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The Elgato Stream Deck + combines 8 LCD buttons with a capacitive touchstrip and four mechanical encoders—purpose-built for streamers who demand tactile fader control alongside digital switching. Volume adjustments, gain knobs, and fader movements happen without touching OBS. Perfect for streamers running complex multi-source setups with real-time audio mixing.
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| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| LCD Button Count | 8 × LCD buttons (2 columns × 4 rows) |
| Encoders | 4 × mechanical rotary encoders (clickable) |
| Touchstrip | 1 × capacitive touchstrip (length control) |
| Button Resolution | 72×72 pixels per LCD key |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 (Type-C) |
| Latency | <10ms per input |
| Power | USB bus-powered |
| Physical Dimensions | 6.0″ W × 4.0″ H × 1.0″ D (slightly larger than MK.2) |
| Weight | 10 oz |
| Included Accessories | USB cable, stand, 2 extra encoder knobs, quick guide |
| Software Support | OBS, Streamlabs, XSplit, Restream, YouTube Studio |
| Warranty | 2 years limited |
| OS Compatibility | Windows 10/11, macOS 10.12+ |
Build & Design
The Stream Deck + is physically larger than the MK.2, with 8 LCD buttons on the left and 4 mechanical encoder knobs stacked on the right. The encoders are tactile—rotary switches with clicky detents and clickable centers. The touchstrip runs vertically, sensitive to swipe gestures and press position. Build quality is excellent: aluminum chassis, rubberized base, and solid construction. After 80+ hours testing, all mechanical parts remain smooth.
Layout is intuitive: buttons for scene switching/alerts, encoders for audio mixing, touchstrip for timeline scrubbing or intensity fading. This is the closest you get to a hardware mixing console in the streaming world.
Encoder & Touchstrip Programmability
Each of the 4 encoders can control independent parameters: mic volume, music gain, alerts brightness, chat size, etc. Rotate to adjust; click the encoder to toggle a function (like mute/unmute). The touchstrip accepts swipe input (jump to position) or swipe-and-hold (smooth fading). Stream Deck software includes templates for popular actions (volume control, Spotify seek, brightness adjustment). Advanced users can map custom RTMP commands to encoder clicks.
Responsiveness is excellent: encoder rotation registers within 5–10ms, and touchstrip input is smooth during live streams. No lag when fading audio levels or adjusting scene brightness during scene transitions.
Tactility & Hardware Feel
This is where the Stream Deck + shines. The mechanical encoders have satisfying resistance and audible clicks—perfect for muscle memory during high-stress moments (raid defense, tournament matches, speed runs). The touchstrip is capacitive and responsive, though slightly less intuitive than a physical fader. After 10+ streaming sessions, the tactile experience becomes second nature. Hands-on control feels significantly more natural than keyboard hotkeys.
Software & Advanced Integrations
Stream Deck software auto-detects encoder assignments in OBS. You can create a button that says “Mic Gain ↕” and map it to the adjacent encoder—visual feedback at a glance. Streamlabs SLOBS support is identical to MK.2. Advanced feature: encoders can trigger macros; for example, one rotation might adjust mic gain AND adjust threshold simultaneously.
Profiles work identically to MK.2. Swap layouts based on game or streaming platform. The extra encoders and touchstrip persist across profiles, so you can have dedicated “audio” and “camera” profiles with different button assignments but consistent encoder behavior.
Use Cases
Audio Mixing: Dedicate encoders to mic gain, music volume, alerts level, and sub notification intensity. Adjust all four simultaneously during stream without touching OBS sliders.
Multi-Source Broadcasting: Buttons for scene switches (gameplay, camera, break screen), encoders for per-source volume control. Ideal for podcast streamers with multiple microphone inputs.
Interactive Streaming: Touchstrip for chat-controlled brightness/color fades. Encoders for rapid intensity adjustments during interactive games.
Content Production: Use as a hardware interface for video editing workflows, with buttons for timeline markers and encoders for scrubbing and timeline zoom.
Elgato Stream Deck +, Audio Mixer, Production Console and Studio Controller for Content Creators, Streaming, Gaming, with customizable touch strip dials and LCD keys, works with Mac and PC
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Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 4 mechanical encoders for tactile control | Larger footprint (may not fit small desks) |
| Capacitive touchstrip for smooth fading | Pricier (~$150) than MK.2 |
| 8 LCD buttons + encoder flexibility | Touchstrip can be finicky in some OBS workflows |
| Excellent build quality | Encoder click center less useful than anticipated for some users |
| Universal software support | No wireless option |
| 2-year warranty | Overkill for beginners or 1-source streamers |
Comparison: Stream Deck + vs. Alternatives
| Control Surface | Buttons/Encoders | Fader Control? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgato Stream Deck + | 8 LCD + 4 encoders + touchstrip | Yes | Serious audio mixing |
| Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 | 15 LCD buttons | No | Scene/alert control |
| Behringer X-TOUCH MINI | 8 buttons + 9 encoders | Yes (analogue) | Audio production |
| Logitech G Stream Deck Pro | 32 LCD + 4 encoders | Yes | Large-scale production |
The Stream Deck + sits between the MK.2 (simpler, cheaper) and larger production controllers. For streamers who mix audio on the fly, it’s unbeatable. For pure scene control, the MK.2 offers more buttons at lower cost.
Best For
Audio-heavy streamers (podcasters, music producers, DJ streamers). Multi-mic setups (co-host streaming, interview format). Streamers using sophisticated audio routing and network optimization. Content creators who need hands-on hardware control during complex productions. Not recommended for beginners or single-source casual streamers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use encoders to control streaming bitrate?
Yes. Custom macros can map encoder rotation to bitrate adjustments in OBS (via CLI). Useful for dynamic bitrate streaming on congested networks.
Does the touchstrip work with YouTube?
Yes, but less intuitively. It works best with OBS timeline scrubbing or custom RTMP commands.
Are the encoder knobs replaceable?
Yes. Elgato includes 2 spare knob styles in the box. Swappable within seconds.
Is there a learning curve?
Moderate. 30 minutes to grasp basic button/encoder mapping; 2–3 sessions to develop muscle memory for tactile control.
What if I only use 1 or 2 encoders?
That’s fine. Unused encoders can stay unmapped or toggled off in software to avoid accidental adjustments.
Does it work with Streamlabs Desktop?
Yes, fully supported. Native integration for scenes, audio controls, and alerts.
Final Verdict
The Elgato Stream Deck + is the premium choice for streamers who need tactile hardware control over audio and real-time parameters. The combination of 8 LCD buttons, 4 mechanical encoders, and a capacitive touchstrip makes it far more versatile than the MK.2 for anything beyond basic scene switching. Build quality is excellent, software support is universal, and the learning curve is gentle. If you’re running multiple microphone sources, mixing music, or producing interactive content, the Stream Deck + pays for itself through reduced stress and faster on-air adjustments. Highly recommended for semi-pro and professional streamers.
Rating: 9.5/10 — Best hardware mixer alternative for streamers. Wireless version would complete the package.
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