Sennheiser
A sound start For beginners, the most direct path to producing quality video is recording better audio. It’s a simple and effective step, made all the easier by outstanding entry-level products like the Sennheiser XS Lav range – nominated for Best Video Accessory award this year
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
MANY STILLS PHOTOGRAPHERS looking to expand their creative horizons with video find that the smartphone in their pocket is the first port of call. It’s almost always to hand, meaning not having to invest in a more modern mirrorless or DSLR camera and, in all likelihood, is actually a very capable moviemaking machine. Visually, at least. The thing is, quality audio will always be secondary within the design of any imaging device, despite telling an equal half of your story. Thankfully, an easy solution is at hand: the vast array of external microphones on the market. There’s always a best tool for the job, and when that job is capturing clear audio of a single subject, any
professional will opt for a lavalier microphone. It clips discreetly onto a subject’s clothing and picks up clean vocals, with drastically reduced background noise compared to any device’s built-in mic. Of the many options available, few can rival the Sennheiser XS Lav range of sound products. Incredibly easy to use, the XS Lav Mobile connects via a 3.5mm TRRS port, while the XS Lav USB-C utilises one of the most common ports on smartphones and laptops. The microphone is device powered and kicks in automatically, so it’s quite literally a case of plug in and play, however you choose to do so. A 2m cable ensures you aren’t bound to your subject too tightly, but remains small enough to carry seamlessly in a pocket. Within the XS Lav USB-C Mobile Kit, the additional smartphone clamp and Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod also remain highly compact, while adding to the professional results, beyond just better sound alone. The clamp offers landscape or portrait recording, while the tripod’s ball head can be locked with the push of a button to ensure perfect framing. The kit provides controlled, static shots when your smartphone is placed on a surface, or a sturdy, comfortable grip when recording handheld. Perhaps best of all, Sennheiser’s entry-level microphones are
“Sennheiser’s entry-level microphones are built upon decades of precision engineering”
LOOKINGTHE PART As well as offering more working room, the 2m cable can be discreetly hidden beneath a subject’s clothes, in true professional broadcast fashion
built upon decades of precision engineering. You can free your mind to focus on your next vlog, interview, podcast, online meeting, or whatever other challenge you are facing. So, if you’re chasing an external mic that basically sounds too good to be true, you needn’t look any further than Sennheiser.
GREATONTHEMOVE Locked off or on the go, the Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod is the perfect pairing for the XS Lav mic, offering more polished results all round
en-uk.sennheiser.com
Issue 93 | Photography News 19
photographynews.co.uk
Powered by FlippingBook