I’ve recently invested in a new gadget for remote interpreting, thanks to a recommendation from conference interpreter, Amy Allsop (hello and thank you!) within my interpreting network.
Virtual meetings are now a huge part of my working life, and I’m always looking for new ways to streamline my workflow.
So when I read about the Elgato Stream Deck, I was intrigued.
As the name suggests, the technology was originally for content creators live-streaming on platforms such as Twitch, but more recently it’s been adopted for use by the interpreting community.
The concept is simple. It’s a small desktop console with LCD buttons that act as keyboard shortcuts. These can be customised to perform any command with a single tap.
So rather than having to reach for my mouse and move the cursor towards the ‘mute’ button whenever I want to turn my microphone on or off, I can mute myself instantly by tapping the mute button I’ve set up on my Stream Deck.
I can also use it to switch screens, change language channels and adjust the volume of speakers – all with a single tap.
It’s a simple tweak, but one that has noticeably reduced my cognitive load when remote interpreting – freeing my brain to focus on the job of interpreting.
I use the mini version of the Stream Deck, which has six buttons – I’ve found this is adequate for my needs, but more advanced models with more buttons and dials are available.