Razer Stream Controller X Review: Looks Familiar
Razer is all about streaming and content material creation nowadays (who is not?) and it appears to be focusing on Elgato immediately with its newest streaming deck. In truth, after I first noticed the brand new Razer Stream Controller X, I assumed Razer had deserted its partnership with Loupedeck and turned to Elgato (however later realized that this would not actually make sense since Elgato is semi-owned by rival gaming firm Pirate). However would not the brand new Stream Controller X look so much like this? Elgato Movement Deck MK.2?
That is Razer’s second collaboration with Finnish broadcast deck recorder producer Loupedeck, and the primary Razer Stream Controller (launched in July 2022) was little greater than a resurfacing. One in every of Loupedeck’s present consolesThe brand new Stream Controller X seems like a model new product. (Properly, it is model new-ish, as a result of it seems so much like Elgato’s MK.2.) The Stream Controller X is a small, chunky deck with 15 touchable LCD buttons. It is powered by Loupedeck’s software program and comes with a detachable magnetic stand and a replaceable magnetic faceplate and is at present $149.99.
Design of Movement Controller X
Movement Controller X, share Just like the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2, from 15 tactile LCD buttons to a replaceable magnetic faceplate. Nonetheless, it’s not a precise duplicate — the Movement Controller X is barely smaller, measuring 4.37 inches (111 mm) broad and three.17 inches (80.7 mm) deep. It measures 1.18 inches (30 mm) at its highest level with out the foot and three.1 inches (78.9 mm) with the foot. For comparability, the MK.2 is 4.6 inches (118 mm) broad, 3.3 inches (84 mm) deep, and 1 inch (25 mm) excessive and not using a stand (3 inches / 76 mm with stand).
The Stream Controller X has a listed weight of 0.39lb (177g), however I am undecided the place that quantity comes from as my overview unit is 0.32lb (147g), 0.02lb (200g) with out the stand or cable. ) with cable with out stand, with stand with out cable, 0.7 kilos (317 g), and with cable and stand 0.81 kilos (369 g). For comparability, the MK.2 weighs 0.32 kilos (145 g) with out the cable or stand and 0.6 kilos (270 g) with the stand (excluding the cable).
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The Stream Controller X is housed in a sturdy, matte black plastic case with raised rubber ft and an oblong cutout on the again to accommodate the system’s USB-C cable. The magnetic and simply replaceable faceplate options the Razer brand printed on the backside heart and has shiny accents surrounding the system’s 15 clear, plastic, touchable LCD buttons.
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The Stream Controller X will be positioned horizontally in your desk (it is barely angled) or you may place it on a v-shaped magnetic stand that places the system at a 50 diploma angle. The stand has a cutout for the system’s USB-C cable – this works, but it surely in all probability might have been utilized higher because it places some strain on the cable. The stand itself could be very sturdy – a lot stronger than the flimsy piece of plastic that was not too long ago provided. Loupedeck Reside S – and the deck snaps into place very simply.
The stand is fairly heavy, so I do not suppose you should fear about it sliding off your desk once you press a button. Apparently Razer/Loupedeck had this concern, so the underside of the stand is roofed with non-slip micro-absorbent tape.
Within the field, the Stream Controller X comes with a detachable magnetic stand and 6.5 ft (2 m) of coated USB-C to USB-A cable, in addition to an instruction booklet (and naturally, a Razer brand sticker). .
Options
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Buttons (Tactile) | 15 |
| Buttons (Contact) | 0 |
| Dials | 0 |
| Software program | Magnifying glass |
| Interface | USB-A |
| Cable | 2m USB-C to USB-A |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.37 x 3.17 x 1.18 inches / 111 x 80.7 x 20mm |
| Weight | 0.39 kilos / 177 grams |
| system necessities | Home windows 10 64-bit / macOS 10.14 (or later) |
| MSRP / Worth at Evaluate | $149.99 / $149.99 |
| Launch date | 13 April 2023 |
Buttons on Movement Controller X
The Stream Controller X has 15 “switchblade” buttons – that is proper, Razer has lastly found out methods to ahead the remnants of its formidable switchblade idea. (Truly, I am fairly positive the corporate additionally named the buttons on the primary Stream Controller switchblades, however they are much nearer to the unique switchblade design.)
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The buttons are organized in a three-row, five-column grid (identical to the MK.2)’s buttons, and every button measures 0.63 inches (16 mm) sq.. They’re tactile, in contrast to the buttons on the primary Stream Controller, which have been touch-sensitive with haptic suggestions. I am an enormous fan of the tactile buttons on the stream decks, and so they present good suggestions (they’re fairly just like the Elgato’s touchscreen LCD buttons on a touchscreen). Elgato Movement Deck+albeit barely smaller).
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The Stream Controller X’s tactile buttons lack the unified touchscreen performance of the primary Stream Controller. The touch-sensitive buttons on the primary Stream Controller have been basically one massive touchscreen, and you would navigate by means of the Movement Controller’s pages utilizing swipe gestures on that touchscreen.
In Stream Controller X, the underside left and proper nook buttons are reserved for navigation (backside proper on first web page solely; backside left solely on final web page). These customized navigation buttons can’t be reprogrammed, though their icons will be modified. So you do not actually get 15 programmable buttons on the Stream Controller X – you get 13 or 14 relying on the web page. Loupedeck’s software program helps as much as 14 pages – excluding navigation, that is nonetheless 184 programmable buttons, and that is in all probability sufficient for many broadcasters. Nonetheless, it is a bit of annoying you can’t do away with and even relocate these navigation keys.
Stream Controller X Software program
Stream Controller X requires Loupedeck software program to run. (It additionally seems as a module in Razer Synapse 3, however all this module does is throw you into the Loupedeck.)
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Streaming decks are all about customization, however don’t fret: Stream Controller X is not a totally clean slate proper out of the field. It comes preloaded with a handful of presets, together with 4 pre-made screens (with icons in Razer’s signature inexperienced) tuned for streaming, social media, Twitch chat, and sound results. You will nonetheless wish to spend a while customizing the Stream Controller X to fit your particular wants, positive, however the pre-loaded content material means you can begin utilizing the system immediately.
Loupedeck is about dynamic profiles and workspaces, that are collections of instruments (buttons) linked to particular purposes or video games. In “dynamic mode”, Loupedeck’s software program routinely switches to application-specific profiles once you use that utility; so the console is precisely what you want at any given second. Loupedeck presents native profile/plugin help for quite a lot of apps, with pre-made profiles for streaming apps (like OBS, Twitch, and Streamlabs) and artistic apps (like Ableton Reside, Closing Lower Professional, VMix, and Adobe’s artistic suite).
That is all simply a place to begin in fact – you may modify these pre-made profiles in Loupedeck’s software program, or you may create your personal and assign them to open with particular apps.
On the finish of the day, profiles are simply collections of button actions. You’ll be able to program buttons with predefined actions (out there in native or third-party plugins) or create your personal customized actions utilizing Loupedeck’s software program. You’ll be able to chain a number of actions on a single button utilizing the macro characteristic (urgent the button as soon as causes all actions to be carried out in sequence) or the multi-toggle characteristic (urgent the button as soon as causes the primary motion to be carried out, urgent it once more). causes the second motion to be carried out, and so on; as much as 5 actions will be multi-passed).
Loupedeck’s software program additionally consists of the Loupedeck Market, which incorporates extra free and paid belongings from each Loupedeck and third-party creators. These belongings embrace plugins, profiles, stream overlays, emoticons and badges, presets and kinds, icon packs and sound packs. Presently, there are solely two Razer plugins for Razer Key Mild Chroma and Razer Audio Mixer on the Market.
Underline
The primary Razer Streaming Controller was a Razer-branded Loupedeck Reside solely. The Razer Stream Controller X is not technically only a Razer-branded Elgato Stream Deck MK.2, since it is also not made by Elgato. In any other case, it is form of… it’s. It actually will depend on whether or not you like Loupedeck’s software program and plug-in help to Elgato’s (and Elgato’s tactile LCD buttons to Loupedeck’s tactile contact buttons), as a result of Stream Controller X is finally Loupedeck’s software program. Elgato Movement Deck MK.2 It encompasses a Razer brand on the entrance.
not okay Undoubtedly the identical. The Movement Controller X has a well-designed, strong stand, even when the micro-suction tape might be overkill. However the design could be very shut – I assume Razer will come out with interchangeable faceplates within the close to future, however possibly it ought to have began with these. That does not imply I do not prefer it, as a result of I adore it. The Stream Controller X is a pleasant compact measurement (however nonetheless very sturdy), its buttons are vivid, clear and tactile, and Loupedeck’s native help for Photoshop is my private deal maker on Elgato’s Stream Deck software program.
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