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Are Stream Decks Really Useful?

There is no way to deny the fact that stream decks are becoming more and more prominent in the modern-day and age. Ever since the streaming has reached the heights of success it is at this point, the stream decks are actually so much more useful than they used to be. Nowadays, you will barely see any streamer that will not be using a stream deck.

We actually covered the best stream decks available in the market and realized that there is an ever so increasing demand for these handy gadgets. Plus, Elgato and Corsair are actually pushing these really hard in the market and making the most of the situation, too.

With that in mind, the question that we have in mind today is whether the stream decks are really useful or not. Considering you are spending money on something that does cost a good amount of money, it is best if you buy something that actually has a use, and is not just a gimmick.

That is why we have trudged a quest to find if these stream decks are as useful as one might think.

Make as Many Macros as You Want

Macros are more or fewer things that people do not really want to invest in. Especially when it comes to creating them on your own. However, the thing that you need to know about macros is that they happen to be extremely useful if you are actually using them to their full potential. Once you have gained full control over macros, making use of them is not something that is going to be a difficult thing to do.

When you are investing in a stream deck, the good news is that you will actually be able to create as many macros as you want. Obviously, you would still be limited to the number of keys available on the stream deck, but if you are going for a larger stream deck, you can have a much better experience as well.

You can create all sorts of macros that you want to use in or out of the game. However, just make sure that you are careful because there are some macros in the game that are actually not allowed, but that is only when you are talking about online gaming.

Whatever the case is, you cannot overlook the fact that the ability to create macros is pretty great. This can actually help you even if you are a video or a photo editor and you want to be able to create shortcuts.

Switch to Different Tasks With Ease

If you are someone who multi-tasks as a lot, then you are going to need something that will let you multitask with ease. Granted, tabbing out is always an option but it does not take you to the specific program or app you are trying to open.

If you want to have the granular control over how you handle tasks and multitask, then going for a stream deck is something that will benefit you in more ways than one. Having the power to attain such tasks by just a tap is something that is extremely beneficial and will get the job done for you in no time.

Create GIFs

Okay, this feature might sound like a gimmick to a lot of people but if you are looking to have some fun with GiFs, the good news about using a good stream deck like the one from your Elgato is that you will be able to create your own GIFs and use them on the LCD keys of the deck.

Sure, you might not want to use GIFs at all, but just having the option of it is something that you should never overlook. In simpler words, it can benefit you a lot more than you might think in the first place.

Control Media

Another benefit of stream decks is that you can control media whenever you feel like it. Sure, your keyboard might have dedicated media keys, but the thing about those keys is that they will have their limitations such as the fact that they might not be able to control the media with ease, or might not be able to handle all the tasks that you throw at them.

In such cases, having a dedicated row of keys that will allow you to control all the possible aspects of media is something that is extremely beneficial and will not cause you any troubles, either. You can adjust volumes, play and pause music, skip tracks just by just a tap.

Needless to say, a stream deck is a near-perfect tool for having the most amount of options and actions available at your fingertips. While it might not be the be-all, end-all for every streamer, if you are looking for something functional, it is going to give you a great experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the one thing that we have to say is that if you are a streamer who streams regularly and has a lot of multitasking to do, the idea of having a stream deck is only going to make your overall experience better and much more coherent.

You really do not have to worry about such programs not being enough because they get the job done in all the cases, and you can easily make the most of the situation without any issues that might come in the way.

Just make sure that you are buying the right stream deck for the money you have aligned for such a purpose, and you would be good to go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bill Wilson


Bill is a certified Microsoft Professional providing assistance to over 500 remotely connected employees and managing Windows 2008 to 2016 servers.