying and silent click on. The Stream Deck is suitable with Home windows and macOS. Utilizing the gadget requires the set up of Elgato’s Stream Deck software program.
What I favored in regards to the Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2
There are a number of customization choices
If there have been just one phrase I may use to explain the Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2, it could be “customizable.” This customization is available in many varieties. You may have a call to make from the second you open the field. The Stream Deck comes with a stand. Relying on which configuration fits your wants, you’ll be able to both lay it flat in your desk or prop it up. I favor the texture of laying it flat, however I additionally like the looks of protecting it on its stand.
And that’s just about the ultimate binary choice to make with the Stream Deck. Each different alternative this gadget presents you with has a number of choices behind it. The enchantment of the Stream Deck is that every of its fifteen buttons may be personalized in each look and performance. The Stream Deck software program comes with a number of default features that may do primary duties, comparable to launching an app or opening an internet site in your default browser.
The true practical enchantment of Stream Deck lies within the library of plugins accessible on Elgato’s web site. These plugins have an enormous vary of makes use of. Some are actually simply helpful for streaming, whereas others are helpful for any variety of duties. I personally discovered nice use of a Pomodoro clock widget on it, alongside a day countdown and even a magic eight-ball. For Slack customers, there’s a plugin for opening particular channels, chats, and even pausing your notifications.
The look of your Stream Deck may be as fascinating or as boring as you need it to be.
In fact, it would not be truthful to take a look at this gadget with out overlaying its performance for livestreaming. I’ve streamed up to now, so I fired up OBS and tinkered round. Whereas the Stream Deck will not be important for anybody with streaming aspirations, it makes issues quite simple. Having fast, customizable buttons for altering scenes, ending your stream, or muting your microphone makes streaming a a lot easier course of.
That customization issue I discussed exhibits its usefulness with the assorted features you’ll be able to map onto the Stream Deck’s buttons. For every button, you may make the precise look of the button a customized picture and provides every button customized textual content. The look of your Stream Deck may be as fascinating or as boring as you need it to be.
All of those components come collectively to make a really nifty gadget for all customers, and particularly for streamers. A few of this performance may be very handy to have merely mapped to a brilliant LCD button sitting in your peripheral.
What I did not like in regards to the Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2
Simply because you’ll be able to does not imply you must
Within the time that I have been utilizing the Stream Deck, there’s been one persistent concern in the back of my thoughts: do I really want this? Realistically, there’s nothing the Stream Deck can do this I can not accomplish with both my keyboard or a less expensive macro keyboard. Sure, shortcuts for sure features and apps are useful, particularly when you’ll be able to customise the look of every button for these shortcuts — however that doesn’t essentially make the Stream Deck a must have gadget.
Realistically, there’s nothing the Stream Deck can accomplish that I can not accomplish with both my keyboard or a less expensive macro keyboard.
The Stream Deck comes with a default format set as much as get you began utilizing the gadget. This format features a folder for opening apps and a folder for opening hyperlinks. As fascinating as this perform is, it’s not spectacular. Why would I attain over to my Stream Deck to do one thing I can accomplish in a number of keystrokes? The Stream Deck may be given a button for taking screenshots. However the query stays: why would I attain over to the Stream Deck slightly than simply pushing Shift + Command + 4 on my Mac or the Print Display key on a Home windows machine?
The identical goes for its Slack options. Why have one thing on my Stream Deck for a process that takes lower than 10 seconds with a mouse? A Pomodoro timer widget on my Stream Deck is good, however I may have one on my laptop or my telephone. My largest concern with the Stream Deck is that virtually every little thing it does may be completed extra merely with a mouse or with keyboard shortcuts.
The one actual space it shines as an ideal answer is within the realm of streaming, which is not precisely a damaging. That mentioned, being able to regulate sure stream features on the Stream Deck is not vital. It is good, however not vital.
Do you have to purchase an Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2?
To stream, or to not stream? That’s the query
Buying a Stream Deck is an easy choice that comes down to 2 questions. Do you stream or plan on streaming? A Stream Deck in all probability is not price your cash in case your reply is not any. In case your reply is sure, do you are feeling like your streams would movement higher with a Stream Deck? Do you are feeling like it could make your life simpler? If you happen to can reply sure to 1 or each of these questions, then the Stream Deck is likely to be price your cash.
If you happen to’re conflicted, you’ll be able to at all times check out the Stream Deck Cellular app, which lets you implement related performance out of your telephone. If you happen to use the app and really feel just like the tactile buttons and comfort would really profit you, then the Stream Deck is completely price it.
However, if you happen to don’t stream or do not actually have a urgent want for a Stream Deck, the acquisition will not be price your cash except you desire a $150 gadget that may muster a “neat” out of you each on occasion.
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