Stream Decks are taking over Laptops & Desktops !!
They’ve been all the rage for the last 5-7 years, and there’s no sign of it slowing down!! They just keep getting bigger & better, and they’re getting incorporated into standard keybords as well. There’s even apps that give you a virtual strem deck thru your cell phone!!
As programmers are creating more & more uses and functionalities to incorporate stream decks into more products, its safe to say that you may as well get one & start improving your computer experience in a dozen ways.
Basically a Stream Deck is an easily programmable set of buttons & knobs that provide macro’s that you determine.
So What Is A Macro ??
Think of a macro as asequence of commands that you can reduce down to one click of a button. You choose a button and go into your settings, and just select as many commands or functions as you wish for that button to do.
So What Commands Can It Perform ??
You can choose to open a program, or a selection of programs that you’ll be usinig together, and instead of opening them one-by-one, a single button can do it all at one time. You can open programs, assorted files, websites, or and executable function a computer can do.
You can use rotary knobs (if your Stream Deck has knobs) and use it to turn volume up & down, dim or brighten the lights, focus a webcam, or a variety of other things.
There are several differences between brands, but probably the primary difference (outside of build quality) is likely to be the app behind the hardware, that can make programming it as easy or as difficult as you can imagine.
Of the main players in the Stream Deck market for the last few years, Elgato is pretty much the best of the best. Great software interface, great tech help, great products. They seem to be the largest innovators that the others try to keep up with.
