Belkin has announced the Stage Creator Kit, a bundled collection of creator-focused hardware that includes a telescoping tripod, a magnetic phone holder, and Belkin’s compact set of two clip-on, wireless microphones, and a USB-C receiver. The all-in-one set costs $129.99, and is available now on Belkin’s website.
The set is fairly complete, if your needs are few. The adjustable tripod is compact, but stands up to 5.5 feet with its telescoping legs fully extended. It’s lightweight, and can support up to 4.4lbs, and very adjustable with pan, tilt, swivel, and leveling capability. It has a 1/4-inch screw at the top for attaching various mounts, too, including the magnetic, MagSafe-style one that comes with the kit for slapping something like an iPhone onto.
Belkin’s wireless microphones are about the size of a small stack of quarters and come pre-paired with a receiver that you plug into the USB-C port on your phone or computer, whichever you’re using. They feature built-in noise cancellation, transmit 24-bit, 48KHz audio, work “up to 100 meters in an unobstructed outdoor environment without interference,” and Belkin says they’ll last up to 36 hours on a charge, although that’s including the case. The mics themselves offer up to six hours of use each.
Belkin Stage Creator Kit
I got a little hands-on time with the kit. I’m no creator with a capital C, but I do stream games from time to time using my phone as my camera and a Logitech Yeti GX, which I’d hold up against any of our favorite game streaming microphones. I found that the mics, which Belkin sells separately, are pleasantly plug-and-play, requiring no setup besides plugging the receiver into my computer, clipping the mic onto my shirt, and turning it on. You can attach the mic to something using magnetic plastic clips, although the attachment is weak; I wouldn’t use them on clothes if you plan to move around a lot. Thankfully, they’ve also got a built-in, rigid clip that’s a lot sturdier and just wide enough for sliding them onto something like a shirt. Alternatively, the mics have a hole for slipping a necklace chain through if you’d rather go that route.
I wouldn’t use Belkin’s wireless microphones for recording music, though. I tried that, too, and they were a little too muddy and clipped – but they’re easily good enough for other, less demanding purposes, if you don’t already have something better.
The adjustability of the stand made it a great replacement for the very janky setup I normally use, although it’s so lightweight that I wouldn’t feel good putting a nice DSLR camera on it, even one that’s under the 4.4lb weight limit – it really feels mainly aimed at the portability of a smartphone. Still, in the event that the stand tips over, the company says in an image on the Creator Kit’s page that it “includes standard 2-year coverage and up to $2,500 in connected equivalent coverage.”
