Map Stream Deck Dials to OBS Filter Parameters

Controlling OBS Studio filter parameters—such as audio gain, chroma key smoothness, or color correction brightness—using the physical dials on your Elgato Stream Deck + provides precise, real-time tactile control. Because OBS Studio does not natively map rotary encoders directly to filter sliders, the most reliable and customizable way to achieve this is by routing MIDI signals from your Stream Deck to OBS. This guide will walk you through setting up virtual MIDI mapping to seamlessly link your physical dials to any numerical OBS filter parameter.

Step 1: Install the Necessary Software

To bridge the gap between your Stream Deck dials and OBS filter sliders, you need three free tools:

  1. loopMIDI (Windows) or IAC Driver (macOS): Creates a virtual MIDI cable to send signals between your Stream Deck and OBS.
  2. MIDI Plugin by Trevliga Spel: Available in the Elgato Stream Deck Marketplace, this plugin allows your dials to send MIDI messages.
  3. obs-midi-mg Plugin: An OBS Studio plugin that allows OBS to receive MIDI inputs and map them directly to sources, scenes, and filter parameters.

Step 2: Configure the Virtual MIDI Port

  1. Download and install loopMIDI.
  2. Open loopMIDI and click the + (plus) button in the bottom left to create a new virtual MIDI port.
  3. Name the port something recognizable, such as “Stream Deck MIDI”. Keep the application running in the background.

Step 3: Configure the Stream Deck Dial

  1. Open the Stream Deck software.
  2. Go to the Stream Deck Marketplace and install the MIDI plugin by Trevliga Spel.
  3. In your Stream Deck profile, drag a MIDI CC (Continuous Controller) action onto one of your physical dial slots.
  4. In the action settings panel:
    • Set MIDI Out Port to your virtual port (“Stream Deck MIDI”).
    • Set the Channel to 1.
    • Assign a unique Control Change (CC) Number (e.g., 10).
    • Set the Value Range (typically 0 to 127).
    • Choose Encoder Mode to match how you want the dial to behave (relative or absolute; “Absolute” is generally easiest for filter sliders).

Step 4: Map the MIDI Control in OBS Studio

  1. Open OBS Studio.
  2. Go to the top menu and select Tools > OBS MIDI MG Setup.
  3. In the Active Devices tab, find “Stream Deck MIDI” (or your named virtual port) under the Input section, check the box to enable it, and click Apply.
  4. Navigate to the Bindings tab.
  5. Click Add Binding.
  6. Turn your physical Stream Deck dial. The plugin will automatically detect the MIDI CC number you assigned in Step 3.
  7. Under the binding settings:
    • Select Action Type: Change this to “Source/Filter Value” or “Set Filter Parameter”.
    • Select the Source containing the filter you want to adjust.
    • Select the specific Filter (e.g., “Gain” or “Color Correction”).
    • Select the Parameter you wish to control (e.g., “db” for gain, or “brightness”).
  8. Click Save and close the setup window.

Your physical Elgato Stream Deck dial is now mapped. Rotating the dial will directly adjust the designated filter slider in OBS Studio in real-time.