If you’re looking for an on camera wireless microphone that allows you to properly go hands free when you’re recording outdoors or allow you to get rid of your wired external microphone when you’re recording indoors, then you should try out the Hollyland Lark M1 Wireless Microphone.
I’ve been looking for a microphone that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg like the Rode wireless microphone and this microphone has allowed me to upgrade my audio setup, because no longer am I restricted to using the onboard microphone outdoors which sounds like this, but I can now use this microphone get better sound quality while at the same time not being confined being close within earshot of the on camera microphone.
I feel like this has been a game-changer for me and my content and can also be for anyone who wants to record higher quality audio for their videos, podcasts, live streams, or interviews.
Specs
The Lark M1 is a wireless mic system that consists of a small and lightweight transmitter, which can easily be clipped on to anywhere, I’ve usually got it attached to my top, and a very compact receiver, which can be mounted on your camera or phone with the included cables via the 3.5mm port, mine is attached to the smallrig case, attached to the Sony ZV-E10.
There are two variations of this microphone, the Duo and Solo, one Duo set, features an additional transmitter, useful if you’re recording the audio for more than one person and a charging case and the Solo set which I’ve got, which is the cheaper of the two sets, only features the transmitter and the receiver.
The transmitter is omnidirectional, which means that it can receive sound input from all directions, and it will capture your voice in rich detail while recording that ambient sound or multiple voices in a natural way. It records with a sampling rate of up to 48kHz/16bit.
Connectivity and noise cancellation
The best part is about this wireless microphone is that it uses a 2.4GHz adaptive frequency hopping technology to ensure a stable and interference-free wireless connection between the transmitter and the receiver. This means that you can record clear audio from up to 650ft (200m) away from your camera or phone, without worrying about signal dropouts or latency.
When it says, 200m, it means a clear line of sight or an open space distance. If you’ve got your back turned to the camera, there are things in the way and there’s no clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver, then it rated for 130ft or just under 40m metres.
If you find yourself outdoor recording in a noisy environment, you can also switch between two modes: HearClear mode, which reduces background noise and enhances your voice, which means that you can record clear and crisp audio even in noisy or windy situations; and Natural mode, which preserves the ambient sound for a more realistic effect and it is what the mic is set to by default and what I mainly have it on in this quiet environment.
Battery Capacity
As well as being very easy to use, they are also convenient to charge. If you’ve purchased these with the charging case, the case itself is a smart design that not only stores your mic system but also charges the transmitter and receiver via USB-C. If you’ve got the solo version without the charging case, then you can plug a USB-C plug directly into the bottom of the transmitter and the side of the receiver.
The charging case, the transmitter and receiver all take up to 1.5 hours to fully charge, and on that same full charge the transmitter and receiver can last for up to 8 hours on a full charge, and together with the charging case can it can provide up to 20 hours of recording time. Which is going to be more than enough battery life for a whole days worth of shooting, and makes it very convenient and practical for long sessions or travelling.
While having the charging case is the easiest option when having this wireless mic, it’s definitely a bit more costly than the set I’ve got without it. But there’s not too many negatives about not having the charging case. While both the transmitter and the receiver automatically pair with each other and turn on when you take them out of the charging case.
When you first get these, if you haven’t got a charging case, you’ll have to manually pair them together, by pressing the pair button first on the transmitter then the pair button on the receiver and you’re done and won’t have to pair them again. You’ll also have to manually turn each of them on and off.
Accessories
If you’re also thinking, if I get a charging case then at least I’ve got somewhere to put these when I’m not using them. But worry not, these also come with a storage case, which allow you to safely store the mic, as well as the other items that come in the box, like the user manual, a quick guide, the warranty card, a USB to USB-C cable for charging or updating the software, a flurry windshield for a transmitter for those noisier environments, a 3.5mm TRS patch cable for attaching the receiver to cameras and a 3.5mm TRS to TRRS patch cable for attaching the receiver to other devices like smartphones.
While there is a physical knob or gain dial, there are three volume settings, low, mid and high. By default it’s set to mid, but by pressing the plus or minus button on the receiver then you can change the sensitivity.
Who is the Lark M1 For?
So, who is the target market for the Hollyland Lark M1 wireless microphone system?
Well, I think it’s perfect for anyone who wants a bit more freedom to their creative process. Whether you’re a YouTuber, vlogger, live streamer, filmmaker, journalist, or educator, you will benefit from having a wireless mic system that gives you freedom of movement, flexibility of placement, and that reliability of transmission. Now you won’t even have to worry about tangled wires, bulky equipment, or poor sound quality anymore, thanks to this.
I’ll leave the link to this wireless microphone system below (https://amzn.to/3udQKQL), which is available at a very reasonable price for such a powerful and user-friendly product, If you’re interested in getting one for yourself or as a gift for someone else, which I’ve done both, check out that link.
If you’ve got this microphone system, let me know what you think.
If you want to see the video version of this article with the sound tests, click the YouTube link below: