Companion Satellite and Stream Decks: What You Need to Know

We used to run Companion on four separate machines. Now we run one host machine with Companion, and three others running Companion Satellite.

It's simpler to manage, and there's only one place to make changes. Here's how we did it and what broke along the way.

Setting up the host machine

Start with Companion on whatever machine you're making the host. For us that's the iMac in the live stream room.

Setup is the same as any new instance of Companion. Pick the network interface that has all your connections on it and you're done.

Configuring Companion Satellite

Install Companion Satellite on your satellite machines and plug your Stream Decks into them.

1. Install Companion Satellite on each satellite machine.
2. Plug in the Stream Decks.
3. Open Companion Satellite and hit Configure in the top toolbar.

In the configuration window, enter the IP address of your host Companion instance. Make sure the port matches the one the host is using, which is usually 8000. Save it, and the Stream Deck should show up with the same button layout as the host.

When the Stream Deck won't pull in your buttons

This is where I lost the most time. If the buttons don't show up, work through these in order.

1. Hit the rescan USB button.
2. Check that "Enable connected Stream Decks" is on in Companion settings.
3. Turn off the Elgato Stream Deck software. It fights with Companion.
4. Unplug the Stream Deck and plug it back in.

Number four fixed most of mine. Not satisfying, but there it is.

Where the settings live

Everything for a Stream Deck connected through Companion Satellite gets configured on the host. Button layouts, page settings, all of it.

That's the whole point of doing it this way. One place to make a change instead of four.

What we actually use it for

The reason I went down this road was a Stream Deck foot pedal on stage.

I play guitar, so I use Companion to control where my MD mic goes. Band, media team, or out through the mains. It also lets me flag someone on the media team through their Stream Deck when I need them, without turning around and mouthing something across the room.

Was it worth it

Yes. One host is easier to manage and update than four separate instances of Companion. Once I got past the setup issues it's been running without me thinking about it.

Same trade I keep making. Fewer machines doing five jobs badly, more pieces each doing one job well.

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If your Sunday depends on you being in the room for it to work, that's the problem the Church Notion System is built to solve. One hub with every role and every step, so your team stops defaulting to you.