The quick verdict
The Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 is a must-have for anyone live streaming. At its core it is a modern, affordable video switcher: 15 LCD keys that switch cameras, fire graphics and run your whole show from one small pad. But it does far more than streaming duty. With plugins and a little setup it can run your smart lights, speed up photo and video editing, control Zoom calls and act as a bank of labelled hotkeys for gaming. I could not imagine running my streams without it.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What the hardware is like
The Mk.2 is a compact unit built from sturdy plastic, sitting at a fixed angle on its stand, with a grippy pad on the bottom so it does not skate around when you hit keys mid-stream. The star of the show is the grid: three rows of five buttons, each with a satisfying tactile press you can feel without looking, and behind every button a little LCD screen you can assign an image and text to. Elgato’s spec puts the deck at 118 by 84 by 25 mm without the stand and 145 grams, with a detachable cable about 150 cm long. The faceplate is removable so you can swap the look, although I keep a small piece of tape on mine because it can pop off accidentally. Elgato recommends plugging straight into the computer; since my MacBook Pro only has USB-C ports, I run mine through a hub with no issues at all.
Fifteen keys, effectively unlimited commands
Fifteen buttons sounds limiting until you understand pages and folders. You can stack multiple pages of keys, and any single key can become a folder containing its own pages of actions, so the real command count is essentially unlimited. In the software, programming a key is drag and drop: pick an action, name it, watch the label update live on the physical key, then style the text or drop on your own icon as a 280 by 280 pixel PNG.
A video switcher you can run yourself
The Stream Deck was designed to replicate a broadcast video switcher for streamers on YouTube and Twitch. It switches camera angles and scenes, starts and ends your broadcast, and triggers graphics, video clips and audio on cue. That lets one person put on a production that used to need a small crew. Larger setups can connect multiple Stream Decks to one computer, each programmed differently.
How I use it with OBS
My layout is built around chapters. A button toggles between my two main camera angles, another is a mic mute toggle, and the heavy lifting is done by multi-action switches. Pressing a chapter key highlights the chapter graphic, starts the segment timer and brings up that chapter’s media in my close-up camera scene, all at once. Pressing it again disengages everything cleanly. Other keys stop the video and roll a picture slideshow, fire sound effects from a folder, or jump straight to the final Q and A chapter. Setting the multi-actions up took the longest of anything, but once they are built the stream practically runs itself. The production value we get from this Stream Deck setup simply would not be possible as seamlessly without it.
Way beyond streaming
Elgato’s plugin library is where the Mk.2 turns into a general-purpose control centre. There are plugins organized by category: smart lighting control you can fold into other commands, so my welcome sequence dims the lights as the stream opens; a Zoom plugin that makes running a big meeting far easier; tools for Apple apps and other business software; even live crypto price tickers. Third-party integrations go further, though they can need some configuration and extra drivers: assign your Photoshop tools to keys, or set up transitions and edit actions for Premiere. Gamers have figured out their own integrations too, and 15 hotkeys with custom icons and labels is a tempting offer if you play anything complicated.
The learning curve, honestly
When you first start, especially with multi-action switches, it is a little tricky. If you have any programming background it will come fast. For me it took a couple of sessions, a few hours here and there, before I really had a handle on it. After that it is smooth sailing and the sky is the limit. The price is quite reasonable for what it does, and I think it is worth every penny.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 15 tactile LCD keys with custom icons and labels
- Pages and folders make the command count effectively unlimited
- Multi-actions let one press run a whole scene change
- Huge plugin ecosystem, from smart lights to Zoom to editing apps
- Multiple decks on one computer, each programmed differently
Cons
- Multi-action programming has a real learning curve
- The removable faceplate can pop off; mine lives with tape on it
- Some third-party integrations need extra drivers and setup
- Key display resolution is fine, not great
FAQ
How many buttons does the Stream Deck Mk.2 have?
Fifteen LCD keys in a three by five grid. With multiple pages and folders that can hold their own pages, the number of commands you can program is effectively unlimited.
Can you use a Stream Deck without streaming?
Absolutely. Through plugins and third-party integrations it works for photo and video editing, gaming hotkeys, smart home control, Zoom meetings and general business apps. Streaming is just where it started.
Can you connect more than one Stream Deck?
Yes. Multiple Stream Decks can run off the same computer at once, each with its own layout. I use the Mk.2 myself and a six-key Mini for my producer.
Final verdict
The Elgato Stream Deck Mk.2 is an incredibly versatile piece of gear that will pay for itself in production quality for anyone who streams, and it keeps finding new jobs long after: editing, gaming, smart home control, even running business applications. It is my home base workstation for every broadcast, and I could not imagine doing my live streams without it.