Pro Moviemaker June 2022 - Web

GEAR MINI TESTS

JOBY WAVO LAV PRO MIC £69/$80 joby.com Joby’s expansion into professional audio systems for filmmakers now includes this very compact mono lavalier microphone. Compared to regular-sized lav mics – even Joby’s version that comes with the Wavo Air kit – the Wavo Lav Pro mic is much more compact and therefore easier to hide. The mic itself is less than 5mm/0.2in in diameter and around 9mm/0.36in long, while the crocodile clip for fastening to the talent is also smaller than usual. The clip is good quality and the end that holds the mic can rotate, making it much easier to put into a precise position. Even the external mic cable is super-slim, ideal for concealment under a shirt or jacket. And the lead is a very decent 2.5m/8.2ft long, so you can plug into a camera, recorder or wireless sender unit at a decent distance away. It’s ideal for vlogging, one of Joby’s target markets. The lead is flexible enough to cut down on the vibration transfer from clothing sliding against the

cable. It has a 3.5mm TRS connector, compatible with camera inputs that supply plug-in power, as well as handheld audio recorders. And it fits into the secondary mic input on the Joby Wavo Pro camera-mount shotgun microphone, to give a second audio input. The mic itself is touted as having a pro-grade capsule – delivering broadcast-quality sound for crisp, warm and natural voice tone from an omnidirectional pattern. This does give consistent sound, regardless of

MINI MAGIC Joby has crammed a lot of tech into a very small package

SPECIFICATIONS Capsule: Omnidirectional

electret condenser Sound field: Mono Frequency: 20Hz to 20kHz Sensitivity: -45dB Signal-to-noise ratio: 60.32dB Output: 3.5mm TRS

Cable length: 2.5m/8.2ft Dimensions (wxhxd): 4.94x4.94x9.21mm/ 0.19x0.19x0.36in Weight: 34g/0.075lb

“Its biggest advantage is pro-level audio from a compact mic, which really does look particularly professional”

CABLE GUY The lead to the mic is very long and thin, ideal for concealing on your talent

the talent moving their head as they talk. For audio quality, the sound was sharp and clear, but we couldn’t detect any significant improvement over the non-pro version. Its biggest advantage is pro-level audio from a compact mic, which really does look particularly professional. The mic comes with a small foam windscreen, designed to lessen noise caused by light wind, breathing or clothes rustling – and it does a good job. Of course, for any outdoor use on a more blustery day, you’d need to invest in a fluffy windjammer, which doesn’t come included. For a pro-looking, super-stealthy mono lav mic at a decent price, which performs very well, the Joby Wavo Lav Pro certainly delivers. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 Decent quality and compact at a very good price Pros: Long lead, ultra-small mic size Cons: No fluffy windjammer

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