Is there anyone who isn’t a content creator nowadays? From Gen Zers and Alphas posting videos on TikTok to moms, dads, even grandparents making Reels on Instagrams, influencer culture has resulted in an influx of consumable online content. Of course, some use the term “content creation” generously. But whether it’s a fun hobby or a burgeoning business, the best tech can make the experience easier and the results far more engaging.
Videos that aren’t crisp and clear, for example, won’t get as many views nor will ones where you can’t hear the speaker well. Everything from composition to lighting, editing, and effects can truly make a video go from one that’s lost in a sea of others to one that truly gets noticed.
If you have a burgeoning content creator on your list, young or older, these gifts will be welcome under the tree.
Sennheiser Profile Wireless Microphone System: For Better Sound
Help them improve the audio component of their videos with the new Sennheiser Profile Wireless two-channel, 2.4Ghz wireless all-in-one microphone system. Whether it’s for on-the-go interviews or live footage or podcasting, it’s a versatile device that can connect to a smartphone, camera, or computer and pick up better audio. It can also be used as a clip-on, handheld, or tabletop mic. The charging bar both stores and charges all the components of the system and can be used as a handheld (or desktop) mic as well.
What’s included? Along with the charging bar, there’s a two-channel mini receiver with an OLED touch display, two pre-paired clip-on microphones that automatically connect to the receiver, a 3.5 mm jack coiled cable for camera use, USB-C to USB-C charging cable, magnetic clips for attaching the mics to delicate clothing, adaptors for connecting the receiver to mobile phones or a camera cold shoe mount, and windshields for the clip-on mics and the charging bar. It’s virtually everything you need to get improved audio anywhere, from recording while out and about to in a studio at home. Plus, the clip-on mics have 16GB memory to record a back-up just in case something goes wrong.
Shipping in Q4 2024 (it might not arrive until Q1 2025 but you can give them an IOU), it will sell for US$299.
ShiftCam SnapSeries Ultimate Portable Studio: For Starters
Those new to creating content will love the adorable ShiftCam SnapSeries Ultimate Portable Studio, a set of creative tools designed specifically for mobile content creators and vloggers. Each item magnetically snaps together for use via MagSafe technology. The set includes the SnapGrip Pro with Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, which delivers 15W of power to iPhones and functions as a handheld grip as well, with a convenient Bluetooth shutter button.
Other accessories that work with the SnapGrip Pro include the SnapStudio Light ring light with control buttons for adjusting temperature and brightness, a SnapPocket Light for scenes that require even more lighting, and three stands (SnapStand Mini, SnapStand Selfie, and SnapStand Max) for aiding with multiple shooting angles and first-person content, like tutorials or unboxings.
There are nine interchangeable pieces in all, and it works with all smartphone types – you’ll just need to use the magnetic sticker for non-MagSafe phones (unless you have a MagSafe case on it). It’s effectively everything they’ll need to get started in a box.
Kensington 5-inch Ring Light: For Better Lighting
This 5-inch ring light from Kensington is just $30 and would make a great stocking stuffer for a content creator. It’s small enough to use both at home and on the go. It provides up to 350 lumens of brightness and has five colour settings and 10 levels of brightness. The pivoting tripod desktop mount and rotating device clip make it easy to position it exactly as you need. It can clip right to a computer monitor, smartphone, or tablet. The great part is that when it’s time to get back to work or school, you can still use it to improve your look during videos calls, virtual classes, and meetings.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Camera: For On-The-Go Pros
There’s so much to love about the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera, my personal go-to for filming event videos, unboxings, and cutting together footage. Along with being able to record in both portrait or landscape mode using the camera and the tiny rotatable OLED touchscreen, you can also use your smartphone and the app as a controller. Hold it comfortably in one hand and quickly tap the button to flip the camera to selfie mode as needed. It’s so easy to get footage at all angles, moving around and following objects.
Additionally, it pairs beautifully with the Lightcut app. Upload your footage and it intelligently analyzes it then cuts it together into a short video compilation. From there, you can edit and create a masterpiece.
It’s perfect for all types of content creators, from novices to pros. I recently used it, for example, to create a timelapse video for social media, and use it often for unboxing videos. I also bring it along to every media event to cut together compelling walk-through videos. The ideal gift is the Creator Combo, which sells for $899. It includes a handle, mic transmitter, windscreen, mic clip magnet, battery handle, mini tripod, wide-angle lens, and convenient carrying bag.
Asus ProArt PX13 Laptop: For Creative Editing
While it might seem like content creators shoot footage and upload it as is, that usually isn’t the case. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes editing that happens to make the video look so great. While this is sometimes done on the source device itself, like a smartphone or tablet, some people rely on a laptop for more intricate editing. The Asus ProArt PX13 is perfect for use on the go, so you can shoot in the field then pop into the local coffee shop for a latte and to get down to work. It has a compact 13-inch screen and weighs just 1.38 kg. The 360° hinge means it can flip from traditional laptop to tented, stand, and tablet modes. See accurate colours and reproduction of footage thanks to the high-resolution 3K touchscreen Lumina OLED display and fast response via the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor.
They’ll also get an advanced AI PC experience for assistance during creative projects, including StoryCube for managing digital assets and MuseTree for creating images via text-based drafts and ideas. With the microSD card reader, you can easily pop a card into the laptop to get editing right away. It’s durable, too, meeting MIL-STD 810H US military standard, tested to withstand up to 95% relative humidity, altitudes up to 15,000 feet, and temperatures as low as -50°C.
Content creators will especially appreciate that Asus has partnered with CapCut for a six-month membership with access to premium features and thousands of assets for workflow, AI, and stock library images. There’s also an Asus DialPad physical controller that provides precise fingertip control over parameters in creative apps, like brush size and undoing actions.
Get it for $2,349 with a 10-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 24 GB RAM, 1 TB storage, 3K OLED touchscreen display, and Asus Pen 2.0. Another version exclusive to Best Buy and the Asus Store in Canada is $2,899 with upgraded specs like a 12-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, RTX 4060, 1 TB storage, 32 GB RAM, and the Asus Pen 2.0.
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