What is a Left-Hand Device?
A left-hand device (sometimes called a shortcut controller, macro controller, or shortcut pad) is a compact input device designed to sit under your non-dominant hand while your other hand operates a mouse or pen tablet. It provides programmable buttons, dials, and knobs that you assign to frequently used keyboard shortcuts, macros, and tool switches β eliminating the need to reach across a full keyboard in the middle of a creative task.
Left-hand devices are popular among digital illustrators, video editors, 3D artists, music producers, live streamers, and even office workers whose daily routines involve repetitive shortcut sequences. By consolidating common actions into a single, ergonomically positioned controller, they remove micro-interruptions from your workflow and keep you in a state of flow.
In-Depth
Types of Left-Hand Devices
Left-hand devices fall into three broad categories, each with a distinct design philosophy:
Keypad / button-matrix type β Resembles a small section of a keyboard, with rows of programmable keys arranged in a grid. The Elgato Stream Deck series is the best-known example, featuring LCD-screen buttons that display custom icons for each assigned function. Other entries include the Razer Stream Controller and various 9-key or 12-key macro keypads.
Dial / knob type β Built around one or more rotary encoders for smooth, analog-style control. Turning a dial to adjust brush size, scrub a video timeline, zoom a canvas, or fine-tune a parameter feels more natural than tapping a key repeatedly. TourBox Elite and Monogram Creative Console (formerly Palette) are leading examples.
Gaming-keypad type β Devices like the Razer Tartarus V2, originally designed for gaming with a thumb joystick and 20+ keys, are widely adopted by digital artists and editors who appreciate the high key count and built-in ergonomic hand rest. The joystick can be mapped to canvas panning or timeline scrolling.
Creative Workflow Examples
The real value of a left-hand device becomes clear when you see how it fits into specific workflows:
Digital illustration β When drawing on a pen tablet, common shortcuts include Ctrl+Z (undo), B (brush), E (eraser), brush-size up/down, color picker, layer navigation, and canvas rotation. Assigning these to a left-hand device means your pen hand never leaves the tablet surface, and your eyes never leave the canvas.
Video editing β Editors in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro map timeline scrubbing to a dial, and cut/paste/transition/marker operations to buttons. The dial provides frame-accurate control that a keyboard shortcut cannot match, and the workflow speed improvement is measurable.
Live streaming β The Stream Deck is purpose-built for this: LCD buttons show scene previews, toggle mic mute, trigger sound effects, switch camera angles, and display streaming stats β all at a glance and a single press.
Music production β Producers use dials for mixer faders, pan pots, and plugin parameters, and buttons for transport controls (play, stop, record, loop).
Office and Productivity Use
Left-hand devices are not limited to creative fields. Programmers map build commands, code-snippet insertion, and terminal shortcuts. Office workers assign Excel macros, email templates, meeting-join links, and app-switching sequences. Customer-support agents create one-touch buttons for canned responses and ticket-status changes. Any repetitive keyboard action is a candidate for automation through a left-hand device, and the productivity gains compound over weeks and months.
Software and Profile Switching
Most left-hand devices come with companion software that manages key assignments. A critical feature is profile switching β the ability to load a different set of bindings automatically when you switch applications. Your Stream Deck might show Photoshop tools when Photoshop is in the foreground and OBS controls when OBS is active. This effectively multiplies the number of available shortcuts without adding physical buttons or requiring manual switching.
Community-shared profiles are another advantage. Many device manufacturers host profile libraries where users share their configurations for popular applications β Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Blender, OBS, and dozens more. Downloading a well-designed community profile gives you a head start, and you can customize it to match your personal workflow from there.
How to Choose
1. Identify Your Primary Workflow
Illustrators and designers benefit most from dials (for brush size, canvas rotation, opacity) β TourBox excels here. Streamers and video editors prefer visual LCD buttons with dynamic labels β the Stream Deck series is purpose-built for this. Gamers-turned-creators may find a Razer Tartarus familiar and versatile. Match the device’s input methods to the type of actions you repeat most.
2. Evaluate Button Count and Customization Depth
More buttons accommodate more shortcuts, but too many buttons with no clear labeling can be overwhelming. LCD-screen buttons (Stream Deck) solve the labeling problem visually. Profile-switching and folder/page navigation effectively multiply the available shortcuts without adding physical controls. Ensure the companion software supports your applications and operating system.
3. Consider Connectivity and Ergonomics
Bluetooth wireless models keep your desk setup cable-free. Wired models offer zero-latency reliability and never need charging. Size and hand-rest comfort matter for multi-hour sessions, so if at all possible, try the device in person before buying. A device that is uncomfortable after 30 minutes will eventually be abandoned in a drawer.
Recommended Products
Left-hand devices divide by button type: LCD screen-key panels offer dynamic labeling, physical macro pads give tactile feedback, and dial-heavy controllers suit audio and color-grading workflows. The three picks below cover the versatile LCD deck for streamers and creators, the dial-focused knob controller for video editors, and the compact QMK-based macro pad for keyboard enthusiasts. See our mechanical keyboard comparison for the main keyboard to pair with your left-hand device.
| Product | Highlights | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 | 15 LCD keys, app-driven profiles, Photoshop/Premiere/OBS plugins | Mid-range |
| Loupedeck Live S | 8 LCD keys + 6 dials + touch strip, timeline-scrub optimized, hub software | Mid-range |
| Xencelabs Quick Keys | 8 keys + 2 dials, e-ink display, Bluetooth/USB, 10-hour battery | Mid-range |
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 β Best All-Round LCD Shortcut Deck
The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is the most widely used left-hand device in creative and streaming workflows, and for good reason: its 15 individually programmable LCD keys display custom icons and labels that change dynamically based on which application is in the foreground. Open Photoshop and the deck shows layer tools, blend-mode switches, and quick-export buttons. Switch to OBS and it immediately displays scene selectors, audio mute toggles, and recording controls. Elgato’s plugin ecosystem covers every major application β Adobe CC, DaVinci Resolve, Lightroom, Premiere, OBS Studio, Streamlabs, Spotify, Discord, Teams, Zoom, browser bookmarks, and system functions. Keys support single actions, held actions, multi-step macros, and navigation to sub-pages for unlimited effective button count. The USB-C connection requires no driver installation beyond the Stream Deck software. For any creator who wants plug-and-play profile switching with the richest plugin library available, the MK.2 remains the definitive choice.
Loupedeck Live S β Best for Video Editors and Color Graders
The Loupedeck Live S is purpose-built for workflows that require continuous parameter adjustment, not just one-touch macro execution. Its six touch-sensitive dials provide analog control over exposure, color temperature, saturation, audio levels, and timeline scrubbing in applications like DaVinci Resolve, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro. A dial adjustment is faster and more precise than clicking and dragging a slider, and the muscle-memory feedback of a physical knob reduces visual attention demand compared to on-screen controls. Eight LCD touch keys handle scene switching, tool selection, and multi-step macros, while the touch strip provides scrolling and scrubbing control. Loupedeck’s hub software manages profiles per application, with community-shared configurations available for most popular creative tools. For photo editors, video colorists, and producers who spend hours with a single application making incremental adjustments, the Live S’s dial-first design dramatically accelerates the workflow.
Xencelabs Quick Keys β Best Compact Wireless Left-Hand Controller
The Xencelabs Quick Keys is a professional shortcut controller from the pen tablet manufacturer, designed specifically for use alongside a Xencelabs or Wacom drawing tablet. Its eight physical keys and two dials offer a compact, wireless form factor β Bluetooth 5.0 provides up to 10 hours of use per charge, and a USB-C cable supports wired connection when needed. The e-ink display on the device shows current key assignments in the selected profile, eliminating the need to memorize what each key does. The dials suit brush-size adjustment, zoom control, and undo/redo scrolling in Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio, and Procreate. The device pairs to two hosts and switches between them with a button press β useful for illustrators who work on both an iPad and a desktop. The smaller form factor fits easily on a tablet stand or to the left of a laptop without requiring significant desk real estate. For illustrators and digital artists who prioritize wireless convenience and e-ink key labeling, the Quick Keys is the most elegant solution available.
See Full Mechanical Keyboard Comparison β
## The Bottom LineA left-hand device puts your most-used shortcuts literally at your fingertips, removing the friction of reaching for a keyboard in the middle of a creative or productive flow. Choose the type that matches your primary application β dials for illustration and editing, LCD buttons for streaming and visual workflows, multi-key pads for general productivity β and make sure the software supports automatic profile switching for your apps. The time savings are modest per action but compound dramatically across a full workday, and most users wonder within a week how they ever worked without one.