So, that is as nifty and useful as I thought it would be. We anxiously await the purchase of the 32 key model. I completely agree, once you start making shortcuts, you find reasons to keep making shortcuts. As an alternative, it's possible to emulate the experience to see if you like it before buying the full Stream Deck. If you plug in a second USB keyboard to your Mac, then install Karabiner Elements, you can reprogram the keys. You can make M be Ctrl-Command-Shift-Option-M, which shouldn't be used by another app. You could then press S on the secondary keyboard to take a screenshot in your app of choice. Or use O to kick off a macro within Keyboard Maestro. Again, not as refined, but it's pretty cool to click one key and kick off a whole series of actions.
It never occurred to me to use Karabiner on a second keyboard. And I have so many keyboards. I will think on: thanks. I think you were the first person on here to ask about the Stream Deck: thanks for that, too. And I am so with you about series of actions. I have an invoicing automation thing, copies files to here or there, renames this or that, writes emails for me, updates database, all this kind of thing. It is absurdly satisfying to start that off, lean back with a mug of tea, and watch my Mac fly.
Dang it, you did it. You made be go out and buy of these things, so now I want you to go deeper into it. I've only had for a day and have already found it useful. One thing I have found to be immensely useful is pausing Apple Music when the phone rings or someone comes into my office. I just push a button rather than look for the open app among the multitude of open windows, find the mouse pointer, and then click the pause button.
And now I must say that I’ve copied you: I’ve added that Apple Music plugin and have a Play/Pause button too. It’s a bigger change than it seems, as well, since up to now I’ve tended to play music mostly from my iPhone or HomePods. Right now I have the Mac playing Apple Music - and sending the audio out to those HomePods. Love this: thank you.
Oh the Liberator teleport bracelet! I recently rewatched the first two seasons of Blake's 7: everyone is acting their hearts out against wobbly sets and dreadful special effects. I thought it really stood up well, considering it was late 1970's TV.
I was commissioned to write a 150,000-word book about the series - and after I delivered the manuscript, deeply complicated rights issues killed it. But at least I had the fun of once watching Vila exit a scene and phone me up for my interview.
The XL version is definitely worth the extra money. There’s always a need for more buttons. Also learn how to do virtual references to buttons with Keyboard Maestro. I found that in KM’s forums.
I user that Keyboard Maestro virtual button a lot when I had the smaller Stream Deck. When I moved to the XL a week or so ago, it didn’t do a great job of transferring everything. And in recreating the buttons I used much, I somehow found it easier to use the KMlink plug-in. Now I’m looking at the beta of BetterTouchTool’s Stream Deck controls.
I often listen to William on the appleinsider pod cast but this is the first video of his that I’ve seen. Extremely entertaining! As per the comments on the pod cast, that is some crazy monitor you have there ..
Thank you. Would you believe I sometimes wish it were wider? Always wish it were taller and I'd love 4K resolution, but just sometimes, I can't fit everything in across that width. Wait, it's curved. How many curved monitors would I need to be able to make a complete circle? That's going to be on my mind now.
Thank you, that's very good of you to say. Strange, isn't it, how this thing can quite clearly be designed and built for one audience, yet prove so useful to all of us?
Thanks for this. Being a techy, I’ve watched other videos about the Stream Deck, but it’s good to get a writer’s point of view on it. I think I’m going to need one. I produce a TH-cam channel for my church and am usually the guy behind the controls, but now I’m starting a channel of my own and will be in front of the cameras for the first time, and now I need a way to switch between cameras, and the ATEM Mini switcher will be out of reach, so I’m hoping the Stream Deck and a long cable will solve the problem for me. Anyway, good information. Thanks. “As ever, as always,” I love your channel. Oh, and I love the font ball cup, too.
Thank you. I haven't tried this myself, but you might like the Stream Deck Pedal: it's a small control you can use with a foot to select a few options. As it's meant to be down by your feet, I imagine it comes with a quite long cable, too. Do let me know when your channel is up.
@@WilliamGallagher Great idea. MIght try the foot pedal. Wasn't sure a long cable would work with the Stream Deck, because there's the issue with long cables dropping the voltage on the power to the device, and I was about to give up on the idea, but then I came across your video about your ON-AIR light, and you mentioned in that one that there is a long repeating extension cable for the Stream Deck, and you even included a link to the cable on Amazon. So I ordered the Stream Deck with the extension cable. So you saved my bacon there. I really appreciate that. Also, you mentioned in that video that you had been in radio, so I thought I should let you know that I also worked in radio, so we have that in common. Thirteen years as a radio DJ on rock, country, and classic rock stations. Fun times. Thanks for everything.
I would find it so hard to do without a Stream Deck now. To think that I wasn’t sure at all that I’d use it and now I’m hankering after the bigger version….
@@WilliamGallagher well at the end of the day its just a macro pad, which can be used for all sort of things like photoshop, videoediting and as your example writing. it is just advertise to streamers.
Beam me back to the money holder...now that you hold it up it looks larger than a Selectric print ball. I still want to know where you got it. In the meantime you keep pushing Stream Deck buttons--who knows where it will take you.
I only thought of that Liberator teleporting gag while recording the episode, very close to the end, too. And I tried doing it pressing a Stream Deck button but it looked better, and was easier to hand-animate, if I cut away sooner. There you go: your life is immeasurably improved by knowing this trivia, isn't it?
Great video. You’re funny! Btw, I maybe your inky subscriber that is not a writer but an old semi-retired Software Developer. Also a poor writer. I started my career working at AES Data in Montreal Canada in the 70’s. They made Word Processor machines between the Electric Typewriter days and the PCs.
Very interesting, I have always wondered about such devices and associated macros. As always, thank you for sharing. Curious-while you stress that these aren’t necessarily imperative for us as writers, do you mind sharing what provoked you to investigate and purchase one for yourself (prior to one being supplied just as you ordered)? Sorry, that feels rather inconsiderate of your privacy-do you mind sharing if it was non-writing or if writing considerations that influenced your decision to pull the trigger? I presume it was non-writing, but wanted to just confirm. Thank you!
I think it stemmed from how I already use a lot of automation on my Mac: most recently Shortcuts but also countless Keyboard Maestro scripts and Alfred workflows that make things easier, or make sure I do all of the steps in something mildly complicated. The idea of being able to start one with a button instead of typing commands or using my increasingly contorted keyboard shortcuts. I know I also thought it would be useful for 58keys because I could have that set of red Final Cut Pro buttons turn on whenever I went to edit a video. But maybe at heart I just wanted to play. It's an expensive thing to play with but that was probably at the heart of it and for all that everything else made sense, maybe I should admit to myself that the start was wanting to fiddle.
@@WilliamGallagher thank you-the fiddling instinct is strong in me as well, and while I love Alfred I had not heard of Keyboard Maestro before your video. A Stream Deck does seem like something that may indeed be a tinkerer’s delight while sharpening workflow. Thank you again for your generosity!
So, that is as nifty and useful as I thought it would be. We anxiously await the purchase of the 32 key model.
I completely agree, once you start making shortcuts, you find reasons to keep making shortcuts.
As an alternative, it's possible to emulate the experience to see if you like it before buying the full Stream Deck.
If you plug in a second USB keyboard to your Mac, then install Karabiner Elements, you can reprogram the keys. You can make M be Ctrl-Command-Shift-Option-M, which shouldn't be used by another app.
You could then press S on the secondary keyboard to take a screenshot in your app of choice. Or use O to kick off a macro within Keyboard Maestro.
Again, not as refined, but it's pretty cool to click one key and kick off a whole series of actions.
It never occurred to me to use Karabiner on a second keyboard. And I have so many keyboards. I will think on: thanks. I think you were the first person on here to ask about the Stream Deck: thanks for that, too. And I am so with you about series of actions. I have an invoicing automation thing, copies files to here or there, renames this or that, writes emails for me, updates database, all this kind of thing. It is absurdly satisfying to start that off, lean back with a mug of tea, and watch my Mac fly.
Dang it, you did it. You made be go out and buy of these things, so now I want you to go deeper into it. I've only had for a day and have already found it useful. One thing I have found to be immensely useful is pausing Apple Music when the phone rings or someone comes into my office. I just push a button rather than look for the open app among the multitude of open windows, find the mouse pointer, and then click the pause button.
Ridiculously useful and satisfying, isn't it? Glad you like it. Stop me buying the bigger one, I need to be stopped.
And now I must say that I’ve copied you: I’ve added that Apple Music plugin and have a Play/Pause button too. It’s a bigger change than it seems, as well, since up to now I’ve tended to play music mostly from my iPhone or HomePods. Right now I have the Mac playing Apple Music - and sending the audio out to those HomePods. Love this: thank you.
Oh the Liberator teleport bracelet! I recently rewatched the first two seasons of Blake's 7: everyone is acting their hearts out against wobbly sets and dreadful special effects. I thought it really stood up well, considering it was late 1970's TV.
I was commissioned to write a 150,000-word book about the series - and after I delivered the manuscript, deeply complicated rights issues killed it. But at least I had the fun of once watching Vila exit a scene and phone me up for my interview.
Great insights. Just picked this up today and love the automation it brings to my day.
Thanks. Resist the bigger one. Resist. I didn't, I caved in and bought the bigger one -- and now of course I've filled it.
The XL version is definitely worth the extra money. There’s always a need for more buttons.
Also learn how to do virtual references to buttons with Keyboard Maestro. I found that in KM’s forums.
I user that Keyboard Maestro virtual button a lot when I had the smaller Stream Deck. When I moved to the XL a week or so ago, it didn’t do a great job of transferring everything. And in recreating the buttons I used much, I somehow found it easier to use the KMlink plug-in. Now I’m looking at the beta of BetterTouchTool’s Stream Deck controls.
I often listen to William on the appleinsider pod cast but this is the first video of his that I’ve seen. Extremely entertaining! As per the comments on the pod cast, that is some crazy monitor you have there ..
Thank you. Would you believe I sometimes wish it were wider? Always wish it were taller and I'd love 4K resolution, but just sometimes, I can't fit everything in across that width. Wait, it's curved. How many curved monitors would I need to be able to make a complete circle? That's going to be on my mind now.
Thank you for posting this! It was wonderful to see a different point of view on the stream deck since majority are from gamers and streamers.
Thank you, that's very good of you to say. Strange, isn't it, how this thing can quite clearly be designed and built for one audience, yet prove so useful to all of us?
Thanks for this. Being a techy, I’ve watched other videos about the Stream Deck, but it’s good to get a writer’s point of view on it.
I think I’m going to need one. I produce a TH-cam channel for my church and am usually the guy behind the controls, but now I’m starting a channel of my own and will be in front of the cameras for the first time, and now I need a way to switch between cameras, and the ATEM Mini switcher will be out of reach, so I’m hoping the Stream Deck and a long cable will solve the problem for me.
Anyway, good information. Thanks. “As ever, as always,” I love your channel. Oh, and I love the font ball cup, too.
Thank you. I haven't tried this myself, but you might like the Stream Deck Pedal: it's a small control you can use with a foot to select a few options. As it's meant to be down by your feet, I imagine it comes with a quite long cable, too. Do let me know when your channel is up.
@@WilliamGallagher Great idea. MIght try the foot pedal.
Wasn't sure a long cable would work with the Stream Deck, because there's the issue with long cables dropping the voltage on the power to the device, and I was about to give up on the idea, but then I came across your video about your ON-AIR light, and you mentioned in that one that there is a long repeating extension cable for the Stream Deck, and you even included a link to the cable on Amazon. So I ordered the Stream Deck with the extension cable. So you saved my bacon there. I really appreciate that.
Also, you mentioned in that video that you had been in radio, so I thought I should let you know that I also worked in radio, so we have that in common. Thirteen years as a radio DJ on rock, country, and classic rock stations. Fun times.
Thanks for everything.
wow, i love seeing this thing being used in other things then streaming. :D
I would find it so hard to do without a Stream Deck now. To think that I wasn’t sure at all that I’d use it and now I’m hankering after the bigger version….
@@WilliamGallagher well at the end of the day its just a macro pad, which can be used for all sort of things like photoshop, videoediting and as your example writing. it is just advertise to streamers.
Get ON with it !!!
Wait until you see the sequel: one hour per button
Beam me back to the money holder...now that you hold it up it looks larger than a Selectric print ball. I still want to know where you got it. In the meantime you keep pushing Stream Deck buttons--who knows where it will take you.
I only thought of that Liberator teleporting gag while recording the episode, very close to the end, too. And I tried doing it pressing a Stream Deck button but it looked better, and was easier to hand-animate, if I cut away sooner. There you go: your life is immeasurably improved by knowing this trivia, isn't it?
@@WilliamGallagher Immeasurably...my day is now on a much improved upward trend. Thank you.
@@tripley66 I live to help.
Great video. You’re funny!
Btw, I maybe your inky subscriber that is not a writer but an old semi-retired Software Developer. Also a poor writer.
I started my career working at AES Data in Montreal Canada in the 70’s. They made Word Processor machines between the Electric Typewriter days and the PCs.
Semi-retired? Can't let go of the work, right? I am so with you there. Now go write something, okay?
Very interesting, I have always wondered about such devices and associated macros. As always, thank you for sharing. Curious-while you stress that these aren’t necessarily imperative for us as writers, do you mind sharing what provoked you to investigate and purchase one for yourself (prior to one being supplied just as you ordered)? Sorry, that feels rather inconsiderate of your privacy-do you mind sharing if it was non-writing or if writing considerations that influenced your decision to pull the trigger? I presume it was non-writing, but wanted to just confirm. Thank you!
I think it stemmed from how I already use a lot of automation on my Mac: most recently Shortcuts but also countless Keyboard Maestro scripts and Alfred workflows that make things easier, or make sure I do all of the steps in something mildly complicated. The idea of being able to start one with a button instead of typing commands or using my increasingly contorted keyboard shortcuts. I know I also thought it would be useful for 58keys because I could have that set of red Final Cut Pro buttons turn on whenever I went to edit a video. But maybe at heart I just wanted to play. It's an expensive thing to play with but that was probably at the heart of it and for all that everything else made sense, maybe I should admit to myself that the start was wanting to fiddle.
@@WilliamGallagher thank you-the fiddling instinct is strong in me as well, and while I love Alfred I had not heard of Keyboard Maestro before your video. A Stream Deck does seem like something that may indeed be a tinkerer’s delight while sharpening workflow. Thank you again for your generosity!
@@Bushidounohana I wish you hours, months, years of joy with Keyboard Maestro. I swear that app alone is a reason to use Macs.
Enjoyable watching you :)
Thank you, that's good of you to say.
Hello, Congratulations. Cool. 👍👏👏👏Awesome. You did a Great Job.
Thank you, that's very good of you to say.
Didn't make it to where it get's interesting for writers 😒
Probably for the best: they're not cheap. And since I made that, I've splurged on a 32-key Stream Deck XL.
Had to give up listening after 2 minutes 30 seconds because you hadn’t got anywhere near the point. Sorry
Curses, the point was at 2 minutes 31!