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This morning, I received an email from Loupedeck (as a customer) stating that the latest version of the company’s software will render the original Loupedeck device pretty much useless. Having “reached the end of its lifecycle”.
This comes mere months after Loupedeck’s acquisition by computer accessory giant Logitech earlier this year. But it presents a bigger problem with hardware today. Particularly hardware targeted towards creatives.
In what’s turning out to be an interesting journey to transition Logitech more into the creator space, the company has acquired desktop console company, Loupedeck. This is the first such acquisition in this sector by Logitech since they bought out Litra in 2021.
The deal concluded on July 18th, with Logitech announcing that they’d acquired Loupedeck with a focus towards live streaming. Exactly what this means for the future of Loupedeck products, however, is uncertain.
There have been a number of DIY console projects and custom keyboards out there for people to build already, but I quite liked the look of this one. It comes from photographer and high school STEM teacher, Adam Iannazzone, to make his life easier when using Lightroom. It’s a simple design based on an Arduino, and it’s one of the few I’ve seen that actually contains dials as well as buttons!
It’s called the Lightroom Macropad, and it does what many such DIY projects do. It uses the Arduino to simulate being a keyboard. When you press a button or spin a dial n the device, it sends one or several – if you programme your own macros into the code – keystrokes to make your computer perform whatever action you’ve set that button to. And you can configure it to do pretty much whatever you want.
If you got here to decide if you want to buy the Loupedeck CT, let me share a TL;DR before I go into the in-depth review: It’s the piece of gear you needed and didn’t even know you wanted.
If you’ve never heard about Loupedeck, they are a company that makes keyboards with knobs and buttons that are dedicated to editing. Their gear works with both photography (e.g. Photoshop, Luminar) and video software (e.g. Premiere, Resolve). For me, I was out to test if the Loupedeck CT can help my video editing workflow.
It’s December again, which means lots of us are sitting there wondering what to buy for ourselves or the photographer in our lives this holiday season. We’ve been saving up all year to get that something special, but we don’t want to deal with in-store queues – or maybe we’ve just slacked on our Christmas shopping this year. We want to stay at home where it’s nice and warm and see what we can find online that gets delivered straight to our door!
So, this means it’s time for the 2022 DIYP Holiday Gift Guides. It’s the last day today, so we’re going to be going through the list of our favourite new gadgets and accessories that have been released during 2022. Have a look at our previous guides in the series this week covering cameras, lenses, lighting, sliders, tripods and gimbals.
Loupedeck has released a new control console for your computer. This one’s the Loupedeck Live S and as the name suggests, it’s designed for and targeted specifically toward live streamers. It’s essentially a cut down version of the Loupedeck Live with a significantly lower price point. It’s launching on Indiegogo with a pledge price of €129 (around $138). That’s a far cry from the $269 the Loupedeck Live demands.
Despite presenting a more streamlined approach for live streamers, though, it’ll still work with all of the apps you’re used to, including Lightroom, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro as well as the other native integrations. Obviously, you won’t get quite the capability you will with the extra buttons and knobs on the Loupedeck Live and Loupedeck CT but at this price point, it’s worth checking out even if you don’t stream.
While primarily aimed towards live streaming, products like the StreamDeck and particularly the Loupedeck Live have proven to be invaluable for photographers and filmmakers. They allow you to simulate keyboard shortcuts and potentially even talk directly to software through their own API. But such products are relatively expensive. Sure, the time they save makes up for their cost but wouldn’t it be better if there was an even cheaper alternative?
Well, thanks to Pedro at DSLR DIY CNC, there is! He designed his own “macropad” called the InfiniteDeck, based off an ESP32 with a capacitive touchscreen display that offers a very familiar interface and a very customisable system. It just plugs into your computer, emulating a keyboard and doesn’t even require any drivers.
The season of giving is upon us – which becomes immediately obvious whenever you walk into a store and you’re overwhelmed by Whamageddon. If you want to avoid the Christmas music and prefer to do your shopping online, then have no fear, DIYP’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guides are here to rescue you with some of our favourite new releases of the year, as well as a few old favourites that always seem to find a place in our gear bags.
In this post, we’re going to be taking a look at some of our favourite new accessories and gadgets of 2021 that help us with our photography and filmmaking, as well as a few classics that continue to prove their worth every day. Be sure to check out our previous guide going over the best of this year’s new Cameras, lenses, lighting gear and tripods, sliders & gimbals.
Loupedeck has released a new Version 5.0 update for its Loupedeck CT and Loupedeck Live consoles that brings with it a new user interface, native integration for vMix, a plug-in for Ecamm and upgraded macOS integration for Capture One. There’s also a new cut down “Simplified Profile” designed specifically for live streamers who don’t always need the advanced functionality the devices offer.
The newly redesigned software interface provides more intuitive control over how you customise your Loupedeck Live or CT device with easier navigation of workspaces and pages. New notifications let you know about app connection status and you get easier account linking for plugins that require authentication.
We’re onto the final gift guide of the holiday season. We’ve had cameras, lenses, lights, tripods sliders and gimbals, but now it’s time for those essential accessories and doohickies we often find stuffed into our camera bags or on our desks that we just can’t live without. This year we’ve picked some of our favourite new tools of 2020 and those that have been the most useful to the team here at DIYP.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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