ElgatoStream Deck Classic – Discontinued and No Longer Supported by ELGATO

The Elgato Stream Deck is a game-changer for me and content creators. Whether you're managing a live broadcast, automating tasks, or just want quick access to frequently used actions, it makes everything more efficient. While it might be a bit pricey, the time it saves and the professional touch it adds to your content make it well worth the investment.its been the biggest time saver I've ever bough and would totally buy again.

This stream deck is amazing it's like controlling everything on your PC at the push of a button with some fancy screen colored buttons it's not only amazing for streaming but having shortcuts to what you need at a push of a button whether for video games or for office use to get to what you need in split seconds. You can even have it do multiple tasks at one like I have it set to shut down my PC and I can have it select multiple things for me at the push of 1 button. I was a bit skeptical when it said it is no longer supported by ELGATO. Yes it is, Maybe Elgato doesn't make more of the classic model but it's just the current MK2 version of the stream deck with a different mounting bracket which I have had 0 issues with at all. Save yourself 35 dollars and get this one instead. Same thing, lower price.

Ton of fun for livestreams and even recorded videos like to YouTube. Simple to set up and use. I use mine on an M4 iMac…always worked perfectly and stays connected.

This things is cool!...Im reviewing the ElGato Stream Deck (regular 15 button version)...This thing is extremely versatile, and It works perfectly with OBS and a few other streaming services...I have mine set up to access all scenes from my stream (twitch), viewer count, audio options to turn things on and off, start streaming and start recording (pressing the button again will turn off streaming and recording), I have some sound effects that play when i press a button, and i have 2 games linked so i can just press the button to start the game...I did get this on sale, so i only paid $130 (USD) total out the door...The version I got is a MK1 not the MK2...the MK2 is pretty much the exact same but with upgraded aesthetics and USB C connection (the MK1 has USB A with a decently long cable and a stand)This thing is definitely a good buy, and will serve you well if you are a streamer, or Youtuber, BUT you dont need to be any of those to use it, you can just use it for everyday shortcuts to increase your productivity...GET IT NOW!

...and you won't be wrong.I bought this to make life easier when doing live online training seminars. I use either OBS Studio or a Blackmagic Designs ATEM Mini Pro ISO (if I want to tape the separate input streams, for later processing into high quality virtual seminars), and there is a lot to work with. I don't want to be switching from app to app... from OBS to pick the camera/view, add a lower third key, to Powerpoint to advance a slide, to Zoom to see my audience. I want to be able to hit a button and make the app-specific changes I need without screwing up what I'm outputting to my audience. The Stream Deck was highly recommended by a variety of sources.This is really a second keyboard with a few differences... the keys themselves are mini-LCD screens that can be configured with text or images, can change appearance based upon feedback from the action (if supported), and one button can call sequences of actions (multi-action) as if you pressed multiple buttons. The actions supported do not require the acted-upon application to be in focus (topmost on your desktop), so you could be in one app, e.g., OBS Studio, while advancing to the next slide in another app, e.g., Powerpoint. There are a variety of plugins that support various applications, for instance there's an OBS Studio plug-in as well as support for the Blackmagic Designs ATEM Mini series of video production mixers through their desktop software app. There's also generic HTTP support for GET and POST actions, and support for calling a REST API. IN short, if a desktop or web app can be controlled by an API, then it can be controlled by the Stream Deck. You can even use it for Smart Home control.I use it, but here are some reservations. You will need to choose an application that runs on your PC (the PC that the Stream Deck console is plugged into) that will program the buttons on the unit. El Gato provides a Stream Deck app that works, but is a bit rough. There is a separate web app from El Gato (you go to a website) and you can configure button appearances. It would be nice if these were integrated, but they're not. Then there's Bitforce's Companion, a web service that can both program the Stream Deck and configure key appearances. This app is functionally similar to both of the El Gato apps, combined in one. However, it currently does not have the same plug-in capabilities. What it does have is the ability to have up to 99 pages, so a 16-button Stream Deck actually becomes a 1287-button deck (you lose 3 buttons per page in order to control flipping pages, so 13 x 99 buttons). Depending on the capabilities of the Companion plug-in for specific apps/devices, you can also get feedback (a return code) from the action you invoked that allows the button's appearance to change. For instance, if I have a button for my studio camera 'scene', a button for the Powerpoint presentation window 'scene', a button for a 'scene' in OBS Studio that contains both, program these buttons to place their view in the Preview slot in OBS, and when pressed they turn green. A separate button that pushes the preview into the output (program) window will, when pushed, turn the appropriate 'scene' button turns red. This is nice because I can glance at the Stream Deck and immediately see what is being broadcasted to my audience by the color of the button. (Alexa will take some programming to build a plug-in... there's not one available yet.)Note that with power comes effort... programming these buttons to do anything sophisticated can require some trial-and-error, and the documentation is not great. If you're not technically-inclined enough to know how to configure and run a PC without calling for help, this is not the device for you unless you have a precocious teen gamer, a technical spouse or partner, or are willing to hire the neighborhood nerd for a few hours to help you get things running. Once you get the hang of it and understand the idiosyncracies, you'll be able to do a lot of powerful things with it... basically controlling anything that you could with Alexa or your computer.Really, this device is best-suited for the apps that are supported with Stream Deck-supplied plug-ins, and for more technically sophisticated users, the plug-ins available for the Companion app. It's especially well-suited for programming a series of commands into one button press that might take someone a couple of minutes of dedicated time. True to its name, it is designed for people who are offering live video broadcasting, either via online streaming using Twitch, YouTube, etc., and that's what almost all of the currently-available plug-ins support. The other plug-ins seem to be written by and for software developers who want to use it to help automate code development or look at the value of their stock options or crypto currencies while they work.Hardware-wise, you have to deliberately press the buttons all of the way until they bottom out... a quick press often doesn't trigger the action. This is something you learn quickly while interacting with the device. If you are in a hurry, you often have to go back and press the button again. Here, slow and steady wins the race.Because of this, and the nature and state of available plug-ins for both the Stream Deck and Companion apps, I feel as if the Stream Deck ecosystem is still in its early days... a work in progress. It does what it does very well if you are willing to put up with the quirks of the button press, and if the supporting software applications and plug-ins have the functionality you need and you can figure them out on your own. Be prepared to invest some time and effort learning how to use it, otherwise it will likely sit in a storage bin. Should you buy it? Yes... if you are a one-man effort at streaming live video that requires quick, correct switching between video feeds... perhaps an online instructor, someone who is the producer/director for a church or a government agency or for events like concerts or trade shows, or a gamer streaming on Twitch or YouTube where live video from multiple sources along with text or other information needs to be easily controlled. If you're just using Zoom for meetings, etc., it's overkill. Or, if you're technically capable, want to reduce a lot of complex automation (like turning on all of the gear in a home theater system, or switching between satellite and Blu-Ray is cumbersome), or automate repetitive PC tasks, this is the macro keyboard system to beat them all... if you can deal with the learning curve.I'll update this review in a couple of weeks, after I actually use it in a live training session... either happily, or angrily.

Made it easy to navigate.

I bought this for my wife and she loves this thing. I think her favorite part is that it can be used as a sound board and make everyone’s ears bleed in the game and chat. I’ve never wished to deaf so much in my life!

Perfect, I live stream and i really love this a lot, it’s so much you can add to your stream deck