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Mountain DisplayPad and MacroPad review: Compact and supremely functional

By Hoots the Owl - 30 Jan 2023

Mountain DisplayPad and MacroPad review: Compact and supremely functional

When you think of a stream deck, one of the first brands that comes to mind is Elgato. But that hasn't stopped upstart peripherals maker Mountain from trying to muscle in on the space — at a more palatable price point.

The Mountain DisplayPad helps simplify a content creator's workflow, putting commands such as switching to a different screen or simply muting your microphone right at your fingertips. Similarly, its companion MacroPad is all about shortcuts, allowing you to execute complex macros with just a single push of a button.

The pair are all about streamlining what it means to game and stream. The DisplayPad features 12 programmable buttons arranged in two rows of six. Each key has a customisable display that can be linked to virtually any program, and there is also support for animated GIFs if you want your setup to pop a little bit more.

The setup process is incredibly simple. In the Base Camp software, you can customise each key via a seamless drag-and-drop process. The interface is simple and easy to understand, and you should have no trouble getting it up and running in no time. Of course, there is support for dedicated macros as well.

You can pick from any function ranging from OS commands like opening the Task Manager to direct shortcuts for your most-used programs and games. 

However, you're not just limited to 12 functions. You can create different profiles for every use case, switching from streaming-centric commands in one profile to another for Adobe Premiere Pro or your favorite game. Each key has a 104 x 104-pixel resolution, which delivers reasonably crisp icons most of the time.

To further streamline the setup process, there are software integrations with OBS Studio, Twitch, Adobe, and editing application DaVinci Resolve. This provides quick access to the most commonly used functions, such as playing an ad on Twitch, accessing your subscriber's chat, or going live with the stream title of your choice.

Supported Adobe software include Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop, with the option to bind keys to perform anything from a new layer copy in Photoshop to starting a new sequence in Premiere Pro. This can come in handy for dull, repetitive workflows, such as giving the same editing treatment to a large batch of images.

The biggest downside is the lack of integration with other popular streaming programs such as Twitch Studio or Streamlabs. You're effectively limited to just OBS, but Mountain could still add support further down the road.

The DisplayPad's design is equally elegant and functional. It boasts a robust aluminum body that screams premium, and sits on a heavy stand with a secure rubber base that ensures it doesn't slide around on your desk. However, it's also got a hidden trick up its sleeve.

The DisplayPad itself is modular and can slide out of the stand to interface with your Everest Max or Core keyboards, a pretty nifty option for fans of the Mountain ecosystem. If you don't have either of those keyboards, the DisplayPad will still look good sitting by itself on your desk. The keys are also positioned at just the right angle, so they are always perfectly visible.

The MacroPad works very similarly. Instead of 12 display keys, it has 12 mechanical keys that can be programmed to launch the application or macro of your choice. Each individual key also features RGB backlighting, with the option to choose between single colour, dual colour, and custom effects in Base Camp. Two separate sliders also let you adjust the speed of the effects and the brightness, alongside arrow keys for the direction.

The switches are Mountain's own Tactile 55 switches, which have been factory-lubed. If you don't like them, they are hot-swappable and can be replaced with any 3- or 5-pin Cherry MX-style switch.

The main point of friction here is that unlike with the DisplayPad, you'll actually have to remember what command is assigned to which key. If your memory fails you, things could get slightly gnarly in-game.

Conclusion

The DisplayPad costs US$109.99, while the MacroPad is a lot cheaper at US$59.99. They are relatively no-frills add-ons to a budding streamer's setup, providing solid functionality at an attractive price. If you can't quite bring yourself to pony up for one of Elgato's pricier stream decks, these should make you pretty happy, especially if you already own a Mountain keyboard that will work with them.

Ratings

 

  Design User-friendliness Features Performance Value Overall
Mountain DisplayPad 8.0 8.5 7.5 8.0 8.0 8.0
Mountain MacroPad 8.0 8.5 7.0 8.0 8.5 8.0
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8.0
  • Design 8
  • User-Friendliness 8.5
  • Features 7.5
  • Performance 8
  • Value 8
The Good
More affordable than competing solutions
Easy to set up
Versatile customisation
The Bad
Only has OBS integration
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