Loupedeck has been making custom controllers for creative professionals for a few years now, and their latest offering, the Loupedeck Live S, is a smaller, more affordable option still packed with features. But does it do what you need, and is it worth its $189 price point? Read on to find out!
The Loupedeck Live S is a small, compact device that measures just 5.9 × 3.4 × 1.2 inches and weighs only 0.4 pounds. It’s made of durable plastic with a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. The top side of the Loupedeck Live S is dominated by a 15 touchscreen buttons with haptic feedback, two analog knobs, and 4 RGB-lit buttons. The analog knobs are particularly useful for adjusting settings, and the tactile buttons are great for quickly launching tools or commands. The touch screen button grid is made of 15 buttons, in three rows of 5. This smaller controller does lose the two side strips featured in the Loupedeck Live. However, the functionality that those strips had on the Live is emulated on the Live S. When adjusting an analog knob, the touchscreen button to its right temporarily changes to show what is being adjusted. It’s an elegant solution.
The overall build quality of the Loupedeck Live S is excellent. The plastic body is sturdy and well-made, and the buttons and knobs feel solid and responsive. The touchscreen display buttons are also high quality, with a bright, clear image that’s easy to see even in bright light.
The Loupedeck Live S is a powerful and versatile controller compatible with various applications, including Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, OBS Studio, and Twitch. The included software makes creating custom profiles for each application easy, so you can assign specific functions to the controller’s buttons and knobs.
The Loupedeck Live S has a comprehensive software suite that makes it easy to customize the controller and create custom profiles for your applications. The software is easy to use and has a wide range of features with pre-made configurations, sound packs, overlays, and a lot more for you to choose from. This software also allows updating of the controller’s firmware, so it is a very important part of the whole Loupedeck Live S ecosystem and, thankfully, it works wonderfully. I do wish that there were more direct game integrations with the Loupedeck Live S as having the small controller act as a second panel in, say, DCS World would be awesome. There are some game profiles in the library but the list is scant. There are a lot more application downloadables which will help make the lives of the creatives out there somewhat easier.
Pros:
- Compact and portable design
- Bright, and responsive touchscreen buttons
- Well-made analog knobs
- Responsive RGB buttons
- Compatible with a wide range of applications
- Easy-to-use software
- More affordable than the Loupedeck Live
Cons:
- Not quite as many controls as the other Loupedeck controllers
- Lack of game profile downloadables
Overall, the Loupedeck Live S is a great streaming controller for creative professionals who are looking for a powerful and versatile tool at a more affordable price. It’s smaller and more portable than the Loupedeck Live, but it still offers many features and functionality. The Loupedeck Live S retails for $189 on Loupedeck’s official website.
