Elgato has been in the business of taking your content to the next level for years, so it should come as no surprise that one of our very favorite, and easily the most unexpected, content creation tools of the year should carry the Elgato name. Are you a streamer? If so, the Elgato Multi Mount may just be the tool you never knew you needed. Let’s dig in and find out exactly what makes this seemingly simple tool so good.
Specifications
Current Price:
- Multi Mount: $49.99
- Multi Mount Flex Arm Kit: $39.99
- Multi Mount Weighted Base: $39.99
- Multi Mount Smartphone Holder: $14.99
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The Multi Mount is the kind of all-in-one device you would have expected to exist already. Using a combination of a desk clamp (or weighted base), steel arms, and ball-heads capped off with a 1/4-20 screw, the Multi Mount becomes a versatile mounting device for your camera, mic, lights, or even a smartphone. As a new streamer, that might not seem like much but ask anyone who has been at it a while and they’ll tell you how awesome a tool like this actually is.
At its core, the singular Multi Mount is the same solution that ships with the Elgato Key light. It’s essentially a lighting stand that attaches to your desk with clamp. It’s made of heavy duty steel, so stays in place very well and feels exceptionally well-made.The stand also collapses in on itself, which gives it an adjustable range of 22 to 49 inches. The 1/4-20 screw on the top is industry standard for camera gear and matches most lights, microphones, cameras, and even webcams. If you’ve had trouble getting the right angle for your stream due to a lack of desk space, this piece of the puzzle is a great option all by itself.
Where it comes into its own, though, is when you add the Flex Arm kit. This add-on includes four additional tubes that end in one half of a ball-head and can be fit together to get closer to a subject or achieve a better angle. You don’t have to use them all and that modularity allows you to really customize it to exactly your space and creative needs.
Sounds simple, right? Have a look at some of the uses it offers:
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The fact of the matter is that achieving the best result for streaming or making videos isn’t one-size-fits-all. Distances and setups vary, so being able to get that extra reach makes a huge difference. Take the microphone examples in the picture above. Those same microphones positioned a foot or more away would sound dramatically different. It’s the same concept underlying desk mounted boom arms. The Multi Mount kit allows you to adjust height, reach, and angle for exactly your unique scenario.
For me, my biggest goal was to create an overhead camera. Believe it or not, despite the frequency of top-down shots on YouTube, they’re surprisingly hard to pull off without buying big, ugly rigs or modding microphone boom arms and hoping they hold the weight of a camera. It’s one of the reasons I bought a Go Pro, I purchase I wish I’d waited on because the Multi Mount and its Flex Arm Kit have eliminated my need for it.
I filmed all of the top-down unboxing footage in the video below using the Elgato Multi Mount.It held up perfectly, never once began to droop, even when positioned at a 90-degree angle and holding a camera.
That’s just one purpose. If you’re a normal streamer, you can change up the look of your set without rearranging everything in the room to accommodate a new stand. If you’re happy with what you have and just want a second angle, you could pick up the Smartphone adapter and position that. And if clamping it to your desk is a no-go, there’s also the heavy metal base available for purchase separately.
Final Thoughts
The Elgato Multi Mount kit is an awesome tool that I’ve been able to find a lot of uses for to enhance the quality of my content. If you’re a creator and can afford the admittedly premium price this also carries, it will likely do the exact same for you.
Pros
- Very versatile
- Well-made and heavy duty
- Modular design makes it easily customizable
- Smartphone adapter, base, and additional arms available separately
Cons
- Somewhat expensive, but not terrible compared to other high quality production arms
The product described in this review was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
