I’ve dabbled in streaming before, but I wouldn’t call myself a streamer. My gaming setup is pretty simple: I play solo, with music in the background and plenty of volume to immerse myself. Devices like the Elgato Stream Deck always seemed useful, but never essential enough for me to justify the expense. That all changed when Cooler Master’s modular control panel, the MasterHub, landed on my desk.
The MasterHub is aimed squarely at competing with the Stream Deck, but Cooler Master has a fresh take on the concept. The MasterHub is fully modular, allowing you to swap out different components instantly and tailor the layout to your specific needs. It didn’t turn me into a streamer, but it quickly became an integral part of how I interact with my PC, providing easy access to frequent settings, files, and apps.
Customizing Your Command Center
The MasterHub’s modularity is its standout feature. The base itself is a plastic platform with gold-plated pins, and the various modules attach magnetically. This design gives you complete freedom to choose which modules you want and how to arrange them. At first, I didn’t think much of this feature, but it turned out to be a game-changer.
For my setup, I placed the large dial module with an IPS display in the bottom-left corner. Since I keep the MasterHub on the right side of my desk, this layout was most convenient for me. If I were streaming, I might place the 15-key IPS display module closer to my hand, or if I needed precision for tasks like photo editing, I could use the fader module.
While the Stream Deck offers different versions, the MasterHub’s flexibility sets it apart. With the Stream Deck, you adjust to its pre-set layouts. With the MasterHub, the device adapts to you. You can even double up on modules if you need more of a specific type of control.
The best part? You can rearrange the layout anytime. Cooler Master has made the MasterHub highly responsive to changes. While writing this, I switched the layout from horizontal to vertical in seconds, and all my settings adjusted accordingly. You can store multiple profiles in the MasterHub software, making it easy to switch configurations for different tasks.
A Solid Start
Currently, Cooler Master offers five modules: the large dial with an IPS display, a 15-key IPS display, a dual scroller wheel module, a module with three knobs, and one with five mini faders. It’s a strong lineup, but I expect more modules to come. Cooler Master has hinted at future releases, including a dedicated display module I saw during a visit to their headquarters.
The Power of Customization
The most impressive module is the 15-key IPS display, which offers a vast array of actions. You can launch websites, trigger hotkeys, adjust media, or set up multitasking sequences that trigger multiple actions with a single press. If 15 keys aren’t enough, you can store additional pages and switch between them directly from the keypad.
MasterHub also offers great integration options for streamers. You can control OBS Studio and Streamlabs, manage scenes, start and stop streaming, and handle audio sources. OBS users, in particular, will find a wealth of options, from controlling the virtual camera to applying filters. Twitch users can manage ads, chat settings, and clips directly from the device.
Where the MasterHub shines beyond the Stream Deck is with Adobe apps. It comes pre-loaded with controls for Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator. While the Stream Deck technically supports more Adobe apps, you have to pay for the hotkeys and icons unless you set them up yourself. Cooler Master provides these for free.
Despite its solid starting point, the MasterHub still has room to grow. There are countless tools and software that could benefit from a control center like this, and Cooler Master has yet to integrate many of them.
The Road Ahead for Cooler Master
Even with its innovations, Cooler Master faces stiff competition. Elgato has built an ecosystem over the years, offering a vast library of plugins from first- and third-party developers, often available for free. Cooler Master, on the other hand, is still developing its marketplace for plugins. Whether that marketplace becomes a success will depend on community engagement.
Price is another consideration. The MasterHub is a premium product. The basic streaming kit, which includes faders, rollers, and the 15-key display, costs $299 on Kickstarter and will retail for $399. If you want the full set of modules, expect to pay $399 now or $549 after the official launch. In comparison, the Stream Deck+ is $200, and a basic Stream Deck costs under $150.
The MasterHub is ideal for users who need extensive controls, not just a few shortcuts. While it offers clear advantages over the Stream Deck, it also comes at a much higher price point. Cooler Master has laid a strong foundation, but if you’re considering investing in the ecosystem, it might be worth waiting to see how the marketplace evolves and what future modules are released.
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