Razer has been quickly increasing its streaming for players merchandise this yr and now affords just about every little thing it is advisable to sport and stream on the similar time.For its newest addition, it has partnered with Loupedeck to tackle Elgato with its new Stream Deck competitor, the Razer Stream Controller. A macro pad with a few bonus bells and whistles.At first look, there’s a lot to love about it, but a $269/£269 price ticket makes this a much less reasonably priced possibility than the Elgato Stream Deck. In the tip, do the additional options warrant the additional funding?Today’s finest Razer Stream Controller offers (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Design & featuresThose who’ve been doing their analysis will discover the Stream Controller a very familiar-looking machine. Razer’s partnership with Loupedeck runs extra than simply pores and skin deep: the Stream Controller just isn’t way more than a rebadged model of Loupedeck’s 2020 launch, the Loupedeck Live.That means you’ll discover the identical assortment of enter choices throughout the entrance, and it’s a fairly complete providing. Six stepped dials that additionally click on in as buttons, eight bodily buttons, and 12 mini touchscreens supply loads of flexibility. The Razer Stream Controller affords the spectacular construct high quality you’d anticipate for one thing bearing the Razer brand. It’s fairly understated by its requirements too, an all matte black slab with simply a refined gloss Razer nameplate. The metallic faceplate is premium, but it’s a little plasticky across the back for my liking – significantly if you’re paying prime greenback.(Image credit score: Future/Alex Berry)The touchscreens are vivid and clear and whereas they’re nearly precisely the identical measurement because the buttons on Elgato’s Stream Deck they do appear barely increased decision. There’s no bodily push to them although, as a substitute, the entire unit has a light vibration to let you recognize you’ve fired off an motion. The rumble is weak nevertheless and relying in your desk setup you may not even discover it in any respect. During my testing whereas I might hear the haptic motor hearth off, I didn’t truly really feel a vibration except I held my finger on a button – which then stops the motion triggering as a consequence; it’s not a nice system.A moderately flimsy stand affords one angle of elevation or you possibly can lay it flat on its 4 rubberised ft. It’s a fairly rudimentary system, but it really works. There is one different bodily distinction between the Razer Stream Controller and the Loupedeck Live and it’s a small albeit welcome one. Razer has been much more beneficiant with the included USB cable, which is twice the size of the one included with the Loupedeck and far much less proscribing in terms of desk format.(Image credit score: Future/Alex Berry)PerformanceAdding the Razer Stream Controller to my Twitch stream setup was a barely peculiar expertise. I’ve been utilizing an Elgato Stream Deck constantly for years but discovered the transition to the Razer controller a difficult one to make. Both gadgets are designed to do the identical factor, give the streamer easy accessibility to a vary of instructions able to be fired off at a second’s discover. The drawback with the Razer Stream Controller although, is that it requires an excessive amount of focus to be sure to’re triggering the fitting factor. You can use the Stream Deck blind, I do know my important sport scene is the highest left button, and my microphone mute button is second from the fitting on the underside row. With my eyes closed, I can discover these targets with my fingers and set off them with confidence. However, as a result of the Razer Stream Controller’s buttons aren’t truly buttons there’s no margin for error. Unlike a bodily button, there’s no probability to really feel your option to the fitting button with out taking your eyes off the sport to search for it. This made the Stream Controller nearly extra of a hindrance than a assist whereas dwell. (Image credit score: Future/Alex Berry)That frustration apart, there’s not a lot else to complain about in terms of utilizing the Razer Stream Controller. Actions are responsive and the advantage of fixed bodily buttons to modify between completely different pages of actions is a welcome addition over the Stream Deck’s software-only folder resolution. The dials deliver granular management that isn’t obtainable with different macro pads, altering audio ranges this fashion feels much more pure but I didn’t discover too many different makes use of for them whereas streaming. Off stream although, the dials are a useful addition to a inventive workflow so editors and designers ought to discover them helpful.The Razer Stream Controller is powered by Loupedeck’s software program which affords a drag-and-drop interface for setting every little thing up. While it’s actually busier than Elgato’s app it’s easy sufficient to make use of and even comes with a respectable number of preconfigured workspaces. There’s native help for the Adobe Suite out of the field too, together with a complete host of default workspaces for every app, one thing that’s notably absent from Elgato’s ecosystem.(Image credit score: Future/Alex Berry)Overall – Should you purchase the Razer Stream Controller?Fundamentally the Razer Stream Controller is a solid performer and respectable addition to the Razer streaming gear lineup, but sadly, there are a few fundamental design decisions that maintain it back from being way more than that. Build high quality and respectable supporting software program are each there, but a clunky person expertise holds it back from being a true Stream Deck competitor. If needing to take your eyes off the motion isn’t a problem, otherwise you’re a significantly heavy Adobe Suite person the Razer Stream Controller will probably be a welcome addition to your setup. Though up towards the established Elgato Stream Deck it’s simply not ticking sufficient bins to be value investing the additional in.Today’s finest Razer Stream Controller offers (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)How we examined the Razer Stream ControllerThe Razer Stream Controller changed my traditional Elgato Stream Deck in my dwell stream setup for about a week. I carried throughout my most used actions like scene switching, audio management, and soundbites and replicated them in Loupedeck’s software program the place potential. I additionally used the default shortcuts for Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro whereas enhancing photographs and slicing collectively video.You can learn extra about our strategy to gaming tech and merchandise within the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.Complete your streaming setup with top-of-the-line microphones for streaming, finest seize playing cards, and the most effective webcams.
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