vdo-streamdeck

Stream Deck Hardware and SDK Notes

Research date: 2026-06-30.

Hardware Surface Summary

Device	Controls to consider	Plugin design impact
Stream Deck Mini	6 LCD keys	Must keep default profiles compact. Good for guest/local essentials only.
Stream Deck	15 LCD keys	Good baseline target for a default VDO.Ninja profile.
Stream Deck XL	32 LCD keys	Best for director pages with guests, scenes, groups, and stats.
Stream Deck Neo	8 keys, LCD Infobar, Touch Points	Good for simple local controls plus page navigation/status.
Stream Deck +	8 keys, 4 dials, LCD Infobar/touch strip	First-class target for PTZ, volume, bitrate, and scene/group selection.
Stream Deck + XL	36 keys, 6 dials, LCD Infobar/touch strip	Best high-end native target for a full director plus PTZ layout.
Stream Deck Pedal	3 footswitches	Hands-free push-to-talk, cough mute, scene toggle, record marker, or emergency hangup.
Stream Deck Studio	32 keys, 2 fixed encoders, NFC, PoE/USB-C; designed around Bitfocus Buttons/Companion workflows	Useful reference for pro broadcast users. Native Stream Deck app compatibility should be validated on real hardware before treating it as a primary marketplace target.
Stream Deck Mobile / Virtual Stream Deck	Virtual keys, no hardware dials	Profiles should degrade cleanly to key actions.

SDK Notes

Confirmed from the official SDK docs:

• The official SDK supports Node.js plugins and a create streamdeck scaffolder.
• The getting-started flow creates a *.sdPlugin plugin folder with a manifest.json, JavaScript output, and UI/property inspector assets.
• The SDK currently documents Node.js 24+ and Stream Deck 7.1+ as prerequisites.
• Actions are declared in manifest.json and implemented in code.
• Key actions receive key lifecycle events such as appear/disappear and key up/down.
• Dial/encoder actions should be separate action classes where the plugin handles dial rotate, dial press, and touch-strip/touch-tap behavior.
• Property inspectors are HTML/JS UIs loaded by Stream Deck to edit per-action or global settings.
• Marketplace packaging should be checked against current Elgato distribution docs before submission.

Native Plugin Implications

Current Stream Deck hardware reviewed does not provide physical faders/sliders. For continuous controls, treat dials/encoders plus the touch strip/infobar as the slider-like surface.

The plugin should have two broad action types:

1. Button/key actions:
   • Local toggle actions: mic, camera, speaker, record, screenshare, raise hand.
   • Director target actions: guest mic/camera/display/speaker, scene toggles, group toggles, guest hangup, transfer.
   • State display actions: connection status, selected guest, stats summary.
   • Custom command action.
2. Dial/encoder actions:
   • Local PTZ: zoom, focus, pan, tilt, exposure.
   • Guest PTZ: ptzZoom, ptzFocus, ptzPan, ptzTilt.
   • Volume: local playback or guest mic volume.
   • Bitrate/buffer delay: useful for technical operators.
   • Push behavior: reset, autofocus, cycle target, or switch relative/absolute mode.

Pedal actions can reuse the key-action implementation path, but their profile suggestions should be different because there is no display feedback.

Sources

• Elgato SDK getting started: https://docs.elgato.com/streamdeck/sdk/introduction/getting-started/
• Elgato Stream Deck product page: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck
• Elgato Stream Deck Neo: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-neo
• Elgato Stream Deck +: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-plus
• Elgato Stream Deck + XL: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-plus-xl
• Elgato Stream Deck Studio: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-studio
• Elgato Stream Deck Pedal: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-pedal