ZILR has develop into recognized for his or her digital camera batteries and high-quality video cables. Not too long ago the corporate has put a brand new twist on the USB-C dock/hub/dongle by including streaming and net conferencing performance. I’m excited I received my palms on it, and am in a position to share my expertise with you on what the ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub can do and if it’s price your cash. So, let’s dive in!
Ever because the first USB-C-only computer systems had been launched, customers wanted dongles, hubs, and docks to attach legacy ({and professional}) gadgets. Heck, I consider the phrase “Dongle” wasn’t on the radar for most individuals earlier than USB-C got here alongside.
The primary time you lay your eyes on the ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub, it appears to be like like a daily USB hub to hook up with your pc with the next inputs:
- SD + microSD card reader
- 3.5mm mic enter
- 3.5mm headphone output
Once you flip the hub round, you see these ports:
- USB-C PD for charging
- 2x USB 3.0 Kind-A ports
- HDMI In
- HDMI Out
- USB-C
At first look, nothing particular right here, apart from the HDMI Enter, however extra on this beneath.
I really feel like I’ve to say that this system, regardless of its title, doesn’t have any streaming capabilities. It doesn’t connect with the web or any streaming software program. The Lumin merely converts any HDMI video supply right into a video enter that may be chosen by any streaming or video conferencing software program.
Construct high quality
Earlier than I make my level on what makes it particular, only a fast observe on the construct high quality: The ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub is manufactured from aluminum with a plastic prime and has an excellent weight to it (4.9 ounces/140g). With the assistance of the 4 rubber ft on the underside, it stays in place very nicely on even surfaces.
So, what’s particular in regards to the Streaming Hub?
With typical USB docks, you may plug in an exterior monitor to the HDMI Output. However the ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub additionally lets you plug in an HDMI Enter, like a digital camera or gaming console. Your pc will then detect the system and it’ll present up as a USB supply for streaming or video conferencing.
That is handy while you don’t have USB-C cameras or gadgets that output video over USB. The system that you just plug in via the HDMI-In port is mechanically reworked right into a video and audio supply that your pc will provide as “ZILR Lumin” inside your streaming or net conferencing app.
Video Conferencing setup
Any digital camera with a clear HDMI output (DSLR, camcorder, mirrorless, and so on) can be utilized as a webcam when it’s related to the Streaming Hubs HDMI-In.
You can even plug in a separate microphone into the three.5mm microphone or the USB Kind-A enter on the Streaming Hub and monitor your audio by plugging headphones into the headphone jack.
The “ZILR Lumin” video enter is restricted to 1080p60 (uncompressed) for streaming/video conferencing however can go via HDMI indicators as much as 2160p60 although, so you may nonetheless monitor/recreation in 4K.
Recreation Streaming Setup
You can even plug your gaming console straight into the dock’s “HDMI-IN” and proceed watching your recreation in your related TV through the use of the “HDMI-OUT”. If you need to additionally add your voice to your stream, you may join a microphone to the three.5mm microphone jack or the USB Kind-A port on the hub.
After connecting the Streaming Hub to your pc utilizing the “USB-C” port, Twitch, YouTube, and so on. will provide “ZILR Lumin” as your video and audio enter and output.
DISCLAIMER: As I’m not a gamer, I used to be not in a position to take a look at the sport streaming functionality of the Lumin.
Audio weak point
Throughout my testing, I discovered that audio is the weak level of the Streaming Hub. I bumped into the difficulty that the headphone output on the Streaming Hub solely outputs a mixture of all of the audio inputs on the Lumin. It doesn’t matter what I set as my audio enter on the pc, I stored listening to all of the audio that got here into the Streaming Hub – HDMI or from the three.5mm mic enter or a mixture of each when each had been related.
I additionally was not in a position to get a secure video reference to the ZILR Lumin chosen as my audio supply both. The picture stored freezing and infrequently Zoom and Google Meet even crashed. As quickly as I chosen a special audio supply although, every thing was working positive once more.
If you’re going to do all of the work of establishing an exterior video and audio setup, then the perfect answer is to hook your microphone as much as the digital camera which is able to then permit sending video and audio over the HDMI cable to the Streaming Hub. This ensures that video and audio are undoubtedly in sync and solves the freezing subject.
USB-C Energy
On the again of the hub, there are two USB-C ports – one labeled “USB-C” and one “USB-C PD”. The “USB-C” port is used for connecting the hub together with your pc (no charging or video output). The “USB-C PD” is used for charging solely, which presents two choices:
Choice 1: You’ve a laptop computer that must be charged and is already related to the Streaming Hub with the “USB-C” port. It’s a must to plug in an influence adapter (ideally the one which got here together with your laptop computer) to the “USB-C PD” port and plug it into an influence supply. On this case, you enter energy via the “USB-C PD” port.
Observe, that the obtainable 87W from the Lumin is sufficient to cost a 13″ and 14″ MacBook Air/Professional however not sufficient to maintain your bigger and better powered laptops from slowly draining the battery.
Choice 2: You possibly can quick cost your cell phone (iPhone with an non-obligatory USB-C to Lightning cable) and different equipment by connecting to the “USB-C PD” port whereas the hub is related to your pc by way of the “USB-C” port. On this situation, you output energy via the “USB-C PD” port.
Card reader
Virtually commonplace on many USB-C docks/hubs/dongles is a microSD and SD card reader. The ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub is not any completely different with each card reader slots on the entrance of the hub.
One factor that irritates me is the actual fact, that it’s a must to plug in SD playing cards the other way up. Finally, I’ll get used to this but it surely’s price mentioning.
Learn speeds look like commonplace UHS-I speeds which is unlucky since this field is clearly focused at a extra skilled person group. UHS-II SD playing cards are so generally utilized by skilled creatives that it’s disappointing to see this gradual reader within the Lumin Streaming Hub.
Conclusion
ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub is a really respectable USB hub/dock/dongle in your USB-C-equipped pc. The efficiency of the cardboard reader is a bit disappointing, it looks like UHS-II speeds would have been the best way to go. The USB-C PD port is flexible and the 87W laptop computer charging functionality additionally makes the Streaming Hub a terrific touring companion.
So long as you retain it easy, the Lumin makes establishing an expert streaming or video conferencing setup a breeze. For my Mac mini, the Streaming Field provides the issues I miss most – a card reader, extra USB ports, and the power to rapidly remodel my digital camera right into a webcam with none particular software program.
Comparable merchandise that allow you to flip your HDMI digital camera right into a webcam are the Blackmagic Net Presenter and ATEM line of merchandise. Each value a minimum of twice as a lot but additionally provide extra configuration choices.
As a hybrid between skilled broadcasting options like Blackmagic’s choices and odd USB-C dongles/hubs/docks, the ZILR Lumin Streaming Hub units itself aside and presents nice performance in an inexpensive package deal at $249,99.
Producer Web site: www.zilr.professional
What do you concentrate on this “streaming” hub? Share your tackle it within the remark part beneath!
