GEAR
BLINKING BRILLIANT!
we test in this issue, that don’t have a headphone socket. The kit also works with phones, GoPro action cameras and recorders, too. So the headphone socket can be really useful. The ability to record in either one- track mono or stereo is a top feature. Recording in stereo allows you to separate the audio tracks in post and fine-tune each one in editing – a big upgrade on the old Saramonic Blink 500 that only allowed mono recording. Each of the transmitters has a built-in omnidirectional mic, giving superb audio quality. The kit comes with clip-on furry windscreens to stop wind noise – they are effective, but quite easy to lose. Feel free to use standard 3.5mm plug-in lav mics – the kit comes with two, giving sharp sound quality. The only gripes are with the charging case – it has no space for the cables you need – and the LCD screen on the TX units, which is visible to the camera when it’s in shot. The build quality is top notch, while the packaging is very high-end. In our tests, the wireless didn’t drop at all. It’s a reliable system that ticks a lot of boxes for many users – from professional filmmakers to vloggers. saramonic.com
Saramonic’s new Blink 500 Pro series lets you record audio from two different transmitters to two separate channels in mono or stereo mode, direct to one camera-mounted wireless receiver. It’s ideal for talking head interviews. The £285/$299 Blink 500 Pro B2 series kits, available in black or white, come with two transmitters to make full use of the dual-input capability. They have everything you need – lav mics and clips, windshields, cables, a case and a bag. If you don’t want the kit with two transmitters, there is a single version at just £190/$229. Similar to Apple AirPods, the transmitter and receiver fit into a charging case and have instant, single- button pairing. There’s up to eight hours of battery life, but if more is needed, the case with all kit or individual transmitters and receivers can be charged using a portable powerbank via USB-C. All units have a bright OLED screen showing battery life, waveform, pairing status – a comprehensive round-up of information. Though it’s a bit small to read the icons. The units have a 100m/328ft line-of- sight recording range and headphone jack, with independent volume control for audio monitoring. That’s really useful for some cameras, like the Sigma fp L
“Recording in stereo allows you to separate the audio tracks in post and fine-tune each one in editing– a big upgrade on the old Saramonic Blink 500”
SMALL SCREEN Each unit of the Blink 500 Pro B2 has an OLED screen with all the information you need – though not enough space to read it (below)
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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