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Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: two-minute evaluate
Understatement isn’t a typical attribute amongst content material creators, but it surely’s a profitable function for this wi-fi mic package. With two tiny receivers weighing simply 7g apiece, the Hollyland Lark M2S is designed to fly beneath the radar. Hooked over your collar, solely a small a part of every pick-up is seen. The result’s an audio resolution that doesn’t distract your viewers.
It’s additionally a flexible one. Accessible in a number of variations, the Hollyland Lark M2S Combo package on take a look at right here contains two transmitters, a USB-C cellular receiver and a cold-shoe unit that connects to cameras through USB-C or 3.5mm. There’s additionally a Lightning cable within the field for connecting to legacy Apple gadgets. That makes it a fairly full package, no matter you select to shoot with.
Every transmitter is held in place by a rubberized clip, with grips on the ideas for further safety. Lots of the best wireless mics used magnetic backs to offer you extra flexibility when positioning. In practise, most customers will need the mic on their lapel anyway – and even with the hook on present, the M2S is as delicate as they arrive.
Regardless of their discreet measurement, the omnidirectional pick-ups do a greater job than any built-in mic, whether or not you’re capturing with a smartphone or one of many best video cameras. How the 24-bit audio sign is processed will depend on the pre-amp inside your recording system, however voice clips are usually clear and wealthy sufficient for the informal listener.
Blustery circumstances might be a difficulty. The bundled windshields do a very good job of buffering in opposition to buffeting, although attaching them raises the profile of the mics. You even have the choice of enabling noise discount. This tends to flatten and crisp up the sound barely, but it surely’s an efficient resolution the place background noise would in any other case be too intrusive.
Noise cancellation might be activated by urgent the one button discovered on every transmitter, the button on the USB-C receiver or the dial on the digital camera receiver. The latter can also be used to regulate the output quantity, whereas a long-press switches between mono and stereo recording. That makes the interface sound extra difficult than it’s. There’s a slight studying curve, however when you’ve acquired your head across the which means of every indicator mild, it’s intuitive sufficient.
Battery life is much from featherweight, with every transmitter rated for as much as 9 hours on a single cost. Returning them to the charging case yields an extra 18, giving the entire package deal some critical longevity. Along with its neat proportions, that makes it a pretty resolution for creators who have to shoot on the go – though the case itself feels fairly plasticky and the parts are liable to rattling inside.
Different wi-fi mics really feel extra premium, whereas the DJI Mic Mini makes use of a neater single receiver. However if you would like a compact and cost-effective option to improve your audio high quality, the Hollyland Lark M2S Combo package affords strong worth.
Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: value and launch date
- $149 / £140 / AU$269 for the Combo package
- Consists of 2x mics, 2x receivers, Lightning cable and charging case
- A number of package variations obtainable for various gadgets
Launched in January 2025 as a follow-up to the Lark M2, the Hollyland Lark M2S wi-fi mic is that can be purchased now in one among a number of bundle variations. On take a look at right here is the Combo package ($149 / £140 / AU$269), which incorporates the next:
- Transmitters x2
- Receiver (digital camera)
- Receiver (USB-C)
- Charging case
- Windshields x2
- 3.5mm cable
- USB-C to Lightning cable
- USB-A to USB-C cable
The Combo package is designed to offer content material creators the flexibleness to work with each smartphones and cameras. The Lightning cable permits you to join the digital camera receiver to older Apple gadgets. The Combo package affords good worth for what’s included, however different choices shall be higher suited to particular creator necessities.
The most cost effective Hollyland Lark M2S choice is the barebones USB-C package ($119 / £110 / AU$219). This contains two transmitters and a USB-C receiver to be used with a smartphone. With no choice to hook up with a digital camera, it’s the only option for mobile-only recording.
The subsequent step up is the Mini Combo ($139 / £130 / AU$249), which is identical because the Combo package, besides it doesn’t embrace a Lightning adapter cable. It’s the only option if you would like the flexibleness to hook up with a digital camera and USB-C smartphone.
Prime of the pile is the Final Combo ($159 / £150 / AU$289). Along with the USB-C and digital camera receivers, this provides a devoted Lightning receiver to the combination. Provided that the Combo package features a Lightning cable, there are few individuals for who this shall be a necessity. Until you completely want a bodily Lightning receiver, this model is finest seen as a legacy choice.
Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: specs
|
Dimensions |
24 × 9mm (transmitter), 40 × 16.7 × 9mm (cellular receiver), 40.5 × 25.5 × 13mm (digital camera receiver), 86 × 39 × 60.5mm (case) |
|
Weight |
7g (transmitter), 6g (cellular receiver), 12g (digital camera receiver), 110g (case) |
|
Vary |
300m |
|
Connectivity |
USB-C, Lightning, 3.5mm |
|
Battery |
9 hours, plus 18 hours from the charging case |
|
Audio |
24-bit |
|
On-board recording |
No |
|
Noise cancelling |
Sure |
Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: Design
- Light-weight transmitters with built-in rubber clips
- USB-C receiver with two indicator lights
- Digicam receiver with indicator lights and management dial
Dinky is the order of the day with the Lark M2S. From the tiny transmitters (7g every) to the compact digital camera receiver (12g), all the things within the bundle is ultra-light. The parts weigh lower than virtually each different package in our checklist of the very best wi-fi mics, together with the DJI Mic Mini and the Rode Wi-fi Micro.
Regardless of being housed in plastic, the transmitters and receivers really feel well-built and durable sufficient for long-term use. The little orange buttons on every system give satisfying suggestions, as does the click-scroll of the management dial on the cold-shoe adapter. It’s solely the charging case that lets the facet down: the hinge for the lid creaks and strikes, whereas the elements rattle round whereas charging inside.
Nonetheless, for a low-weight, low-cost package, the Lark M2S feels prefer it’s been assembled with thought. Effort has actually gone into the design of the transmitters. Most wi-fi mic kits have rectangular items held in place by a magnetic again. This provides you versatility when mounting, however means the pick-up is kind of seen in video footage.
Hollyland has taken a distinct strategy with the Lark M2S. The transmitters are hooked up by a U-shaped hook with a titanium arm inside. This clips over a collar, with rubber ridges on both facet for further grip. It’s a foolproof resolution: it has sufficient flexibility to suit over completely different materials, with adequate resistance to carry agency. No magnets means one much less piece to lose – and most customers will place the mic on a hem anyway.
The additional benefit is that the bigger facet of the transmitter unit is hidden beneath your clothes. Solely a part of the arm and the smaller puck sits on the surface. The result’s a really delicate setup. With mini dimensions and no branding, the mic might simply go unnoticed in interview footage. It’s lots much less distracting than bigger options.
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That design does imply the button and indicator mild on the transmitter are exhausting to entry once you’re sporting it, notably because the little LED is obscured beneath the hook arm. Helpfully, there are corresponding lights on the receiver items which point out the mode and connection standing.
The consumer expertise differs barely relying on which receiver you’re utilizing, however the setup is the definition of plug-and-play. Recording on cellular couldn’t be less complicated: take away the transmitters and cellular receiver from the case, insert the USB-C unit into your smartphone and the 2 LEDs will flip strong to point out that all the things is related. The only orange button on the receiver toggles noise cancelling on (inexperienced mild) or off (blue mild). You’re good to go.
Connecting to a digital camera is not any extra difficult. Take the cold-shoe receiver and transmitters out of the case and so they’ll pair routinely. Then merely hook it as much as your digital camera through 3.5mm or USB-C (or each on the similar time) and also you’ll get an audio sign. It’s also possible to use the bundled USB-C to Lightning cable to attach the digital camera receiver to an older Apple system.
The digital camera receiver’s interface is a contact extra difficult than the cellular one. You get the identical LEDs for connection and noise cancelling standing, plus an orange button for energy. Then there’s an arc of three extra lights to point the output quantity, which might be adjusted by turning the dial. Urgent the dial adjustments the noise discount setting, whereas a long-press switches between mono and stereo.
There’s a slight studying curve in terms of the which means of every LED, but it surely’s intuitive sufficient to get your head round after a couple of minutes. What you don’t get is any form of show for real-time audio monitoring. That’s a luxurious reserved for premium mics that price and weigh extra. It’s additionally one which’s absent from the DJI Mic Mini and Rode Wireless Micro.
Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: Efficiency
- Omnidirectional audio with non-compulsory noise cancelling
- 9 hours battery life (transmitter), 18 hours battery life (case)
- As much as 300m vary
Score audio high quality is a tough factor, as a result of it will depend on your expectations. Should you’re knowledgeable sound engineer, you’ll discover issues to fault with what the Hollyland Lark M2S produces. However when you’re evaluating it to the built-in mic in your smartphone or digital camera, the M2S is leagues forward.
The extra caveat right here is that outcomes are influenced by the system you’re utilizing and its built-in pre-amp. Ship the identical sign from the Lark M2S to an iPhone and a DSLR digital camera, as I did, and also you’ll discover variations which outcome from how every system processes the audio.
The Hollyland Lark M2S has sturdy foundations. It information 24-bit audio at 48khz, which units it up nicely for capturing element. It’s also possible to set the output degree to excessive, giving your system extra to work with. Severe customers will balk on the lack of 32-bit float recording or on-board storage, however that displays the goal market of the M2S. There’s sufficient element and depth right here to fulfill content material creators and anybody who desires to enhance the standard of their voiceovers.
The omnidirectional pick-ups do an honest job of isolating speech in opposition to background hubbub. As with many wi-fi mics, although, wind noise is a matter. The bundled fluffy windshields assist to deal with this, but additionally make the mics extra seen.
Your different choice is to allow Environmental Noise Cancellation. That is extremely efficient at limiting the affect of blustery circumstances in your recordings. It additionally works nicely at decreasing visitors noise to a barely audible degree. The trade-off is that noise cancelling tends to make vocals sound barely flatter and extra processed – though not as considerably as some wi-fi mics.
You may regulate the extent of noise cancelling by way of the LarkSound app, with excessive and low choices. Usefully, the app may also be used to watch the audio degree from every mic in actual time, providing you with a visible indication of whether or not the achieve setting must be modified to keep away from clipping. This may be managed within the app, as can the channel mode, which lets you change from mono to stereo recording when utilizing the digital camera receiver.
Transmission vary is rated at 300m. Until you’re working at telephoto distances, there are few events once you’d must be that far out of your recording system. Nonetheless, with a transparent line of sight from transmitter to receiver, I didn’t encounter any sign drop-out at a distance of about 100 paces. That modified as quickly as one thing got here between the 2. In actuality, most customers will work at shut vary, the place clear transmission received’t be a difficulty.
Longevity can also be assured. Regardless of the miniature dimensions of the Lark M2S, battery life is available in at a aggressive 9 hours. The case may recharge the parts twice over, providing you with a complete recording time of near 30 hours earlier than you’ll want to make use of a wall charger. The case itself wants round 90 minutes to go from flat to full.
It’s unlikely that the majority customers will encounter a shoot the place they need to file for 9 hours straight, but it surely’s reassuring to know that the Lark M2S can dwell by way of plenty of takes earlier than it wants returning to the case. Utilizing it as many content material creators would – on the transfer, taking out the parts to file clips on location, then storing them again within the case – the M2S merely ran and ran. For such a compact package, the battery life is critically spectacular. It is a wi-fi mic that’s straightforward to dwell with.
Ought to I purchase the Hollyland Lark M2S Combo?
Purchase it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Hollyland Lark M2S Combo: additionally contemplate
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Hollyland Lark M2S |
Rode Wi-fi Micro |
DJI Mic Mini |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
Transmitter: 24 × 9mm (transmitter)Cell receiver: 40 × 16.7 × 9mmCamera receiver: 40.5 × 25.5 × 13mm |
Transmitter: 40 x 27 x 17mmReceiver: 44 x 24 x 9mm |
26.55 x 26.06 x 15.96mm |
|
Weight |
7g (transmitter), 6g (cellular receiver), 12g (digital camera receiver), 110g (case) |
12g (transmitter, with out magnet), 102g for the entire package |
10g (transmitter, with out magnet) |
|
Transmission vary |
300m |
100m |
400m |
|
Connectivity |
USB-C, Lightning, 3.5mm |
USB-C or Lightning |
USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm |
|
Battery |
9 hours, plus 18 hours from the charging case |
7 hours, plus two extra costs from the absolutely charged case for a complete of 21 hours |
11.5 hours (transmitter), 10.5 hours (receiver), as much as 48 hours with absolutely charged case |
|
Audio |
24-bit |
24-bit |
24-bit |
|
Noise cancelling |
Sure |
No |
Sure |
|
Bluetooth |
No |
No |
Sure |
How I examined the Hollyland Lark M2S Combo
- Examined extensively over a number of weeks
- Paired with each the digital camera and USB-C receivers
- Recorded audio in a variety of indoor and outside settings
Provided that the Hollyland Lark M2S is a wi-fi mic package that’s designed to let content material creators seize high quality audio on the go, that’s how I approached this evaluate. I packed the package in my backpack each time I headed out of the home, then recorded voiceover content material wherever the day took me.
That meant I captured audio clips in a complete vary of settings and situations, from noisy cafes to windy walks alongside busy roads. I examined the transmitters in any respect three quantity ranges, with and with out the windshields put in, and with noise discount enabled and disabled. This gave me a catalog of recordings with which to make comparisons on readability and high quality.
As a result of the Lark M2S Combo is pitched as a full package for creators, I examined it with each the USB-C cellular receiver and the cold-shoe digital camera adapter. With the latter, I wired as much as a Nikon D7100 utilizing a 3.5mm cable, in addition to utilizing the bundled Lightning cable to attach an iPhone 12.
Throughout my time with the Lark M2S, I attempted to make use of it as somebody may do in the actual world. That meant clipping the transmitters to completely different gadgets of clothes. I additionally purposefully interacted with interface earlier than consulting the directions intimately, to get a sensible concept of how accessible the system is for learners.