I’ve been using a streaming controller (or…Deck, as it were) for a while now, but there’s been a recent bit of movement from other brands and sectors with their own idea on how a dedicated streaming control panel should work. One of the bits of gear I kept coming back to in my search for something better was the Loupedeck Live – a similar take on the concept with its programmable LCD buttons but also one with its own touch sliders, physical buttons and rotating dials thrown into the mix.
Well folks, I finally got that Loupedeck – only it’s actually a Razer Stream Controller. Yep, the gaming peripheral giant has gone and released its own, rebadged version of the Live that’s near-identical in everything but the name. For a not-insignificant sum of AUD $459.95, you get twelve ‘Haptic Switchblade’ keys, six analog dials and eight programmable buttons nestled in a very solid-feeling slab with a metallic faceplate that fits in nicely with Razer’s other premium streaming devices. The box contents are simple enough; a plastic stand that clips easily onto the back of the unit, an expensive-feeling USB-C to USB-A cable, some standard documentation and that’s about it.
When you’ve got it all unboxed and plugged in, you’ll be directed to install the Razer Synapse suite (if you haven’t already), but funnily enough the bulk of your software experience with the Razer Stream Controller won’t be with any of Razer’s own applications. While you can link it to Razer Synapse, the same suite used to control other products like the Razer Key Light and Audio Mixer, there’s very little reason to right now. The more critical app is Loupedeck’s own offering, which is where you’ll go to customise your keys and layouts as well as install any plugins you need to make it work with a wide variety of software like Ableton, Voicemod and Adobe Premiere. You can download preset profiles and icon packs made by Loupedeck users for free on the Loupedeck Marketplace, or you can spend the time to tinker and create your own.
This is where my biggest issues with the Stream Controller began. For whatever reason, the Loupedeck software seems unable to handle even the simple task of dragging-and-dropping functions onto the virtual representation of the device’s keys without grinding to a halt. It becomes incredibly slow, making me wait literally minutes at some points for a mouse click to register. It’s hard to say if that’s any fault of Razer’s, but it’s certainly a bad look for their product, and others who I’ve spoken to that are using the same device have come up against the exact same issue so it’s seemingly not dependent on anyone’s PC hardware.
It is fun to spend hours setting it all up though (when you’re not being forced to wait hours more for the program to keep pace), and once you get it all up and running it’s an undeniably useful little device. I don’t stream too often, but on testing it with a few of the different layouts and functions I’ve set up in OBS in the past it managed everything easily. The buttons and dials especially add a nicely tactile element that makes me feel like I’m doing something much more professional than I actually am. The haptics on the LCD display definitely help, but they’re missing the hefty press of the Stream Deck’s individual LCD switches.
The bit that surprised me the most with the Razer device is the volume dials, which might seem excessive at a count of six in total, but quickly revealed themselves to be more useful than just controlling audio. Using it with Photoshop I found them incredibly handy for things like brush sizes, transforming objects and adjusting values, so much so that I don’t think I’ll ever use Photoshop the ‘normie’ way again. I really like how seamlessly the Stream Controller auto-switches profiles as you tab in and out of different applications, and though I didn’t get much use out of it for controlling actual video games, I’m excited to see where the community takes it. I can imagine this being an essential integration into some peoples’ MMO or even simulator setups in an effort to streamline everything.
As for why this Razer-branded version of an existing product even exists, there are two things to consider. One is the potential for Razer to more completely integrate the device into the Synapse ecosystem. That’s not a given at this point, and it could just as easily never happen. The second point though, is that this brings what was a more niche product firmly into the gaming space and gives the other popular streaming device manufacturer some competition in that category while hopefully encouraging the Loupedeck crowd to think more about its gaming potential. It’s a smart move from Razer, and if you’re a gamer who’s already into or looking toward the Razer ecosystem of products it makes sense to go for this version.
Final Thoughts
The Razer Stream Controller definitely isn’t a product for everyone, and to be completely honest there will be those who are perhaps better served by a cheaper alternative, but there’s a lot to like here for the veteran streamers, productivity wizards and tech tinkerers among us. It’s simply a fun device, from the setup and customisation of your profiles and buttons to the satisfying tactility of it in action. Some software concerns aside, this is one compelling little bit of gear.
Review unit supplied by the manufacturer
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