Hollyland’s Lark C1 Duo wi-fi mic equipment encompasses a pop of yellow piping that separates it from the usually bland wi-fi mic panorama. At simply $179 at Amazon (opens in new tab), it additionally undercuts a lot of the competitors, making it an intriguing possibility for creators on a price range.
As a budget-conscious content material creator myself, I perceive the significance of high quality audio to inform your tales, share your ideas, and depart an enduring impression in your viewers. For aspiring content material creators who might not but personal a DSLR (or have any want to maneuver to at least one) the Lark C1 Duo offers you stellar audio seize paired together with your cellphone.? Prime quality audio will be extra vital to retaining your viewers than video, so it’s necessary to decide on one of many greatest wi-fi mic kits.
Does the Hollyland Lark C1 Duo make the lower? Completely, this may very well be one of the best sub-$200 wi-fi equipment, however let’s take a better take a look at what it provides.
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo pricing and availability
The Hollyland Lark C1 Duo prices $179 and comes with two transmitters with built-in omnidirectional microphones, one receiver, a tough plastic charging case, and a USB Kind-C charging cable. Relying on should you bought the Lark C1 Duo for Apple or the Android equipment, you’ll discover only one distinction.
One receiver has an Apple Lightning port connector and the opposite a USB Kind-C connector. No matter which you utilize, this makes it excellent for content material creators utilizing their telephones to create for his or her favourite social media websites.
For those who’re on a tighter price range and solely want a single wi-fi mic setup, the $99 Razer Seiren BT could also be a better option. In case you have an even bigger price range and desire a extra premium setup, look into the Rode Wi-fi Go II (opens in new tab) for $299 or the DJI Mic for $329.
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo design
The tremendous moveable design simply slips right into a pocket or backpack with out including weight to your equipment. The white Hollyland emblem on the entrance of the case stands out towards its strong satin-finished black plastic with yellow piping design cues. Opening the lid you’re greeted by a daring yellow inside wanting again at you, making it simple to see the transmitters inside.
The Lark C1 Duo case has curved, rounded edges with clean traces that really feel glorious. The transmitters and receiving unit carry via the identical really feel and vibe because the case.
Every transmitter weighs 11.5 grams (0.40 ounces), measures in at 0.8 x 1.9 x 0.4 inches, and while you clip one onto your collar or jacket, you’ll overlook it is there, which makes for a cushty general consumer expertise. The receiving unit weighs a paltry 7 grams (0.25 ounces), and measures 1.1 x 1.9 x 0.4 inches, and provides no noticeable weight to your cellphone or pill. The charging case can be light-weight at simply 85.5 grams (3 ounces) and measures 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches; you’ll barely discover it in your pocket or laptop computer bag.
I just like the Lark C 1 Duo’s extraordinarily light-weight design, however whereas the construct high quality is strong, it doesn’t really feel as sturdy because the DJI mic. Nevertheless, few wi-fi mics do, and at over $100 much less, this isn’t a major level of competition. Two minor issues that the Lark C1 setup lacks versus extra premium competitors are a 3.5mm mic port and a scarcity of onboard reminiscence, which we discover within the dearer Rode Wi-fi Go II and DJI mic
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo setup and controls
Simplicity guidelines right here as there are not any screens or difficult settings to futz round with on the C1 Duo. You merely join the suitable receiver to your cellphone and pull the transmitter/microphones out of the charging case, and you can begin recording.
You should utilize the LarkSound app to make some minor changes, however it’s really a plug-and-play system proper out of the field. You’ll get glorious audio recordings inside seconds of connecting the C1 Duo. Every transmitter does characteristic a noise-canceling button, which actually helps in windy circumstances or in areas with a number of background noise.
For those who don’t want to use the noise canceling, the equipment comes with a pair of windscreens that rapidly pop on or off. Often, I’d be slightly involved about not having a extra intensive set of controls and options, however after my testing, the outcomes converse for themselves. Hollyland did a superb job of discovering the best degree of noise canceling the place the audio by no means sounds artificially drowned out or toned down. Even should you regulate the extent of noise cancellation, you will see that it successfully matches the noise ranges within the background.
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo 2 audio high quality
Throughout busy morning visitors in my Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, I linked the Lark C1 Duo’s receiver to my iPhone, positioned my cellphone on my stoop, and walked throughout the road as visitors rumbled by. The standard of the audio I recorded from 100 ft away, with visitors passing, was immaculate. The omnidirectional mics on the transmitter unit did a superb job of selecting up the tonal variances in my voice. The built-in mics do a fantastic job of focusing in your voice as I had it clipped to my sweatshirt, and the unit picked up all of the pure timbre in my voice as I spoke from throughout the road with an enormous truck rolling by.
Hollyland did a improbable job engineering the Lark C1 Duo’s omnidirectional mics, because the noise canceling works easily with out suffocating your audio, one thing chances are you’ll discover when utilizing a pair of earbuds with overly aggressive noise canceling. Hollyland’s algorithm finds the candy spot, and they need to be celebrated for this.
Trying to take a look at it at an extended vary, I linked the Hollyland Lark C1 Duo to my cellphone and walked a distance of almost 250 ft The recording readability was extremely spectacular, even with all of the morning visitors on the primary avenue by my house. Once more, I commend Hollyland for locating these mics’ 20 Hz to twenty kHz frequency candy spot.
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo software program
The LarkSound app allows you to view your transmitter’s battery life and exhibits the audio output ranges.
The app additionally permits you to regulate the extent of noise cancellation and mic quantity. The app’s UI is clear, easy, and simple to make use of. The app additionally allows you to set up any firmware updates for the mics.
Hollyland Lark C1 Duo battery life
The Hollyland Lark C1’s receiver and transmitter models are rated for eight hours. With a whopping 4 full recharges with the charging case, you’re taking a look at 32 whole hours of use. That’s a full day of content material creation into the following morning with out recharging the case. I solely recharged the system as soon as throughout my testing.
I used the Kark C1 Duo’s for about 9.5 hours the primary day and one other eight the following, and it by no means died on me. I stored placing them again within the case between makes use of, after which picked them up 4 days later, and so they nonetheless had a full cost left to make use of. That’s spectacular and a win for Hollyland, as having a clear audio setup able to go with out continuously having to cost it again up makes for worry-free content material creation.
The charging case has a 1,400 mAh capability battery and takes about 1.5 hours to recharge when plugged right into a laptop computer or wall charger. It did recharge quicker once I used Anker’s Nano II USB-C charger. It reached a full cost in an hour once I used it. My Chargeasap Flash Professional has a fast-chato recharge the case fullyhe case totally inside an hour.
Backside Line
As inexpensive wi-fi mics go, the Hollyland Lark C1 Duo is an effective possibility for content material creators trying to step up their audio sport. Because of its noise-canceling capabilities, additionally it is a superb possibility when interviewing a topic or filming in a public or in any other case noisy location.
Whereas I’ll add that the Hollyland Lark C1 Duo 2’s lack of a 3.5mm mic jack is slightly disappointing, as that permits you to conceal your mic with a lavalier, however relying in your wants that won’t matter.
For a sub-$200 equipment, you get a great deal of efficiency and high quality to maintain your followers, pals, and followers glad. With 32 hours of battery life, you additionally get the safety of figuring out you possibly can go almost two days with out having to completely recharge the case and might maintain filming.
