Loupedeck separated strip buttons v1.1.3
Version 1.1.3 supersedes v1.1.2 and rebuilds the separated strip-button feature on top of the latest official Bitfocus Loupedeck surface module.
The official native strip layout is now preserved correctly when the option is disabled, while users who prefer the earlier workflow can still enable separated 60 × 60 square buttons.
Why separated buttons exist
This layout began as a personal custom module used with Companion 4.x. It divided each vertical touch strip into three separated square buttons, making the controls more reliable during live use.
When Companion 5 was released, the original personal Companion 4.x module no longer worked correctly. It therefore had to be adapted for Companion 5 so that the vertical strips would behave as they did in the original 4.x version. That adapted version was released publicly as v1.1.0.
A few days later, Bitfocus released the official Loupedeck surface module v1.1.1. It introduced native full-height controls that use the entire vertical strip area.
However, the vertical strips are continuous touch surfaces without physical dividers between the three controls. With the larger adjacent touch areas, it became possible to press two neighboring controls at the same time or trigger the wrong control when a finger landed on or moved across the strip at an angle.
Because of this, the separated 60 × 60 layout was restored and released as v1.1.2.
Version 1.1.3 now supports both workflows correctly through one optional switch:
- The latest official native strip layout when separated buttons are disabled
- Separated 60 × 60 square buttons with touch-inactive gaps when enabled
The detailed explanation and original visual comparison are available in the v1.1.2 release notes. Version 1.1.3 focuses on preserving both layouts correctly and allowing users to choose the layout that works best for them.
What was corrected in v1.1.3
The v1.1.2 implementation registered only 60 × 60 artwork.
Because of this, disabling the separated layout did not restore true official native rendering. The square artwork remained in use, with the surrounding area filled to cover the complete strip cell.
Version 1.1.3 fixes this by registering two independent layouts when the surface starts:
- The latest official native strip layout
- The optional separated 60 × 60 layout
Each layout has its own internal control IDs. Only the selected layout is rendered and receives touch events.
The latest button images are cached, allowing the module to redraw the strips immediately when the setting changes. Companion does not need to be restarted when switching layouts.
Separated strip buttons disabled
The module uses the latest official native strip behavior:
- Official native dimensions and edge padding
- Full-height Companion artwork
- Full native touch areas
- Correct rendering of gradients, circles and continuous graphics
- No stretching, interpolation or extension of square artwork
Separated strip buttons enabled
The module uses the optional separated layout:
- Native 60 × 60 square artwork
- Three separated controls on each vertical strip
- A 15-pixel black area above and below each button
- Black areas that do not respond to touch
- Reduced chance of activating a neighboring control
- Text and icons that remain square and unstretched
Additional improvements
- Switching layouts works immediately while Companion is running
- Touch events are routed only to the selected layout
- Touch IDs are tracked so that the release event is sent to the control that originally received the press
- Existing strip graphics are restored immediately after changing the setting
- Legacy fader/slider mode remains available
- The latest official strip edge-padding changes are preserved
Installation
Download:
companion-surface-loupedeck-separated-strips-v1.1.3.tgz
Do not extract the file.
In Companion:
- Open Modules
- Click Import module package
- Select
companion-surface-loupedeck-separated-strips-v1.1.3.tgz - Do not use Import offline module bundle
- Open Surfaces
- Add or edit the Loupedeck surface integration
- Select module version 1.1.3
- Set LCD strip mode to Split buttons
- Enable Separated strip buttons (60 × 60) to use the optional square layout
Disable the option at any time to return to the official native strip layout.
Completely close the official Loupedeck or Razer Stream Controller software before using the controller with Companion. The official software may retain control of the USB device.
Compatibility
Built and physically tested with:
- Bitfocus Companion 5
- Razer Stream Controller
- Linux headless Companion
The module also supports Loupedeck Live devices supported by the official Bitfocus Loupedeck surface module.
This release is not intended for Companion 4.x.
Important information
- This is an unofficial Companion surface module
- It is based on the official open-source Bitfocus Loupedeck surface module
- It does not modify the controller firmware
- It does not modify the official Loupedeck or Razer software
- The separated layout is completely optional
- With the option disabled, the latest official native strip behavior is retained
- Back up your Companion configuration before installing custom modules
The module was developed and documented with assistance from ChatGPT and physically tested in a real Companion 5 setup.
Released under the MIT License.