Elgato's new Stream Deck Studio - the largest version of its Stream Deck controller yet - is designed for broadcast environments where workflows involve juggling more hardware, software, and media feeds than streamers and solo content creators typically have to deal with.
Available starting today for $899.99, the Stream Deck Studio is a collaboration between Elgato and Bitfocus, whose Companion software already brought more advanced functionality to the original Stream Deck, letting you connect multiple controllers and configure them remotely through a web browser interface.
Bitfocus helped make the Stream Deck a useful tool in "traditional broadcast settings" and other applications outside of content creation. Companies like Virgin Atlantic use them to communicate with pilots and air traffic controllers instead of buying similar equipment that can cost thousands of dollars.
With 15 customizable LCD keys, the original Stream Deck is designed to sit on a desk as a keyboard companion. The larger Stream Deck Studio features 32 LCD keys arranged in two rows, plus a pair of rotary dials, and at 19 inches long, it's designed to be mounted in a universal studio rack alongside other broadcast gear.
Connectivity is streamlined with a single USB-C port on the front delivering 5V to bus-powered devices, plus two additional USB-C ports on the back. One of those USB-C ports provides a data connection to the PC, while the other can be used to power the unit as an alternative to the Stream Deck Studio's 25W ethernet PoE (power over ethernet) connector.
The Stream Deck Studio runs on Bitfocus' Companion software, but it can also be used with the developer's new Buttons software that offers "advanced functionalities" built specifically for Elgato's larger controller. These include "instant visual feedback on the device's LCD keys" and the ability to leverage the Stream Deck Studio's built-in RFID and NFC reader to authenticate users and manage what functionality they're permitted to use.
Bitfocus' Companion software is free, but Buttons is a paid upgrade with tiers that range in price from $9 per month for an individual license to $99 per month for a Pro option. The company offers a higher Enterprise tier as well as a one-time purchase option but asks that customers contact it for pricing details.
For more elaborate setups and productions, multiple Stream Deck Studio controllers can be stacked in a rack and linked together using the new Buttons software, allowing them to be easily configured and used as a single controller unit. For setups that have run out of rack space and need more buttons, additional Stream Deck units that can be powered over USB, such as the Stream Deck XL, can be connected to the Studio through its front USB-C port.
