Logitech MX creative console review

The Logitech MX Creative Console is a two-part control deck meant to simplify creative operations, particularly picture and video editing. The system includes a control pad with 11 buttons, nine of which may be fully customised with graphical displays, as well as a jog wheel with a big dial, a rotary wheel, and four buttons. The control pad connects to your computer via USB, and the jog wheel connects through Bluetooth, which gives you wireless convenience.

This console is designed specifically for photographers and videographers, with tight interaction with Adobe’s suite of programmes, including Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro. What makes the console stand out is the fully configurable design, which essentially enables you to lower your dependency on typical keyboard shortcuts, ultimately resulting in a more intuitive way to engage with the applications when editing.

The Logitech MX Creative Console has excellent build quality, with both of the modular components—the keypad and dial pad being made of recyclable plastic and aluminium, giving them a premium feel. The keypad’s main buttons are transparent, with an LCD panel behind them that refreshes constantly based on the application and toolset being used. Additionally, two buttons enable you to switch between different toolsets.

Out of the box and once plugged in, the Logi Options+ offers profiles for Adobe products such as Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. These profiles enable quick set-up and complete customisation if you want to mess around with the settings. The keypad is powered via USB-C, while the dialpad is wireless using a Bluetooth connection. Two AAA batteries supply power, and there’s an on/off button on the back.

Pairing with my test MacBook Pro was simple, with the hardware instantly identified. You can customise the console using Logi Options+, which enables you to start from scratch with applications or download and apply those pre-made Adobe profiles.

The console’s modular design is also really flexible when it comes to how you position it on your desk, with the ability to pop the keypad either flat or on the provided stand. As the dial pad is Bluetooth, it can be shifted wherever you want, making it good for use by both left- and right handed users. One point on the weight of each part, while not heavy, there is enough weight and rubber feet to help both parts remain stationary while in use.

If, like me, you have a way of working and several tools and options that you use within applications more than others, a great feature is the ability to customise profiles to suit your workflow. For apps that don’t have ready-made profiles, you can create your own; this takes a little time but is worthwhile and ultimately rewarding once applied. As the MX Creative Console is all new, I’ve used the beta version of Logi Options+, which, after a few initial small connection issues, seemed quite robust and stable overall.

Overall, the console is of great quality, and while customising non-preset programmes might take time, the benefits of speed and workflow enhancement are well worth the effort.

The Logitech MX Creative Console is packed with adaptable software features that change depending on the programme you’re running; before delving into any creative applications and looking at the use of the console with macOS, it’s able to adjust volume, scroll across documents, and switch between applications. The keypad, on the other hand, enables options like capturing screenshots or accessing Finder—essentially, it’s set and ready to go from the off.

The console’s main focus is when used with creative apps such as Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Logitech has ensured that there’s a good range of application profiles available at launch, and these profiles switch automatically as you switch from one application to another; for example, in Photoshop, the dial changes brush sizes, whereas in Premiere Pro, it scrubs over the film—you don’t have to do anything other than get on with the editing process.

A key feature of the console is the Logi Options+ software, which is a free download and enables you to completely customise the dial and keypad, including setting up your preferred shortcuts and processes for each of your applications or the base OS, in this test, MacOS.

The action ring that lets you quickly access often-used features is one of the basic ones I truly appreciated. Like the one ASUS implemented in their ProArt line of creative laptops with their Dial and Control Panel feature, the action ring is somewhat like a heads-up display.

The MX Creative Console is quite flexible generally. The hardware stays the same and is meant to be compact and portable; the software changes to fit every application and lets you control its use for both creative and non-creative ones.

The Logitech MX Creative Console’s first set-up is straightforward: install the Logi Options+ software, then connect the keypad by USB and the dial via Bluetooth. Both components should then appear in the programme, at which point they can be selected and modified for the applications you use. The downloadable profiles are readily accessible to make that process as easy as possible.

There are pre-made profiles for Adobe products such as Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro out of the box. These performed well during testing with a variety of tools and tasks, especially when altering brush sizes in Photoshop and scrubbing through footage in Premiere Pro. However, navigating the Logi Options+ software to create custom buttons for non-preset applications can be time-consuming yet, saying that it is gratifying once set up.

A nice feature that I was surprised to find out is that the console is preconfigured for macOS and Windows, including system volume control, snapshots, and app switching, so you can use it day-to-day as well as when working. The fact that the dial can also be used in isolation from the keypad means that you can use it as a wireless media controller, which is a feature that I really liked in the studio, enabling me to increase, decrease, and mute audio when needed.

The quick access action ring, which appears as a heads-up display with typical tasks when the bottom right button is pressed on the dial pad, is also a great feature. However, it feels like it’s only been half-implemented, as you still need to use the mouse to select the option and click. Dial-based selection would have been better with a double tap on the dial to confirm the selection.

The dial provides smooth 360° rotation, which works well for everyday use, although more precise control would be useful in creative apps. Interestingly, the dial is touch-sensitive, allowing you to fine-tune parameters such as volume by touching or physically rotating the dial. This function hints at larger possibilities, as at present, the physical rotation and touch rotation can’t be assigned to separate functions, but in the future, they might unlock more accurate skimming over footage in Premiere Pro or a double-tap selection option.

In Photoshop and Lightroom, the keypad and dial definitely improve workflow by enabling faster edits and tool selection. Although it does take a while to switch from tried-and-tested keyboard shortcuts to the dial and keypad system, using the console will become second nature over time.

One aspect of using the console that I really appreciated from the start was that in Premiere Pro, the console helped to navigate the smaller 16-inch laptop screens, making it easier to access and change tools. One observation about the dial, however, is that I feel the system could benefit from a more advanced spring-back dial design, comparable to classic video editing hardware, with finer scrubbing settings, possibly through a secondary top insert dial or utilising the touch sensitivity of the existing dial.

Despite a few initial glitches with the setup, the overall performance was excellent once permissions were granted and a few changes to the profiles were made. The console’s sturdy design and functionality make it a great tool for anyone working with creative applications, especially those from Adobe. There’s also absolutely no doubt about how this console helps to speed up your workflow by making everything far more intuitive and easy to access and adjust.

There’s no doubt that the Logitech MX Creative Console offers versatility, customisation, and the easy handling of tools in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro as well as many more. Its small, lightweight and excellent designed enables it to fit neatly in a kit bag without adding too much weight, essentially meaning that you can use it in the studio, or pack it, and take it with you.

Unlike typical keyboard and mouse set-ups, the MX Console offers a more user-friendly workflow, which is the whole point of this and other such consoles. However, the design and ease of use is really well balanced and the fact that it is so configurable enables you to personalise the console to your exact requirements.

While there are other options on the market, including Loupedeck from which this has evolved and Monogram, the MX Creative Console is a nice compact and no fuss option.

Although it may take some time to become familiar with the functions and feature of the buttons and dial, especially if you’re already a shortcut wizard, once integrated into your workflow, you should start to see the benefits pretty quickly. For anyone who uses the Adobe suite or other creative software, the MX Creative Console is definately a worthwhile investment.