Anyone who is a content creator – when you create content, when you’re doing live streaming, or if you just have a complicated workflow, the Loupedeck Live may be a game changer for you. This gadget features a lot of buttons and dials that are programmable for purposes of assisting with the operations of many apps and making work easier and efficient. In this 2000+ word review, I will talk about every aspect of the Loupedeck Live which includes its design, how it functions, how to set it up, its performance and its customization features among others.
What is Loupedeck Live?
The Loupedeck Live is a controllabile deck that offers physical knobs and buttons together with a touchscreen functionality. It has 12 touch-sensitive keys, a fully customizable 3. 5 inch touch screen as well as six programmable rings that can enable you to manipulate different applications within the software. The device is designed for the users that include video editors, graphic designers, photographers, live streamers who require the quick and efficient control of the software and interface.
Loupedeck Live can be connected to Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, OBS Studio and streaming services like Twitch just to name a few. Whether you are switching scenes in OBS, changing the size of the brush in Photoshop or adjusting the color grading in the videos, Loupedeck Live is to provide the specific and perfect control in your hand.
Who Is It For?
The Loupedeck Live is perfect for a variety of users:
- Content Creators: Considering that the users may need to edit images, videos, or music, Loupedeck Live gives a constant hand-on command of the tools which are most often utilized.
- Streamers: Such integration with streaming platforms as Twitch and YouTube makes it possible for the streamers to manage their streams, audio, and audience.
- Creative Professionals: Some of the fields that can benefit from the device include but not limited to graphic designers, video/ sound engineers where the device will help take out the time of having to type shortcuts or changing settings manually.
Price and Availability
Currently the Loupedeck Live can be sold worldwide and it can be bought at the Loupedeck official website as well as at Amazon. In the United States, you can get it for $269, in the United Kingdom for £229 and in Australia for AU$404. Like for instance, the Elgato Stream Deck, this Loupedeck Live costs a bit more than it, it’s approximately $100 more expensive to be precise and retails for about $249. But it has additional utilities in terms of expression dials and tight integration with creative applications, which is why it is worth to pay extra bucks for it for many people.
Is It Worth the Price?
That is not cheap, on the other hand, if one looks at the value which this price offers, then it is a worthy investment. From the point of view of content creators and streamers, the time that is created by automation and optimisation of the workflow will deliver the investment multiple times. Both hardware controls and the software integration make it possible for the individuals who use multiple apps every day to work with an incredible efficiency.
Design and Build Quality
The Loupedeck Live can be described as a unique device as it combines the functionalities and appearance to the maximum. As for its design it is compact and straightforward, it barely occupies any space on the table and blends well into an office space. The size of the device is 150 x 110 x 30mm, therefore can be easily transported in a backpack in the event that is necessary. It comes in a black matte color that provides it a sophisticated and professional outlook perfect suitable for modern configurations.
Physical Layout
There is a total of 12 touch-sensitive buttons on the device and they are arranged in a 3 by 4 format. All of these buttons are programmable and one can program them to perform certain command, action or even shortcut depending on the software in use. Altogether the buttons are touch sensitive thus varying from the typical buttons common in most gadgets but give haptic feedback after every touch to enhance tact.
Beneath the touchscreen there are six rotary knobs. For instance, these dials can be set to regulate such features that may include volume, brush size and even brightness depending on the device. Each dial can also be pressed as well, with this as an additional method for toggling between functions or various settings for example.
Kickstand and Port
It has a stand that makes the device to be placed at the best angle for viewing. By design, the Loupedeck Live can either stand vertically on your desk or can be placed flat on it, just in case that is what angers you. On the back, there’s a USB-C port, and it includes a 90-degree angle USB-C to USB-A cable so that the wire is not sticking out at the back but can be managed behind the device.
Build Quality
However, I like how build the Loupedeck Live is: it feels solid. It has a firm and solid build and the dials turn with a very good amount of tactility which makes it easy to control at that level of accuracy. The buttons on the device are touch-sensitive and are very friendly when it comes to being pressed, the build quality is substandard for a Blackberry device but should be able to cope with day to day usage in an office. From the considerations mentioned above it is obvious that the team behind Loupedeck has given much attention to make the device functional and look good.
Setup and Installation
Loupedeck Live is not very complicated to set up; in fact, the setting up process is quite easy. Unboxing is done and the first thing a user is required to do is to connect the device to the computer with the help of the provided USB-C cable. The next action is the download and installation of Loupedeck software which is compatible with Windows and Mac OS.
After the installation of the software, it starts recognizing the Loupedeck Live and also allows the user to program the buttons and dials to his/her choice. The installation process is very easy; however, for a new user the menus for customization might cause some confusion.
Software Interface
Loupedeck software is the very core in the device as it helps to generate profiles, set actions on buttons, and even personalize settings for applications. The user interface is divided into several sections:
- Workspaces: As you have seen every work space is really just a set of one or more pages each of which has its own variable buttons and knobs. You can have the workspace for performing all the different functions a computer can be used for like photo editing, video editing and streaming.
- Profiles: Profiles are also saved settings for given applications to be in a certain mode. Loupedeck Live was designed to change profiles based on the active application so one does not have to switch workspaces once a new task is initiated.
- Actions: This section enables you to assign command, macros or shortcuts to buttons and dials of your choice. These include pre-defined actions which you may choose from or you can create your own actions.
Automatic Profile Switching
Another interesting feature that was implemented in Loupedeck Live is the ability to change the profile depending on the application that you are using. For instance, if you are an Adobe Lightroom user while editing images, Loupedeck Live changes profile to Lightroom and offers controls like exposure, contrast and color balance amongst others. When a switch to streaming using OBS Studio is applied then the device switches to the OBS profile where you can manage scenes, audio and the transitions. This makes the device very flexible when it comes to performance especially in undertaking tasks within different software applications.
Customization Options
In fact, flexibility and customization are perhaps the two main promotional points that the Loupedeck Live boasts of. Each button and dial on the device is assignable and you can define as many different profiles as needed matching different user’s tasks.
Custom Buttons and Icons
Like all its predecessors, the Loupedeck Live comes with 12 touch-sensitive buttons that can be programmed to work in a way that is relevant to the software you are using. For instance, in the case with Adobe’s Photoshop, one key could be used to toggle between two tools, another for defining a layer and another one for loading a filter. The ideas here literally can run into the hundreds and could in fact go on for days.
It is also possible to specify the icons which are to be displayed on each of the commands you assign. The program lets you select different icons from a gallery available as part of the program, or the user may use own icons for navigation for more of a customized effect. This comes in handy when one wants to easily identify a certain product and it also makes the device easy to manipulate.
Rotary Dials
One of the most useful additions that can be found on the Loupedeck Live are the six rotary dials. These dials can be used to adjust settings to different levels for example, volume, brightness or zoom and may be modified for various uses. For instance, if using Adobe Premiere Pro then one could use the dials in controlling the playback speed of the videos, the loudness levels, or even the color aspects of the videos. They are mechanical dials which make rotations slow and precise hence being suitable for tasks that need precision.
Macros and Multi-Action Sequences
One more great advantage of the Loupedeck Live is that it can create macros. A macro is a combination of a number of operations that can be performed by a single push of a key. For instance, you may develop a macro that executes a sequence of operations in Photoshop to filter and adjust an image at once or another one that configures your entire streaming area in OBS Studio with only a click. Macros are extremely useful for driving the drudgery and time sucking out of your work process.
Performance for Content Creators
The Loupedeck Live is a real shot in the arm for content creators, for instance. No matter if you are editing videos, photos, or music, mapping some of the most often used functions to a button or to a dial can save much of your time.
Video Editing
For example, in the video editing programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, the Loupedeck Live excels. Many of the buttons and dials can be programmed to be editing tools, timeline controls or playback functions so you do not need to go switch between menus to trim the clips, adjust the audio levels or color grade the clips. The rotary dials are specifically useful for making adjustments on such details like exposure, contrast or colors balance among others.
Photo Editing
Photographers also find the Loupedeck Live just as helpful as editors do. In the other applications, like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, it is easy to put the crop tool,brush tool and adjustments sliders on the buttons and dials. This comes well personalized with knobs Cindy, as opposed to mouse moves or hot keys, for controlling aspects such as exposure, shadow, highlight, and saturation.
Performance for Streamers
If you are live streaming, the Loupedeck Live is already something that helps to handle the stream. For example, it supports TV streaming services such as Twitch, OBS Studio besides enabling streamlabs to manage the entire stream from a single device.
Scene Switching and Audio Control
To illustrate, in OBS Studio, buttons can be bound to swap scenes, toggle audio sources’ on and off, and initiate transition. These rotary dials is act as volume controls where one can turn on or off various speakers which are in the headphones, microphone, game sound and background music. It means that you’re able to control your stream without having to exit your game or interrupt your stream with the ALT+TAB command.
Audience Interaction
Loupedeck Live also incorporates itself with Twitch where you are able to set up alerts, play sounds and even communicate with the chat. You can make buttons for copying and pasting some text to your chat, for invoking emotes or even for displaying advertisement during a stream. Some of the benefits realized from this level of control include; The following are some of the benefits that can be realized from this level of control;
Loupedeck Live vs Elgato Stream Deck.
When comparing it to the Stream Deck however, there are features that make the Loupedeck Live different from the Elgato Stream Deck. The Loupedeck Live builds further upon the customizable buttons and included streaming integration with the Live, for instance by including rotary knobs for fine control over processing tasks such as audio level adjust, color correction, zoom and more.
Ease of Use
The Elgato Stream Deck is easier compared to Mumble since it does not require a user to learn complex shortcuts. Its software is less complicated; the actual device is less complex, and it doesn’t rely on touchpad input. This makes it great for streamers who are looking for a solution that does not complicate the organizing of the streams.
Creative Functionality
However, the Loupedeck Live is a bit more custom-tailied for creative professions that require more precise control of the operations. It is a bit more useful in that way due to the dials added where it can be used in video editing, photo editing, and more. It might in fact take longer to reach the same level of working with the Loupedeck Live, but, it will prove to be far more versatile and accurate in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Overall the Loupedeck Live is a rather strong and diverse device that has the potential to greatly improve the work of content makers, streamers, and creative industry specialists. As its buttons are programmable, and rotary dials and deeper software integration makes it perfect for those users who need an accurate push on more than one application. Although I agrees that PDA is more costly than most other similar devices, the time that can be shaved of the workflow might balance out the costs tremendously.
In conclusion the Loupedeck Live is a tool that is definitely a must have for any content creator or live streamer who wants to create their settings even better. Thus, flexibility coupled with the measure of precision which the application provides and the simplicity of its operation make it a must have tool in any professional working environment.
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