Putting the light in your streaming life just got easier.
When you’re trying to set up a custom gaming stream, there are a lot of important factors to consider. Of course, personality and a direction of where you want your streams to go are musts. But there’s also the technical side to consider. You don’t want to stream something where someone can’t see your face, do you? Unless you’re trying to be dark and mysterious, maybe.
That’s where Elgato’s Key Light Air comes in. This useful lighting tool will provide you some much-needed illumination to your streaming station, without overwhelming you to the point that you go blind. It’s just the right amount of balance – not to mention a much better model than the previously released Key Light, mainly due to a few key additions.
Changes for the Better
First off, the Key Light Air is much more compact than the original. This not only provides a benefit as far as size goes but also convenience in setup. It only took me a few minutes for me to set up the Key Light Air in the right spot, and without having to worry about clamping it to the desk, as the original Key Light had.
This unit comes with a weighted base, so that it can on its own. You can also use one of the four provided AC adapters to give it its own juice, without having to plug it into a secondary device. This may be overwhelming to some, but it’s not too hard to find the right power adapter to use. The only downside is that the power cables themselves aren’t too long, so if you’ve got a standing desk or an out-of-the-way place you want your power cable to plug into, you might need to make some adjustments.
The Key Light Air comes with a Quick Start guide, so you can easily walk through the steps and light just where you want it, so you’re not too bright or too dark. You can find the right adjustable lighting to make yourself look good – again, unless you want to take the mysterious route. (NO ONE SHALL SEE MY FAAAAACE!)
Just be prepared for a bit of patience with the ball-head mount clamp. It can take a minute or two to put into place. Once you get this done, however, it’s a cinch to use.
Less Power, But Surprisingly Better Lighting
One interesting part that makes the Key Light Air work so well is power consumption. Whereas the original Key Light used about 2800 Lumen output, the Air is about half that, at 1400 Lumen. That may not sound like much technically, but when you’re trying to keep your station nice and cool during streams, it can mean the world.
What’s more, there’s Control Center software that installs to your computer after setting up your Key Light Air. It’s convenient to use, and you can adjust all your lighting systems however you see fit. This includes adjusting brightness levels, utilizing different color ranges and more. It even works well with Mac, provided you’re updated to the latest model on your system. (It only takes a second or so to check.)
If you have a Stream Deck, you’ll find that the Key Light Air works flawlessly with it. You can make tweaks over the course of your stream with a few button presses. But even without it, it’s mostly easy to use.
Now Let’s Talk Price
Alas, there is one setback that some may see with this – the price. The Key Light Air isn’t cheap, as its quality and build put it at a cost of $129.99. However, for those of you that are uber-serious about streaming, or just want a quality light to use at their work desk, it’s worth it. Again, it’s convenient and helpful to use, and practically easy to put together and adjust. And with the online Control Center and Stream Deck integration, it really goes a long way.
Alas, if you’re not streaming, it’s not entirely a necessity. Sure, you could double it as a desk lamp and keep things nicely lit, but for that price, you can probably find a more effective set-up.
Light the Way, Streamers
If streaming is a business you’re looking to get into – and right now, it’s a huge option for some – then the Key Light Air is a must-own. It’s a wonderful accessory that’s easier to use than the original, and its power input and design are really something. It can take a bit to set up, especially with the short power cable and ball-head mount clamp. Overcome these issues, however, and you’ll love how much it lights your way to streaming glory.
RATING: 9/10
A must-own accessory for those of you looking to get the most out of streaming.
