The DisplayPad is Mountain’s answer to Elgato’s Stream Deck. The input device is intended to make work easier for YouTubers, streamers and the like. In the test, it also convinces in other areas.
Mountain’s DisplayPad is a hotkey extension for streamers, YouTubers and content creators. (Source: Mountain)
Do you want to become a streamer or are you already active on YouTube, Twitch and Co. with your own channel? Then you have certainly already bought the right streaming equipment. Camera, microphone, headset and a fast PC form the basis for a successful stream, but there are even more practical gadgets.
One of them is the Mountain DisplayPad. This is an input device for your PC or notebook. The small stream deck offers 12 hotkeys that can be stored with logos, images or even GIFs. They are particularly useful if you do not have a gaming keyboard with programmable keys – but also as a supplement, because you can implement commands more quickly thanks to the backlight and the images.
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Scope of delivery, processing, commissioning
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Bright displays with a fun factor
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The software is the heart
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price and alternative
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Conclusion
What do you need a thing like that for? Very simple: If you want to open programs during the stream, send ready-made Twitch messages to the community, keep an eye on the CPU load or trigger quick ready-made command chains, then such an input device is worth its weight in gold.
However, it should be said right at the beginning that not only YouTubers and streamers benefit from the DisplayPad. Content creators can, for example, assign shortcuts from Adobe Photoshop or Premiere to the keys, and the small additional device is also practical for everyone else. You can start programs at lightning speed, shut down the PC or start a VPN.
Scope of delivery, processing, commissioning
The DisplayPad comes with everything you need to get started. In addition to the device itself, there is a stand and a two-meter-long, textile-coated USB-A to USB-C cable for connection to the computer. A quick start guide and a sticker set are also included.
The top of the hotkey assembly is brushed aluminum, the bezeled and slightly concave clear keys are made of plastic, as is the stand and lower base of the display assembly.
A rubber mat is attached to the underside of the DisplayPad to prevent it from slipping. Together with an impressive total weight of 538 grams, the DisplayPad stands securely on the desk and withstands the keystroke without escaping.
The display keys can be fitted with your own images, logos or GIFs. (Source: Mountain)
The DisplayPad itself can also be attached directly to the keyboard without the stand. However, a keyboard from Mountain is required. The Everest Max and Everest Core models are compatible.
Commissioning is easy. You plug the USB cable into your computer and install the “Base Camp” software from Mountain. It’s ready to go.
Bright displays with a fun factor
The displays behind the shortcut keys offer a resolution of 104 x 104 pixels. You can use the software to add different images to them. The formats JPG, JPEG, JPE and PNG are supported. Moving GIFs can also be used.
The resolution is high enough for program logos or moving images to look sharp. In addition, Base Camp provides image templates for many standard commands such as opening Task Manager. CPU, GPU usage and more are displayed in real time.
The backlight can be continuously adjusted via Base Camp software. It is sufficiently bright and always easy to read. Due to the angled design, the keys are easy to use and do not require any twisting of the fingers.
The software is the heart
The Base Camp software is the heart of the DisplayPad. You use it to put background images or animations on the display keys and create shortcuts. Note, however, that the program is only compatible with Windows. Base Camp cannot be used on macOS and Linux.
As is usual with gaming keyboards or mice, different profiles can be created within Base Camp. For example, several people can use the DisplayPad or you can create different profiles for different purposes.
If twelve buttons don’t seem like much to you – there’s another special feature here: In principle, you don’t just have the twelve buttons to choose from, which you can equip with commands. You can also equip each of the display keys with a folder, which in turn contains twelve shortcuts.
Use the Base Camp software to equip the DisplayPad with commands and background images. (Source: Netzwelt)
For example, a folder for streaming can be placed on a button that contains a set of 12 shortcuts for streaming. Or you put a Photoshop folder on another button, which contains shortcuts for the graphics program. This means that you have the right set of hotkeys directly on the DisplayPad for every application, regardless of the profiles created within the software.
The functional area of the commands to be executed is diverse. The following categories are stored as standard, behind which there are numerous specific commands for the respective software or the area of application:
- No function
- Create folder (for another set of shortcuts)
- operating system commands
- Start browser
- run program
- open folder
- Run macro
- media
- keyboard shortcuts
- Maus
- Profile
- watch
- PC-Info
- OBS Studio
- Twitch
- Adobe
- DaVinci Resolve
If you are missing a certain command, you can create it using your own macros. More complex chains can then also be realized by recording mouse and keyboard inputs.
Basically, the number of command options is very large, the most well-known professional programs are supported. If you work with other software, such as Audacity or Gimp, you can simply place the supported keyboard shortcuts on the keys.
price and alternative
The DisplayPad has a recommended retail price of 109.99 dollars. It’s priced higher than the small version of Elgato’s competitor Stream Deck, but well below the larger versions with more shortcuts.
Anyone who owns a Mountain Everest Max or Everest Core can attach the DisplayPad directly to the keyboard. (Source: Mountain)
All in all, the price is fair, because the display buttons in particular make the device an eye-catcher and enable comfortable operation. Alternatively, you can also get a cheaper version without display buttons from Mountain. This is called MacroPad and costs significantly less at 60 dollars.
Conclusion
Mountain’s DisplayPad does an excellent job. It is a useful extension for the video and streaming area, as well as for content creators who want to run quick commands in Premiere and Co.
But the device also has its uses outside of these areas. In everyday life, the DisplayPad is used to quickly start frequently used programs, to execute frequently used keyboard or mouse commands and more. This means that users who mainly use the PC for Office also benefit from the functions.
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The processing quality is very good, thanks to the stately weight, everything looks very valuable and stands securely on the desk. Even if the display keys cannot be compared to classic keyboard keys due to the short drop, they still work perfectly and react quickly to inputs.
Positive
- Very good processing quality
- Fixed stand or mounting on a suitable keyboard
- Countless shortcut options
- Thanks to the folder function, numerous assignments are possible
- Easy configuration, clear software
Negative
- Base Camp software only compatible with Windows
- Competing products sometimes offer even more sophisticated operating methods
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