A Stream Deck for Android Users, Finally!

Submitted by: NikoTyx (Twitch Streamer)

Do you want a stream deck but don’t have $150 to spend? Not to worry - did you know that there’s a free alternative for you? If you have an Android Smartphone and you’re motivated about making your own free version, keep reading. The only cost to you is your time!

Recently I was just like you, looking for a tool to help me during my live streams. I wanted an upgrade to my computer and stream setup but I didn’t have $150 to spend on an Elgato Stream Deck. Streaming isn’t my main source of revenue and I’ve got more important things to buy. I searched for a few hours for free alternatives and tested a lot of them but didn’t have any success. They were too complicated, didn’t do the things I wanted, weren’t updated etc... but I finally found the one I needed - Macro Deck!

It’s a simple to use Server/Client setup on your PC and Android smartphone and only limited by your imagination. You’ll also need a basic knowledge of Windows bash.

You will need to setup 2 items:

• A server on your PC where you configure all the shortcuts

• A client on your Android Smartphone where you can use all the shortcuts

Here’s how my setup looks after installation and configuration:

I used my old Galaxy Note 3 to do the trick but any Android Smartphone on 4.0.3 works.

Install/Setup Your Server

On your PC, download the Macro Deck Server and follow the instructions for installation. Once it’s installed, open the application. In the main view, you’ll see the Action Tree on the left. This lists all the actions available for configuration and use. To create a new shortcut action, just click to select, configure in the middle bottom of the screen and drag and drop to the location you want it to be.

Example for creating a shortcut that opens the stream recordings folder.

For example, to create a shortcut that opens the folder where stream recordings are saved:

1. System

2. Open Folder

3. Configure to open the pop-up / Change Icon / Color / Label

4. Enter the path to the folder and Save

5. Drag and drop the button on the grid

Now your shortcut is ready to be used by your client.

Install/Setup Your Client

On your phone, go to the Google Play Store and search for “Macro Deck Client” and install it.

When you open it for the first time it will ask you for an IP Address to connect to the server. This address is on the top right corner of your PC server that you just setup in the previous section. Be sure your smartphone is connected to the same network as your server and you’re good to go! All changes made on your server is automatically synched to the client and there’s no configuration necessary for the client side.

When I said it was easy to use I wasn’t lying!

Thanks for reading this post and I hope it gave you the will to use this cool tool!

- Niko

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Twitch : NikoTyx | https://www.twitch.tv/nikotyx

Twitter : https://twitter.com/Niko_Claisse

Youtube : Nikotyx

Stream Schedule : Mostly weekends and sometimes during the week

#streamsupport #twitch #twitchstreamer #insidecreator

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