GEAR MINI TESTS
Another bumper crop of equipment is put to the ProMoviemaker torture test, including new audio kit, a compact tripod head, SSDmemory andmore
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
JOBYWAVO PRO AND WAVO AIR £259/$300; £219/$250 joby.com
GorillaPod tripodmaker Joby continues to branch out into professional audio systems for filmmakers, with its flagshipWavo Pro on-camera mic andWavo Air wireless audio system. They are packed with great ideas, yet pitched at affordable prices. Starting with the Wavo Pro, it’s a broadcast-level shotgunmic equipped with an intelligent, hybrid analogue/ digital system, to power onboard active noise reduction. It also comes with a Rycote shock mount and a fluffy Rycote windjammer. This active noise reduction monitors sounds from things like footsteps, camera handling or wind, and removes it in real time. It’s not perfect, but it definitely helps. ANR has to be activated in the free sound management app for iOS and Android. This quickly connects via Bluetooth to provide real-time, remote monitoring of audio input, independent dual- mode EQ and customised, shareable sound set-ups. When using the mic, there is a large LED on the rear, around the on/off button, which lights up green. This is mirrored by a small LED on the front to show it’s working. When audio levels get too high, the large LED first goes orange, then changes to red, as a visual warning for you to alter the gain settings. At the top of the rear panel is another illuminated LED switch, to toggle on a safety track at -10dB. There is also a 3.5mmmic input socket, allowing easy two-person interviews or dual-channel recording. You can plug in a separate mic, lav
mic or even a wireless mic system. A second level display opens up in the app, allowing you to customise the gain. Alternatively, a simple switch on the right side of the mic lets you set a gain of +10dB or 20dB for this secondmic input. There is an identical switch on the left side to set gain for the main shotgunmic, too. The internal battery is charged via USB-C and gives up to 60 hours of continuous use, or 50 hours if ANR is deployed. The mic senses when it’s connected to a camera and turns itself on or off to save battery power when not needed, as long as this option is enabled via the app. The USB-C socket can be used to plug the mic into a phone or computer for streaming, and the app still works to change settings.
JOBY JOY The Wavo Pro mic is easy to use and the results are impressive
SPECIFICATIONS JOBYWAVO PRO Capsule: Supercardioid electret condenser External indicators: Gain, battery level, Bluetooth connection, audio level metering Frequency: 20Hz to 20kHz Sensitivity: -34.4dB/Pa Output: 3.5mmTRS, USB-C High-pass filter: 0-300Hz Battery life: 60 hours, 50with ANR OS compatibility: Windows, macOS Dimensions (wxhxd): 137x29x110mm/5.4x1.1x4.3in Weight: 161g/0.35lb
APP-SOLUTELY FABULOUS The free Wavo smartphone app lets you fine-tune settings, activate a safety track and lots more
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