Elgato Stream Deck + Review: Are Rotary Dials & Wave Link Worth It Over 15 Keys?

Standard macro pads are great for one-shot triggers—like launching an app or switching an OBS camera scene—but pushing flat buttons repeatedly to adjust Spotify volume, scrub a Premiere Pro video timeline, or tweak Lightroom exposure feels clumsy and slow. The Elgato Stream Deck + (Plus) bridges the gap between a binary button box and a professional broadcast mixing console.

Featuring 8 larger LCD macro keys, an interactive full-color LCD touch strip, and 4 tactile 360-degree rotary push-dials, the Stream Deck + transforms how creators, streamers, and remote workers interact with their PC or Mac.

1. What It Does Best (Key Strengths & Wave Link Unlock)

• Tactile 360-Degree Push-Dials: The four textured aluminum knobs rotate with crisp mechanical detents and act as push buttons when pressed inward. You can assign one dial to control Discord voice chat volume, a second to fade background music, a third to dim smart studio lights, and a fourth to scrub frame-by-frame through DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro timelines. Pushing a knob inward mutes the audio source or resets the parameter instantly.
• Unlocks Full Wave Link Digital Audio Mixer: This is the secret weapon of the Stream Deck +. Previously, Elgato’s acclaimed Wave Link software required owning a Wave USB microphone. Plugging in the Stream Deck + immediately unlocks the full multi-channel digital mixer for any USB or XLR microphone—such as the Shure MV7+—complete with dual independent mixes (Personal Monitor vs. Stream Output) and zero-latency VST plugins like EQ, noise suppression, and compression.
• Interactive Touch Strip Navigation: Sitting directly between the buttons and dials, the wide glass touch bar displays live decibel meters, mic gain levels, or custom clock widgets. Tapping a meter mutes that audio channel immediately, while swiping left or right across the bar flips smoothly through up to 10 separate control pages.
• Dial Stacks for Multi-Function Knobs: Don’t want to waste one knob per task? The “Dial Stack” feature lets you load multiple parameters onto a single rotary encoder—for example, cycling between ISO, White Balance, and Shutter Speed—by pressing the knob inward to switch the active attribute before twisting.

2. Real-World Quirks & Trade-offs (What to Watch Out For)

• 8 LCD Keys vs. 15 Keys: Because half the faceplate is dedicated to the touch bar and four rotary encoders, you get 8 physical LCD keys instead of the 15 keys found on the classic MK.2. However, the keys on the Stream Deck + are slightly larger and noticeably brighter, and swiping the touch strip flips pages so effortlessly that running out of slots is rarely an issue.
• Taller Desktop Footprint: Measuring 4.3 inches (110 mm) tall on its integrated weighted stand, the unit stands slightly higher than the MK.2. Make sure you have at least 4.5 inches of vertical clearance if placing it directly beneath a low-slung ultrawide monitor.

3. Daily Usability & Modular Expansion (Everyday Experience)

• Future-Proof Rear Expansion Bay: Unlike older controllers, the back of the Stream Deck + houses a removable support foot that accepts Elgato’s modular XLR Dock or USB Hub attachments. You can bolt a full studio preamp directly into the back of the controller without sacrificing an extra inch of desk space.
• Weighted Anti-Slip Base: Weighing over a pound (465g) with a grippy silicone underside, the chassis stays rock-solid on your desk pad when pressing keys or clicking dials inward.

[!TIP] Torn Between the Rotary Dials and the 15-Key Classic? Read our in-depth side-by-side comparison to see which controller matches your workflow: 👉 Elgato Stream Deck + vs Stream Deck MK.2 Showdown.

Final Verdict: Who Is This For?

• Buy it if: You want physical rotary knobs to mix audio channels in real time, scrub video timelines, grade photos in Lightroom, and unlock Elgato’s Wave Link multi-track audio mixer for your existing microphone.
• Skip it if: You never adjust continuous sliders or audio levels and strictly want the maximum number of one-tap macro buttons for the lowest price (grab the 15-key Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 instead).