The MicRig is a simple and affordable solution that combines audio and support for your camera, smartphone or GoPro.
Having had a successful campaign on Kickstarter with over $100,000 pledged over target, the MicRig from Sevenoak is now shipping to buyers worldwide. It is a combination bottom plate, handle and microphone, with a variety of accessories that make it compatible for any kind of small camera, from a DSLR to a smartphone.
It is made from ABS plastic which is both durable and lightweight, and takes a total payload of up to 8lbs, or around 3.5kg. The bottom plate features a couple of feet that will keep your camera off the ground if you need to set it down, and the grooves on the bottom allow you to position your camera in a variety of positions for ideal weight distribution.
A handle protrudes along the back and over, allowing you to easily carry your camera, shoot handheld, and easily achieve low-angle shots such as those typical of skate videos. The handle also provides a cold shoe to mount further accessories.
The top of the handle houses what is the key feature of the MicRig: a pair of 9.7mm condenser microphones in X-Y stereo configuration, allowing you to get better sound quality than with the built-in mic in your camera or smartphone. A single AA battery can power the device for up to 75 hours, and can be changed quickly as it is easily accessible on the underside of the handle.
The audio module offers a few switches for power, high-pass filter, and a 0/+10db boost — useful to increase the level at the microphone and reduce it on the camera, allowing for cleaner recordings by not pushing the camera’s preamp.
The package includes all the necessary accessories to mount cameras as well as smartphones, various cables to connect to whatever camera type you decide to use with the MicRig, as well as a fluffy microphone windscreen.
All in all, the Sevenoak MicRig seems like a quick and lightweight solution to give better audio capabilities and some stability to a bare-bones DSLR or smartphone system, making it ideal for skate or other action sport videos. It seems overall less bulky, more stable and — at only $60 — a good alternative to getting a standard cold-shoe top handle and a basic microphone, though the all-in-one approach makes it a little limited in terms of expandability with more accessories.
The Sevenoak MicRig is available for purchase now on Kickstarter in several packages with various optional extras.
