Hollyland Lark M2: Honest Pros & Cons - Was It Worth It?

[@epedja]

Finally, great review! I learned all cons you mentioned from other videos but they were not poining them that this explicitly so it is more liek reading between lines. Big disapointments for me are lacking of separate channel recording and missing option to use external lavalier mic. I am stil undecided. If they release M3 version with just those two options added that would be ideal for me, and I expect it would not cost much more as price for me is limiting factor as I am not making money from making videos.

[@MSPACELOG]

Thank you. Yeah, for me, the two channels' options not being available for smartphones is a bummer. But keep in mind that this only happens with smartphones. If you're using a camera and the camera receiver, this doesn't happen. But as I film all my content with smartphones, that's an issue if I want to record an interview. Even so, the simplicity of use and awesome sound quality for the price won me over. If DJI Mic2 was the same price or even a bit more expensive, I would defigo with that one, but as it costs more than the double and as I don't do so many interviews, I decided to start with this and I'm using it in all my videos. I'm quite happy with it. In the future, and as I need, I'll upgrade to a better or, or perhaps an improved version with the missing features. Right now, the most important one, for me, is the internal recording. Really miss this one as a safety measure. Either way, glad you liked it.

[@epedja]

What actually annoys me is that if you want to record on PC using USB (whici is much btter than going analogue, as ther is no chance for cables to pick up some noise) you cannot get channel separation. However, as you can get combo with two or three receivers, I guess if you manage to connect two to PC via USB and assign each to one microphone, then you can record two separate channels.

[@MSPACELOG]

Never tried that. But it might work. Got to try it. One thing I also didn't test it was using the camera receiver with the TRS cable on my laptop. It should record with two separated audio tracks (at least it's what I think it works).

[@epedja]

@@MSPACELOG TRRS connector contains pins for ground, left and right output and only one (mono) mic input. I am not sure that sound interfaces are intelligent enough to recognize if stereo mic is connected to change TRRS pins functions. Even when sound interface has separate TRS input for microphone, it still does not guarantee it is actually stereo input.

[@vlog_philippines]

thank you for information

[@AlejandroJovica]

thank you for your video, really usfeull for me, i will buy it, it worths, greetings and thank you again!

[@chriszavos]

Hi, which are the more reliable (and expensive) options of mics for interviews that can be plugged into a mobile phone type C?

[@MSPACELOG]

Hi. Even though I didn't try them, for interviews and everything else, I would go with DJI Mic 2 or, in second place, Rhode Wireless Pro.

[@RAYDHAVID]

Good review thanks!

[@AdamAarts]

Any reservations about the magnet being strong enough? I plan to use it while walking around outdoors, but also when it’s cold may need to use a light jacket, would it hold through a sweater or jacket?

[@MSPACELOG]

Hi. The magnets seem quite strong. I already used it over some thicker shirts, and it handles quite well. But there are also clamps you can use with the transmiters too. So, there are always ways around. But I'll try to put it over a thick jacket and do a quick run to see if it falls and let you know 😉

[@AdamAarts]

@ thank you!

[@teeeeengmotovlog]

nice review!

[@Zetraxes]

How does this stack up to the new rode wireless micro that is soon to be released? Did you get a preview perhaps because they compete in a similar price range

[@MSPACELOG]

I didn't know Rode had released a new mic. Didn't got the change to get more from it, but from what I read about, it's similar to the Hollyland Lark M2, but for me has a big disadvantage: it's normal size (like everyone else's mics). Couldn't confirm if we can attach a lav mic, too. Even so, it is still one more piece to attach. What I most like about Hollyland is its simplicity of use and, at the same time, the fact of it being so discrete on my shirt. All the others, unless you use a lav mic, are quite big for my taste. But if you don't mind with that, Rode is an excellent brand and, certainly, you will be very well served.

[@Zetraxes]

@MSPACELOG hmm it's hard to say I think before I pull the trigger I will wait for reviews on the rode wireless micro if it turns out that many people still prefer the Hollyland I will buy that immediately

[@Zetraxes]

@@MSPACELOG what do you think about the boyalink?

[@MSPACELOG]

That is a good decision 😉

[@MSPACELOG]

Never used that one. But I started with a lav M1 from Boya, and I recorded a lot with it. Even though it is cheap it as much better sound quality that some pricier and reputable brands are out there. So, if it is the same quality as the older ones, it could be a very good budget alternative for someone who is starting. But if I were to buy something more future proof, I would save for something better.

[@samiulslens]

I bought it a few days ago. But it catches a lot of noise when Noise cancellation is not activated. But in many review videos, like yours, I find using it without enc is on. Is there any trick for that?

[@MSPACELOG]

Hi. I never use noise cancelation because it is settled in the recording, and then if the noise reduction is noticeable, I can't do anything to the sound in post. O rather do noise treatment and sound treatment myself in post. Either way, the sound you are earing is directly from the mic with no treatment at all (except normalization). All I do is to position the mic and adjust the levels of the mic using the Hollyland app (because I'm using the phone receiver). If you're using the camera receiver, you can adjust the levels directly. I set to the lowest value so it doesn't pick up too much ambient noise.

[@samiulslens]

@MSPACELOG thanks dear. ❤️

[@2allanator]

How's it for recording a live concert?

[@MSPACELOG]

Hi. I never used it for that purpose. But I guess, between using your smartphone mic and using this one instead, that you will get better sound quality overall. But keep in mind that this is an omnidireccional mic, which means that it will pick up sound coming from all directions. For concerts, even though I'm not an expert in the area, you would want mics with a Cardioid or Lobar polar pattern because you can pinpoint them directly to the concert and the mic will pick up mostly that sound while ignoring the side and back sounds from the crowd. But that means other types of mics, not this type for vlogging or youtube recording. Hope that helps.

[@2allanator]

@@MSPACELOG Thank You

[@jimc9516]

if you lost audio because you forgot to start record on a camera, that's not a "con" on a mic, that's your mistake

[@MSPACELOG]

That's a mistake, for sure, but if you can have a mic that can save your mistakes, that's a pro for me 😉 But, either way, what I was referring was something that happened with my video recording app that was showing it was recording audio but wasn't. So, if the Lark M2 had that function, I didn't had to record my whole video again. In this case, having less is not more 😉

[@jimc9516]

@@MSPACELOG it also doesn't allow directly connecting to bluetooth devices, so what? a con is bad audio quality, or poor connectivity, or poor battery life - something that it already HAS not something you WISH it had while keeping the same price.

[@MSPACELOG]

@jimc9516 points of view mate 😉