A handy desk setup accessory
and how I use it
Hello, awesome people of the Interweb. In my newest home office desk setup video, I talked about the Elgato Stream Deck and how I use it for productivity purposes. If you are not sure what I am talking about, you can first check out the video here:
This is the Elgato Stream deck 👇🏻
The Elgato Stream Deck is a powerful accessory designed to enhance the workflow of content creators, gamers, and anyone else who needs to perform complex tasks easily. It features customizable LCD keys that can be programmed to perform various functions, from launching applications to controlling media playback and even triggering macros. The Stream Deck comes in various versions. Mine is MK.2 and comes with 15 LCD keys.
One of the primary benefits of using the Elgato Stream Deck is that it allows you to streamline your workflow by performing multiple tasks with a single press of a button, like shortcuts. You can assign specific functions to each LCD key as I do at home.
I have created two pages that I can manually switch between. Both pages are also automated to switch back and forth based on the workflow. In my case, the majority of the time, I see my home kit lights, yet when I open my video editing app, the Stream Deck switches to page two, which holds my app shortcuts.
Keep in mind that I am only scratching the surface when it comes to possibilities. The Stream Deck is also incredibly customizable, allowing you to create custom profiles for different tasks or applications.
What might not be so obvious here is how you can tie your HomeKit items (like lights) with Stream Deck. Enter a little app called HomeControl. HomeControl allows you to trigger scenes and appliances, but what matters most is that it allows you to copy the HomeKit trigger URLs to paste inside StreamDeck.
I plan on expanding my Stream Deck use by introducing Music Shortcuts and even IFTTT integrations, but I’ll leave that for another installment.
What’s new
Last week I released two new wallpaper packs. I am particularly proud of the Sophia pack as this is my first collaboration with a good friend of mine, Dmitry, from Hardware Canucks. As soon as he showed me the breathtaking shots he took during a trip, it was clear that we had to share the beauty.
I've been looking to integrate the Stream Deck into my setup for quite some time now! Patrick from Patrick Rambles first introduced me to it and now seeing how you use it, I'm convinced! Once I can afford one, I'll definitely give it a shot as it looks so useful especially for editing! Plus, it would look so cool on the left side of the keyboard instead of a trackpad like a lot of other people who edit! Lovely wallpapers with Dmitry too! I have so many videos to catch up from you once I finish this semester and sort my internship/living situation out 😭 I'm still looking for an internship and my lease ends in 6 days so I won't have a studio anymore 😞
I'm fascinated by the Egato Stream Deck. I know I would absolutely love using one. But the budget says not this year. Maybe next year. So in the meantime I make use of Shortcuts and other ways to set up things so it's all humming my tune and working with me instead of against. But gosh to just press a button and have stuff happen ... I have a little mini switch button from Aqara to control lights in my office and another in the bedroom. Very useful but only has 3 options. One click, two clicks and long press. Not exactly an ESD but as close as I can come in the moment! Thanks for sharing - and I look forward to your next instalment.