Can you utilize the brand new Stream Deck Plus as a color grading management floor for DaVinci Resolve?
Sure and no.
If you wish to have full management inside DaVinci Resolve with the Stream Deck Plus you then’ll must spend money on an inexpensive plugin to unlock that performance.
Is that funding price it?
Completely.
With out the plugin, you’ll be able to arrange the buttons and dials in your Stream Deck + to activate keyboard shortcuts inside DaVinci Resolve, which does allow you to use a very good variety of Resolve’s options however you’re restricted to solely these controls which have a keyboard shortcut mapping.
Nonetheless, with Sideshowfx’s DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel for Mac and Home windows, you’ll be able to flip your Stream Deck Plus into a totally fledged color grading management panel for DaVinci Resolve!
This makes it a really inexpensive, transportable and environment friendly color grading management panel that editors, DITs and junior colorists will admire, while additionally enabling skilled colorists with present management panels and surfaces to increase their arrange and add further performance.
On this sponsored article I’m take a detailed have a look at the Sideshowfx Stream Deck Plus Shade Panel for Mac, provide some ideas for getting probably the most out of it and even chat to Todd Hallam the founding father of Sideshowfx.
If you need much more insights and sources on getting began along with your Elgato Stream Deck or Stream Deck Plus, together with free profiles to obtain, try these articles:
- Utilizing the Stream Deck+ for Video Modifying and Color Grading
- Utilizing an Elgato Stream Deck for Video Modifying and Color Grading
- DIY & Customized Video Modifying Gear
Utilizing the Stream Deck + with DaVinci Resolve
What’s it?
The Sideshowfx Shade Panel, now obtainable for each Mac and Home windows, lets you have tactile management over the entire ‘obtainable parameters’ within the DaVinci Resolve Shade web page.
It does this through the use of a customized constructed software program plugin to find and assign mouse place coordinates to the Stream Deck Plus’ shortcut keys and dials, opening up an enormous quantity of performance that isn’t in any other case obtainable.
(As an apart this means to leverage mouse level coordinates can be rolling out to many extra of Sideshowfx’s profile packs within the coming months – hopefully together with a Premiere Professional pack!)
Why would you need this?
Shopping for an entire panel just like the Blackmagic Design Micro ($859/£695) or the Tangent Component Wave 2 ($855/£840) or Component Suite ($2860) can be far dearer than the Stream Deck + ($199/£199) and the Shade Panel pack ($44.99).
Granted, compared to the Stream Deck Plus, these different panels function way more bodily controls and are supported by direct API entry to the DaVinci Resolve software program however in addition they price 3x occasions the worth!
Additionally in case you already personal a smaller panel and wish to add further performance or customized controls, it is a good way to take action at an inexpensive worth level. Moreover, Blackmagic Design’s panels aren’t customisable in any means.
What do you get?
Because the Shade Panel is aimed squarely geared toward recreating a color grading panel expertise with the Stream Deck Plus’ buttons, dials and Contact Strip, the UI parts that the Shade Panel really controls are all situated within the Shade web page of Resolve.
These embody:
- Major Color
- Major Log
- Major HDR
- Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- RAW
- Secondary Qualifiers
- Energy Home windows
- Monitoring
- Mattes and Keys
- Sizing
- Printer Lights
- Curves
- Magic Masks
- Blur
- RGB Mixer
- Shade Warper
- OFX parameters by way of Customized Keys
Prebuilt Supported Resolutions
At the moment the pack consists of 6 presets for widespread single show resolutions, akin to 1440 x 900, 2048 x 1152, 2560 x 1440 and many others. in addition to an un-programmed ‘Generic’ profile. This final profile will allow you to map your individual mouse positions for a single show in one other decision or when utilizing twin displays.
The Shade Panel additionally consists of lots of of customized shortcut icons for labelling every button. These are utilized by the 18 totally different, interconnected profiles.
For a whole set of shortcuts for the remainder of Resolve, you possibly can additionally buy the Stream Deck XL Professional Profiles pack with its 1500 customized icons and over 1300 programmed keys.
What’s the set up and arrange course of
One of many hallmarks of SideshowFX’s merchandise is that their supporting documentation is great. The 175 web page set up PDF isn’t any exception and guides you thru every little thing with step-by-step directions in clearly illustrated, labelled and complete element.
The 30 minute video above and the PDF will greater than suffice however the gist of the set up is…
Resolve Studio – Splendid arrange utilizing a prebuilt show decision
- Set up the customized Resolve keyboard shortcut format
- Set up the 18 interconnected Stream Deck + profiles
- Reset Resolve UI
- Disguise Mac dock
- Allow Dolby, HDR10+ and HDR VIVID (for icon alignment) in Undertaking Settings > Shade Administration
- Assign and interconnect the profiles
Free model of Resolve with prebuilt show decision
- Similar as above
- Solely you don’t have HDR icons so you will have to assign mouse coordinates to the header keys
The whole lot I’ve described above, might sound like so much however in actuality it takes about 5 minutes. I’m engaged on a single 4K (3840 x 2160) show so subsequent I’ll must program the coordinates myself.
Tip – Choose all of the Stream Deck + profiles within the set up folder and double click on to put in them multi functional go, fairly than working your means by way of them one after the other.
Tip – DaVinci Resolve Studio Customers – Activate the HDR capabilities in DaVinci Resolve > Undertaking Settings > Shade Administration to make these icons seem on the Shade web page. Do that earlier than some other customisation to the header icons, as turning these on shifts the place of all the opposite icons alongside. In any other case if you wish to use these later, you will have to remap the place of the opposite icons.
Programming Mouse Coordinates
That is as soon as once more very straightforward, to do, and the straightforward ‘press and maintain for a second’ performance constructed into the Sideshowfx plugin, works effectively.
The one draw back of the wealth of controls that the Shade Panel maps, is that you’ll want to map a mouse-point co-ordinate for each one. Which in combination is sort of time consuming.
Tip – Look into utilizing one in all Mac OS’s accessibly options, Mouse Keys, which helps you to management the mouse pointer along with your quantity pad or keyboard, for some superb grain management over shifting your mouse round in the course of the arrange course of. I exploit a Wacom pill and getting the mouse to at all times keep within the exact place required was often annoying.
Hitting Alt/Choice 5 occasions will toggle Mouse Keys on and off.
The place can I study extra?
Simply preserve studying!
Or, if you wish to try these instruments for your self instantly, hit these fast hyperlinks under:
- Sideshowfx Stream Deck Plus DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel for Mac
- Sideshowfx Stream Deck Plus DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel for Home windows
- Sideshowfx Stream Deck 15 Key Professional Profiles V4.5
Sideshowfx DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel Overview
On this portion of the article I’ll share my ideas on working with each the Stream Deck Plus and the Sideshowfx Shade Panel in DaVinci Resolve, together with a couple of ideas I picked up alongside the best way.
Execs and Cons of Grading with the Stream Deck Plus and Shade Panel Plugin
Execs
The variety of controls that this method offers you entry to is somewhat overwhelming. They’ve been fairly exhaustive of their try and map ‘the entire accessible’ controls! That is nice!
Because of the Mouse transfer plugin you’ll be able to really use the Stream Deck Plus on this means with some other adjustable management on any web page in Resolve, or in reality, with any software you need! (Extra on this under)
Grading with dials is superior to shifting a mouse round, in most cases, as a result of you’ll be able to preserve your eyes on the picture while making changes, as a substitute of ping-ponging backwards and forwards between the picture and the UI.
The worth level for unlocking all of this palms on management is about 3 x cheaper than different entry degree color grading panels.
Cons
That there isn’t a pre-built 4K show setting is form of annoying, given how ubiquitous the show decision is within the skilled’s edit suite, however hopefully one can be included quickly.
Mapping each single management is sort of fiddly and time-consuming, so in case you you’re fortunate sufficient to be working a pre-built profile, depend your blessings. However as soon as arrange, the system works very effectively.
On a extra minor be aware, the necessity to interconnect the customized profiles is a less-time consuming annoyance however to Sideshowfx’s credit score, it is a limitation of the Stream Deck customisation software program itself, in that it doesn’t mean you can save interconnections inside presets.
Grading with the dials as a proxy for the mouse doesn’t work effectively for some UI parts akin to the color wheels, the place you wish to transfer it round easily, fairly then scrolling left, then up then left once more, for instance.
Suggestions for getting extra out of the Shade Panel
Tip – If you happen to’re working each the Sideshowfx DaVinci Resolve Professional Profiles and the Sideshowfx Shade Panel system you’ll be able to’t have each mapped to mechanically seem if you change purposes to DaVinci Resolve, as sensibly, the Stream Deck solely permits one profile to be assigned to every software.
To mix entry to each I merely remapped the ‘Printer Lights’ key of the DaVinci Primary SD+ Mac profile to the Mac Shade Panel SD+ MAIN Generic profile. And remapped the top-left Dwelling key of the Mac Shade Panel SD+ MAIN Generic profile again to the DaVinci Primary SD+ Mac profile.
Tip – Given that everybody does issues in another way, the entire pre-built layouts and Stream Deck pages are unlikely to suit your workflow precisely, so as a substitute of struggling frustration, duplicate the profile after which customise it to suit your wants.
Copy and paste keys round, remap shortcuts and many others. Will probably be effectively definitely worth the effort and time.
My Expertise Grading with Stream Deck Plus
Provided that I’m engaged on a 4K monitor, one in all my greatest considerations earlier than putting in the Sideshowfx plugin was how lengthy it was going to take me to program in all of my mouse level coordinates into my Stream Deck Plus utilizing the Generic profile.
I gained’t lie, it does take some time, however additionally it is very straightforward.
So simply put a very good podcast on and get it carried out. Utilizing the Mac OS Mouse Keys made it so much faster in a couple of cases, particularly for a few of the superb needle work such because the per-colour-channel controls.
Additionally comply with the PDF directions, they’re wonderful, detailed and really clear.
I used to be stunned by how effectively the quad-function buttons on the contact strip labored too. Once I first noticed them I assumed they’d be too tiny to hit precisely, however I used to be capable of activate the right management just about each time.
Customise and management something!
The Sideshowfx plugin that information and shops the mouse level co-ordinates shouldn’t be tied to DaVinci Resolve particularly, so there’s nothing to cease you utilizing it with some other management on the opposite pages in Resolve, or in reality in some other app.
I examined this briefly with Adobe Premiere Professional, adjusting Lumetri controls, however the outcomes have been somewhat combined with the best way through which Premiere interpreted the scrolling mouse strikes. Generally it might work completely, however different occasions with a couple of too many turns it might ping again to its beginning place.
Perhaps there may be extra happening contained in the plugin to make this work successfully, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if a Sideshowfx Premiere Professional pack will ship higher outcomes.
I’ll positively preserve experimenting with this outdoors of Resolve nevertheless it’s price remembering that the facility is there so that you can play with!
Again in Resolve, you need to positively make use of the Customized web page within the Shade Panel arrange, though you’ll be able to after all duplicate any web page within the Stream Deck profile supervisor after which exchange any mouse command with one other.
Really Grading With it
The method of grading with the Stream Deck Plus could be a enjoyable and productive one, so long as you embrace the inherent limitations.
What do I imply by this?
Some controls works very effectively with a dial interface. The entire sliders, quantity inputs and many others. perform successfully simply by assigning a mouse level co-ordinate. You’ll be able to then preserve your eyes mounted on the ultimate picture when you tweak issues, as a substitute of whipping between the management and the picture.
This makes for a extra satisfying and targeted grading expertise.
Different UI parts akin to the color wheels and a few of the secondaries are extra cumbersome to work with when controlling them with a dial and mouse-proxy. Simply utilizing the mouse can be higher and sooner. Ideally, you’d even have trackballs for a extremely fluid interplay, as a substitute of the mouse.
So on this regard, sure it’s price it for the overwhelming majority of the principle grading controls however in some particular instances, it’s not. Therefore, embracing inherent limitations.
Additionally in comparison with a color grading panel you’ll be able to solely regulate one management at a time, as in any other case the mouse wouldn’t know the place to be! This can be a downside compared to a fully-fledged panel which might entry the Resolve API nevertheless it’s not essentially a good foundation for comparability, given how unmatched the worth factors are!
However I point out it to set some expectations across the fluidity of the grading expertise, which is what you’re actually hoping for in a tactile interface.
One of many controls I’ve at all times wished to have the ability to work together with utilizing dials or sliders, is the RGB Mixer. This instrument appears to make sense to have the ability to management bodily with a much less/extra management for every color channel.
With the Stream Deck Plus this works very effectively, and can assist to tease out these ‘little bit much less crimson’ corrections with ease.
For colorists, editors and DITs trying to increase and customise their present management surfaces, the Stream Deck Plus and Sideshowfx Shade Panel is an inexpensive and versatile choice.
As an editor who principally grades all of his tasks, I can see this mixture turning into a core a part of my very own color grading workflow, supported by my Wacom pill for sure duties.
Free Updates
One of many nice issues about shopping for any icon pack and profile set from Sideshowfx is that they recurrently replace their merchandise with enhancements and new options and that each one these updates are free for all times!
For instance, they lately added Velocity Editor fashion shortcuts to their Resolve pack and in Might 2023 they added these enhancements:
- Integration of the brand new Sideshowfx Mouse Transfer plugin
- Rework Web page added – providing you with management over the Rework Properties in Inspector
- Customized Web page added – lets you add your individual customized actions to any properties you wish to management (akin to impact parameters)
Value is reasonable!
Do it.
All of this management and performance, plus a re-usable mouse-point plugin for under $44.99!
What are you ready for?
- Sideshowfx Stream Deck Plus DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel for Mac
- Sideshowfx Stream Deck Plus DaVinci Resolve Shade Panel for Home windows
My Final Conclusion
So can you actually grade with the Stream Deck Plus and Shade Panel and is it definitely worth the cash?
Sure and no.
Sure, it’s definitely worth the cash and sure you’ll be able to grade with it, however no it will probably’t completely exchange a color grading panel expertise, no less than not on it’s personal.
The addition of the dials on the Stream Deck Plus offers you tactile interplay with a ton of controls in DaVinci Resolve, and different artistic software program, that work extraordinarily effectively with a ‘extra/much less’ flip of the dial. This can be a massive win.
Sideshowfx’s Shade Panel system, with its bespoke mouse-pointer plugin, opens up entry to all of these controls in a really satisfying means. That is one other massive win.
Conversely, making an attempt to make use of one thing with multi-positional enter, akin to the color wheels, is way too sluggish and cumbersome making an attempt to scroll round on X-Y coordinates, right here the mouse or ideally some trackballs can be a significantly better choice.
That mentioned, in case you’re an editor/colorist/DIT with any form of present panel, even simply the Tangent Ripple, then including this mixture of SD+ and Sideshowfx Shade Panel to your arrange, will mean you can place an enormous array of bespoke controls at your fingertips. This can be a very compelling motive to make this funding, particularly in comparison with the price of a full suite of panels.
If you happen to already personal the SD+ and dealing in Resolve then shopping for the Sideshowfx Shade Panel plugin and profiles is a no brainer. It’s lower than $50 and provides you a ton of management.
Interview with Sideshowfx – The Story Behind the Resolve Shade Panel
Why put the time, vitality and cash into creating this product?
Colorists have lengthy wished an economical resolution to utilizing the colour parameters in Davinci with out having to pay for a devoted panel.
With the recognition of Stream Deck units and the way rapidly they’re being adopted by the artistic group, we noticed a possibility to offer an answer that may permit them to make use of the gadget they have already got for this objective.
In creating this we now have additionally made obtainable entry to controls that may solely be hardware-accessed in case you have been to buy a panel costing many hundreds of {dollars}.
What was the plugin writing course of like and what challenges did you must overcome?
The problem initially is how can we entry these controls in software program that has a closed API?
We knew the reply laid in XY coordinate recording and mapping so we would have liked to create a plugin that may not solely document the positions however be capable to retailer and recall them.
We now have an extended standing relationship with our plugin developer and his unparalleled dedication and a focus to element made the method fairly clean.
There have been many challenges alongside the best way to find the correct consumer expertise with minimal setup and so they have been at all times meant with enthusiasm because the group knew we have been making a plugin thats makes use of may attain far past our preliminary intention.
To today we’re nonetheless modifying and increasing the plugin and are capable of make the Stream Deck gadget do many extra issues than it’s able to out of the field.
We can be updating a lot of our present titles over the approaching months that can reap the benefits of the plugin and can permit us to manage many extra features of the consumer interface.
What are some issues folks shouldn’t miss when utilizing the Shade Panel?
Don’t miss studying the handbook! There are arrange procedures we detailed explicitly in our handbook which might be required for profitable use of the pack.
How can skilled colorists greatest customise it to their present arrange?
Customisation is the one factor we now have at all times inspired our prospects to do. It’s by way of customisation that the pack actually turns into suited to the way you wish to work.
This pack, like all of our merchandise, ships with a format that mirrors the host software program it helps however in case you discover you want a couple of primaries proper beside a couple of monitoring controls, for instance, you’re free to maneuver them round if that makes extra sense to how you like to work.
What suggestions have you ever had so removed from customers?
Overwhelming optimistic.
We do hear from prospects who go away us nice feedback in addition to useful recommendation to how we may make it even higher.
We learn and hearken to our customers so we all know if we’re hitting the correct goal, or perceive the place there could also be areas of enchancment.
That is the newest assessment…
This model may be very highly effective, it actually works and with nice configuration choices.
It made me wish to have two interfaces! My revenue has elevated within the color grading course of.
Shade Panel Person
Take This Additional
Try these earlier posts in case you’re contemplating shopping for an inexpensive color grading management panel, or one in all Blackmagic Design’s official DaVinci Resolve panels.
- Inexpensive Color Grading Management Panels
- DIY & Customized Video Modifying Gear
- Inexpensive Color Grading Panels – Tangent Wave 2 Reviewed
- Utilizing the Stream Deck+ for Video Modifying and Color Grading
- Utilizing an Elgato Stream Deck for Video Modifying and Color Grading
The submit Controlling DaVinci Resolve with the Stream Deck + first appeared on Jonny Elwyn – Movie Editor.
