IK Multimedia iKlip A/V Smartphone Broadcast Mount
By Dendy Jarrett |
IK Multimedia iKlip A/V Smartphone Broadcast Mount
It's like they read our minds...
by Dendy Jarrett
I'm a solutions-oriented person...so I love it when a piece of gear crosses my path that really provides a solution to a problem. IK Multimedia's iKlip A/V Smartphone Broadcast Mount does just that.
Most of us have great cameras in our smartphones - and we love to use them to take videos for blogs, facebook, forums, family memories, and/or our jobs. In the case of Harmony Central, we've come from carrying shoulder-mounted cameras with lights and cables running everywhere (while covering trade shows), to now...being able to use our smart phone to shoot, produce, edit, and broadcast while on the go. The sheer weight savings alone cannot be emphasized enough, but now, we can shoot the show, and have videos up virtually the same day (something that once took weeks). But until this device, we had very little quality control over audio, and our options for mounting the camera (iPhone) were limited and expensive.
The iKlip lets you mount a 3.5" to 6" phone on this broadcast mount. It also works with digital cameras, field recorders, or any video device with a standard UNC 1/4" - 20 thread mount, but we're going to focus on the phone use only. The device is so straightforward: It uses an expansion clip on the thread mount that accepts you phone. The thing I like about it versus some other available solutions is that I can keep my phone in the protective case and still use this expansion clip. It takes about 4 seconds to mount the phone. So simple.
For Audio, the handle grip has an balanced (mono) XLR cable input for a wireless mic receiver (which fits on a supplied clip mount). The handle also has a high quality microphone preamp with volume control and phantom power. Also, there's a supplied TRRS cable that sends the audio directly into the pin port on the iPhone or Android device. Ther monitor port for headphones is very convenient so you can ensure the quality of the sound coming into the video.
The unit becomes a fully self-contained broadcast filming device. You can use this for home, filming your own band videos, interviewing people, capturing UFO fly-bys, covering trade shows, and much more.
If I had one wish, it would be for IK Multimedia to fill the bottom rail (now empty) with a battery backup for your device with a USB to Lightning charger - this way you wouldn't run out of juice in the middle of a shoot. But other than that one wish, this fully meets our needs for filming trade shows and the like.
Furthermore if you watch much news, more and more news broadcast segments are being shot with iPhones, Androids, or tablets. So, this device has far-reaching benefits for both home and professional use.
Here are the specifics on the iKlip A/V -
- Professional audio and video broadcast recording system for smartphones
- XLR mic preamp with phantom power and gain
- Integrated wireless receiver support
- 1/8” TRRS analog audio output
- Headphone output for real-time monitoring
- Standard UNC 1/4”-20 tripod and camera mount threads
- Powered by two standard AA batteries
If you're looking for an easy solution for shooting video or even pictures with a great grip, and sophisticated audio control capabilities...the IK Multimedia iKlip A/V is a fantastic and simple solution. There are other mounts available, but few options at this price point. And with the expandable iKlip mount, this device can grow as phone sizes grow and since the iKlip portion can be removed, future clips for larger devices could be offered as accesories.
For Team HC, this will likely be our broadcast tool of choice for the upcoming trade shows because it's lightweight, easy to use, and compact. And best of all, comes in under budget! As I mentioned in the opening of this review, I'm a solutions guy and the iKlip A/V was built with that in mind. It's like they read our minds as to what we needed to cover trade shows...and more.
Resources
To buy iKlip A/V - Average Price $179.99
_________________________________________________________________
Dendy Jarrett is the Publisher and Director of Harmony Central. He has been heavily involved at the executive level in many aspects of the drum and percussion industry for over 25 years and has been a professional player since he was 16. His articles and product reviews have been featured in InTune Monthly, Gig Magazine, DRUM! and Modern Drummer Magazines.
Recommended Comments