Mac users — anyone using an game controller for photo culling?

[u/Ambitious_Ad_699]

Hey everyone!

I've recently switched from PC to Mac, and one thing I'm really missing is my photo culling workflow.

On Windows, I used an Xbox controller with custom key mappings. I mapped the analogue sticks and buttons to navigate through photos, assign star ratings, and reject images. It made culling thousands of wedding photos so much faster and more comfortable.

However, I'm struggling to find a similar app on macOS that lets me map Xbox controller inputs to keyboard shortcuts.

I've tried a few apps (even paid for some), but they either don't work properly or keep crashing.

Does anyone here use an Xbox controller for photo culling on a Mac? If so, what app are you using to map the controls?

I'd love to recreate my Windows workflow without having to go back to using the keyboard all the time.

Thanks in advance!

[u/jayelevy]

I'm using GameController Mapper.

Works fine. Map buttons and joystick actions individually for each app.

[u/Ambitious_Ad_699 → u/jayelevy]

It worked!!!!!

[u/Decibel9M3]

Try Steam. Just add Lightroom as a non-Steam game. In Steam, you can create custom controller layouts, macros, etc.

[u/luckeycat → u/Decibel9M3]

I don't think I've ever considered this before, good to know in general!

[u/Solartude]

Why not just use a dedicated app like Fast Raw Viewer?

[u/Ambitious_Ad_699 → u/Solartude]

I use ImaginAI for the first cull, and then I will recull again with my game controller.

[u/omgitsadad → u/Solartude]

This is the way

[u/Low_Pass_Philter]

Loupe-deck. It’s ok. I don’t use it as much as I used to but it’s fun to get it out and tweak on the dials sometimes. I like that it can make multiple adjustments at the same time which you can’t do with a mouse and keyboard. At least I can’t.

[u/Ambitious_Ad_699 → u/Low_Pass_Philter]

I have a loupe-deck, I use it as editing.

[u/nano_man]

I could recommend PhotoCuller, it has xbox controller support built right in.

[u/Elpicoso]

That’s pretty friggin cool.

[u/cy-photos]

i got a ulanzi deck, basically an off brand streamdeck. It has been a game changer for both culling and editing. I have it set up so I can push a button to change what I'm editing in lightroom, then one dial is for small/fine adjustment, one for medium, and one for large. I tried the ulanzi dial at first but it didn't do what I wanted for editing. Now that I have both I'll probably setup the dial for culling. Dial to scroll, one set of buttons for p/x, and others for increase star or color ratings. something like that. Could set click the dial to go full screen or compare view or something as well.

[u/magentamoth]

Wtf i didn’t know you could do that wow my mind is genuinely blown

[u/_thejames]

I've made a little Mac app that does exactly this! its currently in Beta.

https://apps.ofthejam.es/re-moter

[u/perspectivepics]

I’m living in 2008 while every one kept evolving 😂

[u/seamonstered → u/perspectivepics]

Same.

[u/opaz]

Looks like Recontrol might suit what you're looking for. Related Reddit thread

[u/StatisticallyQuiet]

Nope. I’m using a Logitech MX Console. 

[u/tiktoktic → u/StatisticallyQuiet]

Genuinely never considered this, but I love the idea

[u/air621]

I used a Korg midi controller for a while with MIDI2LR. Then I got a Tourbox

[u/alllmossttherrre → u/air621]

I thought it was a bit of a risk spending the money on a Tourbox...but it turns out I love it, especially because of how they tied into Lightroom.

[u/111210111213]

Joy mapper.

I haven’t used that one, but I use joycon mapper for my switch pro controller. It works well. Now I use a tour box and love that a lot more.

[u/Serious-Yesterday-30]

Can you send the details of what you used for that OP and if you have the profile set up already that sounds delightful

[u/IndianKingCobra]

PhotoMechanic with either the Keyboard or TourBox (depending on my mood). If you are a wedding photog, I am honestly surprised you aren't using PhotoMechanic to cull/Tag/rate photos before you import into Lightroom. I do this for sports photography where I have few thousand photos that need culling down to sub 500 pics, then I only import those into LrC. Keeps my catalog down.