Elgato Stream Deck XL – Advanced Studio Controller, 32 Macro Keys, Trigger Actions in apps and Software Like OBS, Twitch, ​YouTube and More, USB, Works with Mac and PC

I Day-Trade for a living, and while I do have a very nice Corsair K100 keyboard, and Hot Keys programmed on it, you have to take the time to put little stickers on all of your keys to remember which one does what (ie: Buy 1,000 shares at "X" price, Sell Half Position at Bid-$0.05, etc.). While doing Hot Keys that way IS doable, it's a PITA to do the stickers, you're always looking down at your keyboard to make sure you're hitting the right keys (when you should be keeping your eyes on your charts), and the stickers obscure the keyboard keys, so even if you've been typing for years, having some of the keys obscured sort of screws you up when you're looking at the keyboard to find a specific key (like the "Period" key), only to find it, and all of the keys around it, covered in stickers. That's why this Stream Deck XL is a Godsend.... It has 32 buttons, all with their own little LCD (?) screen inside. You can create ANY button, to look any way you want. You go on their website, you can play with fonts (colors, sizes, types), background colors, PNG graphics (probably others, I haven't tried, but assume so),....so, any button you can think up, saying or showing anything you can dream of, you can create on their website, for free. Once you've created the graphic for the button, you add it to the location you want it on the Stream Deck, assign it whatever function you want, and it's good to go. Don't like it in that position, just drag-n-drop it in another location. There's already a button in that location?.....the software will do a quick swap of the buttons. Setting up the buttons is pretty simple too (and you have a TON of options, from simple Hot Keys, to Multi-Function keys, to a slew of other options I haven't even gotten into yet). You can have "Profiles" with multiple "Pages" too. so it's not like you're limited to the 32 buttons you see. All you have to do is create another page (to the right or left, your choice), and guess what?.....you just got 32 more blank buttons, and you can create page-after-page of buttons; no limit. So, say I have a "Trading Profile," and it has 3 pages, each with 32 buttons. Maybe Page 1 is all of my Pre-Market Buttons,, Page 2 my Open Market Buttons and Page 3 is my After Hours Buttons. When I'm finished using the Stream Deck XL for Day-Trading, I just go on their clever desktop software, change the "Profile" to something else (like Photoshop, or Illustrator), and Presto-Change-O, the Stream Deck now shows all of my Hot Keys for Photoshop, or Illustrator, or any other program that I've built a Profile / Hot Keys for. If you have a program / programs on your computer, and are tired of using the mouse to click here, move there, do this, do that, repetitively, just get a Macro program (like Keyboard Maestro for Mac, or AutoHotKey(?) for PC), program your Macro(s) in either of the aforementioned programs, assign a "Trigger" to the Macro in either of the aforementioned programs, then create a key on the Stream Deck XL, assign it the same Hot Key you assigned your Macro in either of the aforementioned programs, and when you hit that button on the Stream Deck, it'll tell that Macro Software to carry out that Macro, and you'll watch your workflow BLAZE.... You can even do what's called "Virtual Stream Deck" (with this XL unit, and some of their others). Virtual Stream Deck is just what it sounds like... you can create a floating-on-your-desktop "palette" or "window" of Hot Keys (up to 64 buttons!), and by clicking on them, you can perform the same function as the buttons on your physical Stream Deck XL, by just by clicking a button on your Virtual Stream Deck. And no, the Virtual Stream Deck Buttons do not have to be the exact same buttons, functions, layouts, pages, etc., as the Physical Stream Deck XL. I just today, watched a girl on YouTube configure a Virtual Stream Deck "Weapons Wheel" for a video game she was playing, so she could call up the "Weapons Wheel" Hot Keys with a simple Hot Key command, click on which weapon she wanted, and then the Weapons Wheel would disappear until she called it up again (no fumbling for the mouse, moving it to click somewhere, or trying to remember weird key combinations to change weapons... she just created a Virtual Stream Deck for her "Weapons Wheel," triggered it to pop up with a simple Hot Key press on her keyboard, clicked on the weapon she wanted, and went right back to playing. Simple. Efficient. Also, the way they designed the form factor is very slick. You can hold just the keypad, or you can attach it (magnetically snaps) to the angled base so it sits on the desk (sort of angled up at you), or you can pick up the entire keypad and base together, and hold it almost like a game controller, because the keypad attached to the "L" shaped base, has a hollow triangular core down the center for your fingers, so I literally hold it like a game controller while I'm Trading, and my fingers are hovered right over the buttons I use most. I SO wish I'd found this device YEARS ago....not only for Trading (and, thus, once again having an unstickered keyboard), but also for a myriad of other uses, in a myriad of other applications. Let's put it this way, if you have programs on your computer that you want to automate using Macros and Hot Keys, look no further. It's going to be VERY hard for some company to come up with a better mousetrap than this. I use this Stream Deck XL, along with Keyboard Maestro (another AMAZING product), on Mac, and the things that are possible with these two things combined is staggering. This will work on both Mac and PC without any issues. Plug it in (USB-C), download the software, they recognize each other, and you're good to go. It really is VERY well designed, VERY clever, and a total game-changer when it comes to efficiency on your computer, and in apps. While the Stream Deck (software) will allow you to program "Multi-Action" tools or steps for each button, you can very easily turn this thing into Bruce Lee on PCP. Here's what I would do (having done it). 1) Buy the XL (IMO, it's better to have more buttons in the form factor, than getting a smaller form factor, then having to create a lot of "Pages" that you have to scroll through). 2) Get either Keyboard Maestro (for Mac...AMAZING), or AutoHotKey (for Windows...don't know anything about it, personally, but hear good things). 3) Once you get the unit, and set it up on your computer, go to the "Elgato Marketplace" (Elgato is the parent company that makes the unit). 4) Download / Add / Install the following "Plug-Ins": "Super Macros," and "VBA Macro Execute" (IF you're a heavy Excel user. if not, forget about it). 5 Download / Add / Install (from the same site), either "Keyboard Maestro" AND "KM Link (for the Virtual Stream Deck functionality)" (if you're on a Mac), or "AutoHotKey" if you're on a PC. Watch a few tutorials on YouTube about configuring your Stream Deck, a few on Keyboard Maestro (and the INSANE amount of tasks that you can have that program do, instead of you having to do them)....and then when you put the Stream Deck XL together with Keyboard Maestro (in my case), and start playing around with the two, you're head will explode with the possibilities and efficiencies of this combination. I know that I'll never be without one from here on out, simply because of how easy it makes things across multiple apps. If someone came into my house right now, as I write this, and took the Stream Deck away from me, I would MMA cage fight them to get it back...it is that robust, and efficient.

I 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. PLUGINS Plugins 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. FUNCTION The 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. HARDWARE This 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. SOFTWARE The 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. CONCLUSION Great 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.

Perfect for streaming. Easy to set up, highly customizable, and boosts workflow instantly. Excellent quality and performance.

Love this! So convenient and easy to use. Buttons work immediately as pressed. Looks clean and you can customize all of your buttons. It's also compatible with so many different applications! Worth the money!

This turned out to be MUCH more useful than I expected. Initially it seemed a bit pricey, but the software is extremely slick and makes the keypad worth the extra $$$! I was able to start making my own button shortcuts (and icons) in just a few minutes. It's also very easy to modify or add functions, mostly just drag and drop. Also I like the fact that you can set up the Stream Deck without signing up for yet another account requiring an email address. There is a "marketplace" but it's optional and not required to use and customize the product.

I 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.

I can't imagine not having this 32 LCD Button Box hooked up to my PC. This Gamer Deck has simplified so many tasks for me. It is super easy to use, and there are a ton of videos on how to use it, plus there is a Tutorial Button on your home screen when you first plug it in. If I want to join a specific channel in any Discord Server. Bam, just press a button and I'm on the server in the correct channel. If I want to leave and join another server. Bam, same thing, just press the button I have already set up. I play a lot of games and the macro functionality of this Deck is perfect for handling almost any situation. I play a lot of GW2, and in that game, you join Squads. I join the same squads most of the time, so I just set a button to join the squad leader, and when he tells everyone to join his squad. I don't have to do anything else but press the button, and Bam!, I'm in his squad. I filled up one page with all my Soundboard Sounds, and now I can easily just press the corresponding button. At one point I was going to get a button box for playing Sim Games, and I'm glad I didn't get one, because this Stream Deck is a button box, but it is better because it has 32 LCD screens that act as buttons. You can set up an endless amount of buttons with this Deck; more than I'll ever need.

If you have specific needs you think this can fill, the Stream Deck is a great tool. It may require a bit of non-trivial setup, especially if you are doing things that don't have a pre-made plugin. My work-at-home setup is a shared monitor between my personal desktop and work laptop. I wanted to listen to music from my personal collection while working, but had to awkwardly switch monitor inputs to control the sound. The Stream Deck allows me to control music playback on my personal PC without switching monitors, and it was mostly easy to set up. For this reason alone, it was worth getting. Once I had that, I had quite a few more buttons to fill, some other ideas I had (and how easy they were to set up): - I set a few timers. (Very easy, but the default timer doesn't require acknowledgement, which makes it easier to ignore...) - Added a few desktop applications. (Surprisingly complicated for some Windows programs. It required some searches on Reddit and a few extra steps to get right.) - Added a plugin for Home Assistant and I could control my office smart bulbs and video light. (Not that hard with instructions, getting Home Assistant to work was harder.) - With the help of another program, I could create a button to switch displays on my monitor between the two computers. (Somewhat difficult, required a bit of learning and some experimentation.) After a weekend or so of work, I had a pretty optimized work-from-home experience and a few extra conveniences while using my personal computer as well. I have been using this daily for months and it's proved its value to me.

Ich nutze das Elgato Stream Deck XL jetzt seit einiger Zeit, und ganz ehrlich: Es ist eine absolute Game-Changer-Technologie! Wer denkt, es sei nur für Streamer, unterschätzt das Teil völlig – gerade für Gaming, Arbeiten & Medien ist es ein wahres Multitasking-Monster. Warum ich es liebe – besonders für Gaming! ✅ 32 Tasten für maximale Kontrolle: Wer Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous, DCS World oder andere Games mit vielen Funktionen & Keybinds spielt, wird das Stream Deck XL nie wieder hergeben. Keine umständlichen Tastenkombinationen mehr – alles auf einen Knopfdruck! ✅ Makros & Shortcuts: Gerade für komplexe Games lassen sich perfekte Makros & Hotkeys erstellen, die das Gameplay schneller und effizienter machen. Ob Flugsteuerung, Waffenmanagement oder Menü-Navigation – alles geht flüssiger. ✅ Mehr als nur Gaming: Auch für Streaming, Video-Editing, Photoshop & andere Programme ist es goldwert. Ich kann zwischen Profilen umschalten und für jede Anwendung die perfekte Steuerung nutzen. ✅ Intuitive Einrichtung & Anpassbarkeit: Tasten mit individuellen Icons & Animationen, perfekt abgestimmt auf jedes Spiel oder jede App. Wer sich einmal ein durchdachtes Profil erstellt, hat die ultimative Steuerzentrale. ✅ Kombinierbar mit anderen Stream Decks: Ich selbst nutze mehrere Elgato-Stream-Decks parallel – eins für Gaming, eins für Video-Bearbeitung, eins für Alltagsaufgaben. Die Möglichkeiten sind grenzenlos! ✅ USB-C-Anschluss für moderne Konnektivität: Schnelle und stabile Verbindung ohne veraltete Standards – genau so, wie man es 2024 erwartet! Ein paar Kleinigkeiten: 🔹 Platzbedarf: Klar, es ist das XL-Modell – aber genau deswegen nimmt man es ja! Wer weniger Platz hat, kann auch die kleineren Varianten nutzen. Fazit: Egal ob Gaming, Streaming, Editing oder Produktivität – das Elgato Stream Deck XL ist ein Must-have für alle, die ihr Setup perfektionieren wollen. Besonders Gamer mit vielen Tastenbelegungen (wie in Star Citizen) profitieren extrem von der einfachen und übersichtlichen Steuerung. 💡 Elgato hat hier eine Technologie geschaffen, die den Markt revolutioniert hat – und das verdient mehr Anerkennung! Einmal Stream Deck XL – nie wieder zurück!

This thing isn't cheap - at all - but is super versatile and useful if you're willing to shell out. I am not a streamer. I bought it for gaming, and to generally set up shortcuts for everything I regularly use on my PC. If you're willing to put in the time and have some patience, this thing will reward. I have 4 profiles set up, multiple folders, and everything is available at a touch of a button. Works flawlessly, and very pretty to compliment - especially once you get some wallpapers up and running. In the games I use it with (Flight Simulator, Elite Dangerous), this has become a key piece of kit, eliminating the need to use the keyboard or remember elaborate joystick buttons. Highly recommend.

Me compré la versión normal del Stream Deck, pero la devolví ya que se me quedaron algo "cortos" el numero total de teclas. Y decidí dar el paso para la compra de esta versión XL. ¡Acierto absoluto! La diferencia es exageradamente amplia respecto a la otra versión. Antes tenias que estar "pasando página" para poder tener acceso al resto de funciones, pero en esta versión, consigues tener (por norma general) las funciones en una sola vista. El producto, como todos los del ElGato, es de gran calidad, plug & play, fácil de configurar y usar, acabado profesional y en definitiva, un producto que no debería faltarte en ningún caso ya que te facilita muchísimo la vida y la productividad digital en general. Además permite una personalización absoluta dentro del aspecto y del comportamiento de cada uno de los botones. Y que decir de su uso para "lo que te de la gana", diseño, ofimática, videojuegos, multimedia, por supuesto para su uso en streaming... entre otros. Es un producto muy caro, en serio... MUY CARO, pero cuando lo tienes delante de ti y comienzas a ver sus posibilidades, es cuando te das cuenta que ha merecido la pena invertir en este producto. Quien se lo pueda permitir, ¡es 100% recomendable!

The ease of programming the keys and adding icons is great. The second great feature is the folders - so you can essentially have hundreds of buttons programmed. That said I use for iRacing so 1 deck is enough!

Geweldig apparaat. Kan precies doen wat je wil, meerdere commando's en status computer weergeven!