Stream Deck as a Companion surface
You can hand a connected Stream Deck to Bitfocus Companion as an additional satellite surface. Companion then sees the FrenschPress buttons and the deck as two separate control surfaces.
The switch for this applies to the deck only. You can keep the device buttons in QLab Mode or Custom Mode and hand only the deck to Companion. Or you can run the device buttons in Companion Mode and keep the deck on its local mappings.
Enable it
- Open the Streamdeck page in the web interface.
- Turn on Stream Deck as Companion surface. The switch saves immediately. It is off by default.
- Set up the satellite connection in Companion, see Configure it in Companion.
Configure it in Companion
The deck appears on the same satellite connection as the FrenschPress, listed as FrenschPress Stream Deck. Assign the surfaces you need in Companion.
- The FrenschPress panel surface itself appears only when the device buttons are in Companion Mode.
- After you change the deck model, the deck surface may register again. Check its assignment in Companion afterwards.
While Companion controls the deck
| Area | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Keys and encoders | Inputs go to Companion |
| Key images, text and colours | Come from Companion |
| Local macros, feedback and page keys | Suspended; saved assignments are kept |
| Local display rows | Suspended |
| Tools key | Stays local; hold for two seconds to open the tools menu on the deck |
| Web interface preview | Shows received text and, when supplied, the Companion position page/row/column |
The preview is locked in this state. You cannot edit local assignments there or move them by dragging.
| Preview shows | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Waiting for Companion | No text has arrived yet |
| No text label | Companion supplies no text for this key |
| Page Up, Page Down, Page … | Companion page keys |
The preview shows text only. The deck itself can also display the images designed in Companion. If an image cannot be applied, the deck shows text and background colour instead.
The tools menu stays local under Companion. While it is open, all deck inputs operate the menu. After EXIT, Companion controls the other inputs again.
Return to local assignments
- In the web interface: turn off Stream Deck as Companion surface.
- On the deck, without a browser: hold the Tools key for two seconds and choose CTRL MODE → DECK COMP OFF.
The saved local deck assignments are active again. Changing the Device Mode of the device buttons alone does not change who controls the deck.
Lock and brightness
Lock mode takes priority. The deck shows LOCKED and passes on no input until you unlock.
Companion can control brightness. That value applies at runtime only and is not saved as your local brightness. Whether deck and LED brightness are linked is set by the link button on the device card.
If the connection drops
Without a satellite connection, the first deck key shows NO LINK. The other operational keys stay black, and the Tools key remains available. The saved local assignments do not take over automatically in this state.
- Check the network connection and the Companion host.
- If you want to carry on without Companion, deliberately return to local assignments.