Automation is powerful, but having to dig through menus to trigger it defeats the purpose. The real magic happens when you can control your entire digital environment—lights, apps, audio, and windows—with a single physical button press.
That's why we're focusing on the deep integration between Apple Shortcuts and the Elgato Stream Deck. Whether you have the original 15-key model or the new Stream Deck+ with dials, connecting these two tools opens up workflows that simply aren't possible with standard plugins.
In this post, we'll walk through exactly how to set this up. We'll start with the basic connection, move to the new dial controls on the Plus model, and then dive into some advanced integrations for podcasting and hardware control.
While there are plugins available, the most reliable way to trigger a complex macOS Shortcut is to turn it into an applet first. This ensures it runs smoothly every time without hanging the Stream Deck software.
Once you drop it in, the button will instantly launch that Shortcut just like any other application. It's fast, reliable, and keeps your automations organized.
If you're using the Stream Deck+, you have access to the new knobs. These aren't just for volume. Using the Action Trigger feature, you can assign three distinct functions to a single dial.
Pro tip: Pin your navigation dial. You can set one dial to always handle page navigation regardless of which page you're on, giving you a consistent physical control for moving through your workflow.
This is where things get really interesting. By combining Shortcuts with Stream Deck, you can chain together complex sequences that prepare your entire environment for work.
Here are a few ways to use this integration to speed up your production:
For gear that doesn't have a direct plugin, MIDI is the universal language. We've used this to connect the Stream Deck directly to the Roadcaster Pro II, allowing for precise control over channel muting and more.
This lets you keep your mixing board off your desk but still retain critical controls right at your fingertips.
Whether you're automating a complex studio or just want a faster way to arrange your windows, connecting Shortcuts to Stream Deck is a game changer. It takes a few minutes to set up, but the time you save every day is worth it. Give it a try and see what workflows you can simplify.