Friction is the enemy of creativity. If it takes you fifteen minutes to set up lights, open apps, arrange windows, and check audio levels before you record, you're less likely to actually hit that record button. Automation fixes that.
This guide walks through a complete studio automation setup. We're connecting Elgato Stream Deck, Apple Shortcuts, Audio Hijack, and smart home gear to make complex workflows happen with a single tap. Whether you have the original Stream Deck or the new Plus model with knobs, you'll find new ways to speed up your production.
We'll cover everything from basic lighting scenes to advanced scripts that launch your entire podcasting environment. Let's get your studio working for you.
The Stream Deck is great on its own, but it gets significantly more powerful when you connect it to Apple Shortcuts. This allows you to trigger HomeKit scenes, window management, and system-level scripts that the Stream Deck software can't do natively.
However, adding a specific Shortcut to a button isn't immediately obvious. You can't just drag it from the Shortcuts app.
Once added, tapping that button runs the Shortcut immediately. You can use this to toggle smart lights, change color scenes (like Blue, Orange, or Red), or control blinds without touching your phone.
If you have the Stream Deck Plus, those four knobs at the bottom offer a new layer of control. They aren't just for volume. You can program them to handle multiple actions depending on whether you turn them or press them.
This effectively gives you three buttons in one slot. You can keep your page navigation on the knobs, leaving your main LCD buttons free for app triggers and tools.
The real power comes when you chain these tools together. Instead of opening apps one by one, you can create a single 'Start Podcast' button. This uses a complex Apple Shortcut triggered by the Stream Deck.
With one press (or a click of a Stream Deck knob), the following happens automatically:
When you're done, a 'Stop' button can do the reverse: stop the recording, raise the lights, and close the apps. This ensures you never forget to hit record and your workspace is always consistent.
Sometimes your audio gear isn't within easy reach. If you keep your mixer or interface on a separate stand, reaching over to mute a mic can be annoying. You can solve this by sending MIDI commands from the Stream Deck to your audio interface, like the Rødecaster Pro II.
Pro tip: You can toggle channels on and off remotely without moving from your camera position. This is incredibly useful for solo creators who can't sit right next to their mixer.
If you cover live events or software tutorials, taking screenshots is a major part of the workflow. The standard Mac shortcuts are okay, but CleanShot X combined with Stream Deck is much faster.
You can map a button to 'Capture Area' for your first shot. But the real timesaver is mapping a second button to Capture Previous Area.
This lets you define a specific window or region once—like a YouTube video player—and then rapidly snap perfectly aligned screenshots just by tapping a button, without having to redraw the selection box every time.
Automation isn't about being lazy; it's about reliability. When a single button handles your lights, audio, and screen recording, you stop worrying about the tech and start focusing on the content. Start small with one or two shortcuts, and build out your profile as you find more friction points in your day.