Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 Evaluation: Gimmick or game-changer?

Should you’ve spent any period of time watching of us 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 modern little machine made by Elgato that enables for fast actions to be taken throughout a livestream. Whereas there are others on the market, Elgato’s is sort of definitely 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 aside from a streamer? It is an admittedly foolish query to ask a couple of product with the phrase “stream” within the identify, however there are numerous items of kit streamers use that are not solely helpful for steaming. Even streaming software program resembling 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 unbelievable gadget for streamers, however its bonuses do not totally justify it for the typical consumer.

Professionals

• Premium feel and appear
• Extraordinarily helpful for streaming
• Very customizable

Cons

• Troublesome to justify exterior of streaming
• Occasional visible glitches
• Absolute mud magnet

Value, availability, and specs

The Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2 is obtainable directly from Elgato and third-party retailers. It prices $150 and consists of the machine 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 just a little extra persona to the machine.

The machine options fifteen LCD buttons and every has a satisfying and silent click on. The Stream Deck is appropriate with Home windows and macOS. Utilizing the machine requires the set up of Elgato’s Stream Deck software program.

What I preferred concerning the Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2

There are quite a lot of customization choices

If there have been just one phrase I might use to explain the Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2, it could be “customizable.” This customization is available in many types. You’ve got a choice to make from the second you open the field. The Stream Deck comes with a stand. Relying on which configuration fits your wants, you may both lay it flat in your desk or prop it up. I choose the texture of laying it flat, however I additionally like the looks of holding it on its stand.

And that’s just about the ultimate binary resolution to make with the Stream Deck. Each different alternative this machine presents you with has a number of choices behind it. The enchantment of the Stream Deck is that every of its fifteen buttons might be custom-made in each look and performance. The Stream Deck software program comes with a number of default capabilities that may do fundamental duties, resembling launching an app or opening an internet site in your default browser.

The true purposeful enchantment of Stream Deck lies within the library of plugins out there on Elgato’s web site. These plugins have an unlimited 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.

In fact, it would not be truthful to have a look at this gadget with out masking its performance for livestreaming. I’ve streamed up to now, so I fired up OBS and tinkered round. Whereas the Stream Deck just isn’t 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 less complicated course of.

That customization issue I discussed exhibits its usefulness with the assorted capabilities you may 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 might 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 could be very handy to have merely mapped to a brilliant LCD button sitting in your peripheral.

What I did not like concerning the Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2

Simply because you may does not imply it’s best to

Within the time that I have been utilizing the Stream Deck, there’s been one persistent situation behind my thoughts: do I really want this? Realistically, there’s nothing the Stream Deck can do this I am unable to accomplish with both my keyboard or a less expensive macro keyboard. Sure, shortcuts for sure capabilities and apps are useful, particularly when you may customise the look of every button for these shortcuts — however that doesn’t essentially make the Stream Deck essential gadget.

The Stream Deck comes with a default structure set as much as get you began utilizing the machine. This structure 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 might be given a button for taking screenshots. However the query stays: why would I attain over to the Stream Deck fairly than simply pushing Shift + Command + 4 on my Mac or the Print Display screen key on a Home windows machine?

The identical goes for its Slack options. Why have one thing on my Stream Deck for a job that takes lower than 10 seconds with a mouse? A Pomodoro timer widget on my Stream Deck is sweet, however I might have one on my laptop or my telephone. My largest situation with the Stream Deck is that virtually every little thing it does might be carried out extra merely with a mouse or with keyboard shortcuts.

The one actual space it shines as an incredible answer is within the realm of streaming, which is not precisely a destructive. That stated, being able to manage sure stream capabilities on the Stream Deck is not obligatory. It is good, however not obligatory.

Must you purchase an Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2?

To stream, or to not stream? That’s the query

Buying a Stream Deck is a straightforward resolution that comes down to 2 questions. Do you stream or plan on streaming? A Stream Deck in all probability is not value your cash in case your reply is not any. In case your reply is sure, do you are feeling like your streams would circulation higher with a Stream Deck? Do you are feeling like it could make your life simpler? Should you can reply sure to 1 or each of these questions, then the Stream Deck may be value your cash.

Should you’re conflicted, you may all the time check out the Stream Deck Cell app, which lets you implement related performance out of your telephone. Should you use the app and really feel just like the tactile buttons and comfort would actually profit you, then the Stream Deck is totally value it.

However, if you happen to don’t stream or do not actually have a urgent want for a Stream Deck, the acquisition just isn’t value your cash until you desire a $150 gadget that can muster a “neat” out of you each from time to time.