Reviews of Elgato Stream Deck XL.
Elgato killed him when it comes to launching products designed to help streamers create the most beautiful, soundest, and best-managed streams on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms. While video and audio are a must for any streamer hoping to be successful, vapor management is arguably just as important. Whether it’s switching sources or scenes, triggering sounds or emotes, activating sequences in other apps, or simply automating social media posts, the Stream Deck range of d ‘Elgato makes streaming efficient and stress-free.
We saw it firsthand with the Stream Deck Mini in our review, the product having won an Editors’ Choice award and a place on my desk in the years since. Since then, Elgato has updated the Stream Deck software to dramatically improve the functionality, beyond anything I expected. It was a joy to see the Stream Deck Mini evolve and find new ways to integrate it not only into my streaming workflow, but also into my video editing and web management roles. However, one thing always fooled me: what if there were more pimples? Enter the Elgato Stream Deck XL! This is the review of GameRevolution.
Become extra large
The Elgato Stream Deck XL is the largest of the Stream Decks. It has 32 customizable LCD keys, while the standard Stream Deck has 15 keys and the Stream Deck Mini has six keys. While I like the small footprint of the mini version, I was happy to dramatically increase the number of keys available, especially when it comes to assigning many different functions for editing programs like Adobe. Premium Pro and Photoshop. The functionality can be pushed far beyond live streaming.
Buy the Elgato Stream Deck XL on Amazon here
From the unboxing experience to the quick set-up, first impressions of Elgato products are always solid. Unsurprisingly, the size of the Elgato Stream Deck XL is what struck me first. It comes with the magnetic mount attached, although it can be easily removed for a flatter appearance. Then there’s the detachable USB-A to USB-C cable which is still nice to see.
Perfect match between hardware and software
The Quick Start Guide tells you to plug in the unit and install the Stream Deck software. Once you’ve plugged in and the app is installed, it’s time to start customizing. While you can technically assign the same number of functions on the Stream Deck Mini as on the Stream Deck XL using folders within folders, the 26 additional physical buttons on the Deck XL make it much easier to trigger action layouts more complicated in live and offline scenarios.
As much as I appreciate the ability to have folders within folders within folders, there’s no need to push multiple fingers and memorize paths to certain functions, at best it’s inefficient and at worst frustrating.
While the Stream Deck Mini is a cheap entry point, the Stream Deck XL takes things to a whole new level. If you’re a streamer, professional or avid editor, or just use a lot of macros or obscure keyboard functions, the XL’s 32 keys are incredibly nice to have. As LCD screens, these keys provide a clear visualization that they have been activated, so there is no need to guess or hope that they have worked, as is the case with macros. keyboard.
Update 5.0 is here!
As mentioned earlier, the software support for the Stream Deck line has been enormous. At the time of writing, version 5.0 has recently been released. The update introduces a new showcase divided into five sections: Discover, Plugins, Icons, Music and Sound Effects. This provides a one-stop-shop for content and additional functionality built into the app itself.
It’s really impressive to see Elgato push this ecosystem further and further. The Stream Deck was already excellent and it just keeps getting better.
Elgato Stream Deck XL review: the final verdict
I’ve been driving the Mini on a daily basis for over two years now and consider it a key part of my setup to ease my flow and editing workflow. Now I have the XL here to increase the number of buttons and with the 5.0 update the possibilities now seem almost endless.
Whichever size you choose, this product is a must have for streamers and content creators. It continues to grow in functionality and I see no end to its usefulness. Of course, more buttons mean more out-of-the-box functions, and so the Elgato Stream XL is the biggest and best of all for those who can handle the asking price of $ 250. If it’s too steep, the smaller sizes look just as great!
Elgato Stream Deck XL was supplied by Corsair.
