GEAR
MINI TESTS
HOLLYLAND LARK M1 £149/$149
hollyland-tech.com
Only a short time ago, Hollyland led the way in producing a simple solution to the problem of recording two subjects into camera via a single wireless receiver. The Hollyland Lark 150 wireless dual-mic system came with a single receiver to fit to the camera’s hotshoe and plug into the audio jack, providing a mic-level signal. Then there were two separate transmitters, one for each interviewee. Both had a built-in omnidirectional mic, so you could just clip the small transmitter box somewhere on the subject’s clothing. Fast-forward to today and there are myriad options for dual recording. So, Hollyland has hit back with the new Lark M1 system that’s almost half the price and size of its flagship Lark 150, but still has many of the same features – though not all. The new Lark M1 doesn’t allow you to use plug-in lav mics, while the more expensive product comes with a pair thrown in. It also doesn’t have a built- in screen to show you settings. There is no safety track or obvious mono/ stereo switch. But it’s more compact, with a longer battery life and range, plus a more secure way of fitting the included wind muffs. And it boasts noise cancelling. Like the Lark 150, the M model’s receiver and twin transmitters fit inside a custom-made charging case, which powers up via USB-C. All three bits of kit are charged at the same time and the units are always paired. By default, they turn on when removed from the case. If you don’t want to use them straight away, turn them off with a button on the side.
CASE CLOSED The Hollyland units come in a charging kit, inside a carry bag
“The active noise cancellation feature has quite a marked effect, cutting down on unwanted background noise”
The charging station has a USB-C socket for power and any firmware upgrades. The TX and RX units also have USB-C, so can be charged separately if you wish. To adjust gain on the mics, there are + and - buttons. There’s no quick mute option, though. Holding in the mode button on the receiver switches from mono to stereo, and the LEDs change from blue to green to let you know which mode is which. Pushing the yellow button on each transmitter activates the noise cancelling, which turns the LEDs from blue to green. When deployed, audio quality is very clear, although the quoted range of 200m/656ft is only with line of sight in a location and no additional interference. But at normal distances, it’s very good. Perhaps most interesting is the active noise cancellation feature, which definitely has quite a marked effect. For many buyers, this is worth the asking price alone. However, it’s not perfect and does slightly alter how the speaker sounds, clearly cutting out some frequencies. But if you are trying to record in a noisy environment, it’s worth it. There is a plastic hotshoe mount for the TX unit, which – as we also found on the Lark 150 – is tough to fit onto the camera. Clips on the RX units are good, but a bit fiddly to use when you fit the furry windshields. An included
SPECIFICATIONS Modes: Mono/stereo/noise reduction Range: 200m/656ft Frequency: 2.4GHz Interfaces: RX 3.5mm TRS audio output, USB-C charging Built-in mic: Omnidirectional. 20Hz-20kHz Dynamic range: 86dBA Sample rate: 48kHz/16-bit Latency: 5ms TRRS cable means the system can be used with phones, too. For a very light, compact and affordable set-up, the Lark M1 is a winner. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 A small, portable and simple audio system that has its limitations Pros: An easy solution for two mics Cons: No way of using a lav mic
SOUND BUY The two TX units and RX receiver are very small and work well
Battery life: Eight hours Charging time: 1.5 hours
Receiver dimensions (wxhxd): 27.6x48.3x11mm/1.1x1.9x0.4in Receiver weight: 17.5g/0.04lb Transmitter dimensions (wxhxd): 21.5x48x10mm/0.8x1.9x0.4in Transmitter weight: 11.8g/0.03lb
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