
Loupedeck Live-S
Loupedeck Live-S Review. A great all-around device, not just for internet broadcasting.
In fact, devices with similar concepts have quietly existed for some time. However, typically, people primarily used these devices for internet broadcasting. Nowadays, emerging devices go beyond mere broadcasting and are utilized in various software applications, enhancing users’ overall productivity. The tool we’re reviewing now is the latest release from Loupedeck, founded by engineers with Nokia backgrounds. Loupedeck has been consistently creating tools that contribute to productivity. It’s called Loupedeck Live-S. You can find it on their official website.
Table of Contents
- Loupedeck Live-S Review. A great all-around device, not just for internet broadcasting.
- The Loupedeck Live-S is a well-built device.
- The use and effectiveness of Loupedeck Live-S will vary greatly depending on the user.
- Loupedeck Live-S gives you a lot of freedom for setting up features, but it also means it’s cumbersome.
- It’s available on both Windows and Mac, but I have a feeling that it’s just a little better on Mac…
- I’m going to have to work on getting to know Loupedeck Live-S better.
- Loupedeck Live-S Summary

The Loupedeck Live-S is a well-built device.
There’s a certain amount of fun to be had just working with a touch or knob because it feels good.
The first thing that surprised me when I used Loupedeck Live-S is that the touch functionality works remarkably well. Even lightly tapping the screen results in touch input, and of course, it works when you press it firmly as well. It naturally includes actions like turning the knobs and pressing them, which I found to offer a versatile range of controls.
The Loupedeck Live-S requires dedicated software for use, and you can configure its settings in great detail. For instance, you can customize actions like turning the knobs, pressing the knobs, touching the screen, and so on, individually. While there are 15 touchscreens available, it doesn’t stop at just 15 because there are ‘pages’. You can configure different actions for Page 1, Page 2, and so on.
Moreover, it offers high flexibility since you can set actions separately depending on the app or your specific needs at the moment. There are default templates available to help you get started instead of starting from scratch.
Within the same company’s product lineup, there are larger devices with more buttons designed for professionals. Some products, on the other hand, focus more on buttons and do not have touchscreens. The Loupedeck Live-S strikes a balance with 15 touchscreens, 2 knobs, and 4 buttons, making it just right for versatile use. It’s designed to cater to a wide range of users, offering accessibility while still providing ample functionality.
The use and effectiveness of Loupedeck Live-S will vary greatly depending on the user.
I’m still at the stage of easily inserting text…
I bought this Loupedeck Live-S with the thought of whether it could be helpful for my blogging activities. I post my math studies on my blog for the review, and besides the common +, -, /, there are also symbols that might seem complex at first glance, such as ≤, ≠, ∀. Most of these symbols are available on the keyboard.
However, some symbols like ℚ, ℝ, 𝕊, ℤ, which are quite common in mathematics, are not available on the keyboard. So, I had to search for these symbols in collections of mathematical symbols similar to Wikipedia and then copy and paste them because they weren’t readily available on the keyboard. It was quite cumbersome, but with the Loupedeck Live-S, I can simply store these symbols in square boxes and press them for immediate input.
I also upload content related to my Spanish studies. However, the Spanish keyboard has slightly different characters such as ñ, á, é, í, ó which are not used in English. To use these characters, I had to switch to the Spanish keyboard layout or copy and paste them from places where Spanish characters were available. But again, with Loupedeck, I can store these characters in square boxes and simply press them when they appear in the middle of a sentence.
So, I seem to use this tool effectively in my own way, but I believe that the purpose and efficiency of Loupedeck Live-S can vary depending on the user. For instance, we can use it not only for internet broadcasting but also for various specialized programs like Excel, PowerPoint, DAW software, Photoshop, Blender, and more. While I primarily use it to make it easier to use complex characters, if professionals use Loupedeck when using specialized programs, it can significantly boost user productivity.
As mentioned on the marketplace page, there are a variety of options available, not just templates and plugins but also sound packs, icon packs, and more. Personally, I may not feel the need for some of these options, but for example, a sound pack could be handy when creating sound effects during video editing. Furthermore, there are AI-powered plugins available nowadays, seemingly in line with current trends.
These plugins allow you to configure functions like automatically translating block sections when you press a button or setting up daily schedules. However, it can be disappointing because initially, they are labeled as trial versions, giving the impression that you might have to pay separately in the future. I paid a lot for the machine, but I wonder if letting me use these parts for free would have the effect of making the machine better…
Loupedeck Live-S gives you a lot of freedom for setting up features, but it also means it’s cumbersome.
I think the app could use a bit of an overhaul apart from the features.
However, there is one aspect of using the Loupedeck program I find frustrating. It’s nice to have detailed settings and a lot of freedom. But first, the program itself is slow. As a result, when making individual settings, it doesn’t feel as snappy as one might expect. It can feel sluggish when trying to apply changes to the device in real-time. Personally, I think it might be more efficient if they structured the process where additions are made in the app, and we apply changes all at once by pressing the save button.
Additionally, apart from the issue of sluggishness, the statement that it offers a high degree of flexibility can also be interpreted as complexity. While there is a fair selection of templates available, the reality is that they may not always meet one’s needs entirely. Attempting to configure settings manually can be quite intricate.
You may find setting up the actions yourself to be complex, leaving you pondering how the macros and other settings were configured despite the well-designed actions that come with the templates. Therefore, it seems essential to have a fundamental understanding of such software to use it effectively. The more you know, the better you can harness its full potential.
Apart from the degree of freedom, it’s also a case of “I wish we could do this”… I’m sure the more capable people will implement it somehow…
Human greed knows no bounds, and sometimes I wish there were more controls. Of course, depending on the user, they can achieve almost all operations with the use of macros and the like, but for me, it’s somewhat challenging… For instance, when I translate for my blog, I frequently use translation tools and Bing AI. I go through the process of “selecting and copying a sentence, pasting it into the translation tool, checking the result, and then converting Korean to English.” However, if, for instance, a button could perform actions like “double-click to copy and paste the respective sentence,” is it asking for too much? But strangely, skilled individuals seem to be capable of such tasks.
It’s available on both Windows and Mac, but I have a feeling that it’s just a little better on Mac…
The Loupedeck software is available for both Windows and Mac. And there are different templates for different operating systems. This may seem obvious, since Final Cut Pro, Logic, etc. are only available on Mac. However, for some reason, even though the software is available on both Windows and Mac, there are differences in templates, with certain templates only available in the Mac version (e.g., Reason, Figma), which creates somewhat perplexing functional disparities.
Some might say, ‘Why not simply avoid using templates and configure them as you see fit?’ However, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, setting up Loupedeck initially can be quite cumbersome. Therefore, if templates are available and useful, using them would be more convenient. However, these aspects remain somewhat perplexing.
I’m going to have to work on getting to know Loupedeck Live-S better.
As mentioned earlier, I’m using the Loupedeck Live-S primarily for inserting text while blogging. I still feel that I’m not using this device to its full potential. Personally, I thought it would be great if the developer provided more tutorial videos. There are probably several people like me. I don’t know if they don’t get feedback, or if they don’t think it’s important because they have a lot of developers among their users like WordPress.
Of course, perhaps even with this level of usage, I’m still using the device reasonably well. However, given that this device costs approximately $200, it’s not a cheap device. If it’s only used for text input, one might be better off purchasing a simple keyboard with a few extra buttons separately. It would be beneficial to explore further how I can use the Loupedeck Live-S with other programs I use.
Loupedeck Live-S Summary
Good point
- It has just enough buttons
- Works with just about any software, not just Internet Broadcasting
- It can be very productive for some users
Disappointing point
- The Loupedeck software is clunky and cumbersome to use
- they may charge for our plugins in the future, including AI features.