Cooler Master’s modular MasterHub is like a supercharged Stream Deck

Macro pads are in style amongst streamers, and for good cause—mapping shortcuts to a single button press makes life simpler. The one of many best-known pads is the ever-popular Elgato Stream Deck, however its time because the reigning accent may be over. Cooler Master simply unveiled its MasterHub system at Computex, and it takes the idea of a macro pad to a entire new stage.

Unlike the Stream Deck, the MasterHub is modular—a operating theme at Cooler Master’s sales space this yr. You snap totally different modules onto a base (i.e., the “hub”), creating your personal customized mixture and structure to fit your wants. Macro keys, bodily quantity sliders, management knobs, scrub bars, and contact display screen shows are simply among the choices. It offers loads of flexibility, sufficient in order that you possibly can swap modules based mostly on how your work modifications throughout the day. Paul’s Hardware took the {hardware} for a spin, which you’ll be able to see beneath.

At launch, three MasterHub bundles might be out there—one for streamers, one for video editors, and one for photographers. Each has a totally different configuration, tailor-made for the same old wants of every type of creator. If you wish to alter your setup, you should purchase further modules from Cooler Master; the corporate says 9 varieties might be out there for particular person buy on its web site. Cooler Master additionally plans to ultimately provide a number of base sizes, which might assist remove the necessity for various kinds of management decks at your desk (Stream Deck, quantity controller, and so on). You can have only one central system.

To tweak settings on your MasterHub, you’ll use Cooler Master’s upcoming MasterManagement software program, which is able to arrive first in mid-July (Paul took at peek at it earlier than the hub within the video above). The MasterHub will observe in late November. Cost has but to be introduced, however Cooler Master’s plans are bold for this new piece of equipment. Controlling your PC is simply the beginning—ultimately, that may develop to your room surroundings in 2024, then full sensible residence automation, in 2025. The closing price ticket might mirror these ambitions.

Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor