Category: Accessories

HyperX QuadCast – Review | Stream In Style

HyperX which is Kingston’s sub-brand is known for making high-end gaming gear. They have already announced many exciting products in CES 2020. However, there is one interesting thing that the company has launched recently and it is the HyperX QuadCast Gaming Microphone. How does it perform in the real world, let’s find out? 

How does HyperX QuadCast look?

The HyperX QuadCast Gaming Microphone is a condenser type microphone. This mic has been aimed at gamers and streamers alike, especially those who create content that required high-quality audio recording. It comes in red-black colour combination which I personally like very much. The build of the microphone uses aluminium which makes it very sturdy to use. The red accents and the honey-comb like grille on the mic are really eye-catching. Once connected, the microphone lights up in red colour and tapping the mic icon on the top allows you to mute the input. The QuadCast uses an electret condenser design and it uses a built-in pop-filter which cuts out the unnecessary noise. 

For connectivity, it comes with a mini-USB port (wish it was a type-C instead)  and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It can be connected to a PC, laptop or a gaming console and works on macOS, Windows and PS4 platforms too. A high-quality 1.5m long braided wire for connecting the microphone is also supplied in the box. It rests on an aluminium frame with braised elastic bands which keep it suspended and free from shock noises. The base of the microphone has the voice gain adjuster while at the back you will notice a knob with four preset polar settings for the mic.  In simple words, it offers four different modes which can be used to record audio in various situations. It supports four different types of audio recordings, such as cardioid, bidirectional, stereo, and omnidirectional.

How does perform HyperX QuadCast?

The best part of the QuadCast is the ability to adjust its voice gain, Especially if the streaming is being done from a crowded and noisy place. Similarly, for quieter environments, you can dial down the gain for much better and clear recording. We recorded some voiceovers and podcasts in our office to test its abilities and the overall quality has been very impressive. You can use open-source software which allows you to record and edit sound and easily syncs with most of them. Even in different scenarios, there was no compromise in the recordings. 

Should You Buy HyperX QuadCast?

The HyperX QuadCast is a great product for those who game and stream as well as record podcasts. In fact, it can be used as a versatile microphone given its ability to connect on multiple platforms. While the build quality and features are top-notch, I wish HyperX would have given a USB Type-C. Having said that, the QuadCast’s performance is good enough for you to forget everything else. 

Specs

  • Sample/bit rate: 48kHz/16-bit
  • Element: Electret condenser microphone
  • Condenser type: Three 14mm condensers
  • Polar patterns: Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Bidirectional 
  • Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
  •  Sensitivity: -36dB (1V/Pa at 1kHz)
  •  Total weight with USB cable: 710

Price – Rs 14,900

Digitek-DRL18H LED Ring Light Review

Lighting is the most important part when you are shooting a photo or video. While flashes can be used to shoot pictures, video shooting requires a constant powerful source of light which can illuminate the subject and surrounding areas evenly. LED video lights have been in use for a long time now. LED lights are easy to use, carry and provide a great level of illumination for a fraction of the cost of high-end lighting setups.

Content creators are often looking to improve their quality of content they shoot and share on the social platforms. Many video creation platforms require users to create short format videos and share with their followers. This has also given rise to video creation on smartphones. While current smartphones can shoot great quality photos and videos, without proper lighting, it is as good as shooting with a VGA camera. 

 

Digitel DRL18H LEd Ring light

For individual content creators who shoot solo at their offices and workplaces, setting up lighting and shooting could be a challenge. An additional light with more function would be the right companion for making short-format videos and vlogs. So we tested the Digitel DRL18H LEd Ring light and here is what we think of it. 

The Digitek DRL18H LED Ring light is a ring-shaped LED light panel as the name already suggests. It comes packed in a box and is comfortably sitting inside a carry case. Digitek also bundles a light stand with the DRL18H. Inside the box, you get the DRL18H ring light, a mobile phone holder mount and a cold-shoe adapter mount which allows you to attach additional gear. The front has the circular white diffuser panel. At the back, you have the power switch, AC power input, and two knobs which control the intensity and the colour of the light. Moreover, it also features two universal ‘V’ battery mounts which will allow you to use the DRL18H without having to plug into power. The overall build is good and sturdy. The adjustable light stand bundled with the light can be adjusted for height and also the spread of the tripod legs can be adjusted. The outer diameter of the ring is 490mm and the internal diameter stands at 375mm. The light weighs a mere 1.1kg and is easy to move. 

Now moving to the performance, we shot a couple of tech videos and found the light quality to be very good. You can adjust the brightness and colour temperature of the light which ranges from 3200K-5600K. The light has an output power of 55 watts and a luminance of 5200 LM and also features step-less adjustment. If you shoot videos on a smartphone, the supplied mobile phone and hot shoe adapter will be of great help. Additionally, you can attach an external microphone on the hot-shoe mount. The light will be very beneficial for those who shoot short format videos, shoot makeup tutorials as well as those who vlog from a desk set up. The light is very evenly distributed and provides soft illumination. It is very bright and it is advisable not to stare at it for a long period of time to avoid stress on your eye

So, if you are planning to buy an LED light for content creation, the Digitek DRL 18H LED Ring light is a very capable contender for the same, especially if you are single-handed shooter on your smartphone. Digitek’s touch of adding extra hot shoe mounts, adapters and mobile phone holder makes it a perfect lighting package in a budget.

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