Hollywood Lark C1 Review – Newsshooter

The Hollywood LARK C1 is a wi-fi microphone system for iOS and Android units. The system is geared toward Vloggers, Stay Streamers, YouTubers, and newbie customers who might solely be utilizing a cellphone or motion digital camera.

The Alouette C1 is available in its personal charging case and is billed as a plug & play resolution. I shall be reviewing this gadget as a professional to see the way it performs in knowledgeable setting. This could generally really feel a bit unfair for the Lark C1, however I can solely evaluation one thing primarily based on how I’d use this product.

Dimension weight

The Lark C1 TX items weigh 11.5g / 0.40z. They’re fairly small and compact and I choose the design to bigger sq. RX and TX items.

The Lark C1 RX unit weighs 7g / 0.25oz.

The charging case weighs 85.5g / 3oz).

What’s fascinating is that you could join an Android model of the Lark C1 RX unit on to an motion digital camera just like the DJI Motion 2/3.

I like this integration with DJI motion cameras and it is a helpful resolution if you wish to document higher audio when utilizing an motion digital camera.

Manufacturing high quality

The construct high quality is fairly first rate for the TX and RX items. Regardless of their small dimension and the truth that they do not weigh a lot, their building continues to be first rate and there was nothing I encountered that involved me an excessive amount of.

The iOS model of the Lark C1 RX options an MFi-certified Lightning interface.

Operation

Operation of the Lark C1 system was designed to be so simple as potential, however you really want to make use of the LarkSound app to see what is going on on.

There’s nothing on the precise TX items aside from a bit coloured LED to point what is going on on. All you get is an on/off button and the noise cancellation button. You’ll be able to inform when the noise canceling button has been activated as a result of the LED indicator turns inexperienced as an alternative of blue.

In a pleasant contact, you’ll be able to play audio by means of your smartphone audio system with out having to unplug the RX. The one caveat is that you must allow it within the LarkSound app first, in any other case it will not work.

One-click noise cancellation

The Lark C1 has a built-in good noise canceling characteristic that is supposed to assist block out undesirable ambient noise.

Now, Hollyland recommends that you simply use it solely in crowded and noisy environments. They state that for regular recording environments, using a windshield is ample.

LarkSound app

The LarkSound app permits customers to entry a number of superior working choices. The app enables you to view TX battery share, modify noise cancellation degree, improve, or management quantity and playback in actual time.

As soon as you’ve got plugged the Lark C1 TX unit into your smartphone and launched the app, you will be greeted with a display asking for entry to make use of the audio supply that is now coming.

You may then be greeted by the principle display, however till you take away the TX items from the charging case, you will not be capable to see them.

As soon as you are taking a TX unit out of the charging case, a immediate message will seem indicating that the TX has linked. Additionally, you will see their battery standing.

You can too flip the Noise cancellation on. Additionally, you will see that the quantity adjustment could be very restricted. You’ll be able to solely select between Low/Medium/Excessive. It would not offer you a lot flexibility, however to be trustworthy you’ll be able to simply modify the extent in no matter program you utilize to document audio.

The largest downside with the operation of the system is that you simply can not individually document two separate tracks in case you are utilizing two TX items without delay. They simply combine collectively which defeats the aim of getting a two TX system. You can not see two separate indicators from the TX items, they simply seem as one.

No Lavalier microphones

One factor you’ll be able to’t do with the Lark C1 system is connect a lavalier microphone.

Don’t put logos or giant coloured LED lights on a microphone that shall be seen

I can not stress this sufficient from knowledgeable perspective. Nobody desires to make use of a wi-fi microphone that was designed to be seen when it has a giant brand and LED lights on it. It is not a dig in Hollyland, as a result of all the businesses making related merchandise do the very same factor.

Now I’ve a suggestion for this. Producers ought to make a small pouch that customers can placed on prime of the microphone case that hides the brand and LED gentle. Microphones are designed to be heard, not seen.

The included windshields work properly, however they are not aesthetically one thing you need to see in a photograph.

Hear, I perceive. For individuals who vlog or stream, it would not matter if there is a vibrant gentle or a brand on their microphone, however for many different use instances, there may be.

Working vary

The Lark C1 has a claimed wi-fi working vary of as much as 650ft (200m) line of sight, with a low latency of 0.08s. Nevertheless, the claimed vary when not utilizing the road of sight is 130 ft (40 m).

It makes use of superior frequency hopping know-how so the Lark C1 can routinely swap to a transparent channel.

I did a variety take a look at to see what kind of distance I might get out of the system. I discovered that so long as I had a web site line I might simply get 250-280m. This was properly above the marketed working vary, nonetheless, with programs like these it actually is determined by the setting you might be working in as to what sort of vary you’ll get.

Battery life and charging

As I discussed earlier, the Lark C1 is available in its personal charging case. It is a good suggestion, even when it means it takes up more room. Personally, I choose having the charging case as a result of it is handy and likewise an excellent place to retailer and transport them.

The Lark C1 TX items have an inner 140mAh (0.518Wh) battery that may last as long as 8 hours. Charging time for TX items is roughly 1.5 hours. The charging case additionally takes about 1.5 hours to cost.

Each TX and RX are usable whereas charging. The RX might be linked to an influence supply to cost your cellphone throughout operation.

You can too cost your cellphone and the Lark C1 RX unit on the identical time by connecting the Lark C1 RX to an influence supply.

Audio high quality

The Lark C1 TX items characteristic an omnidirectional microphone with a frequency vary of 20Hz to 20kHz.

The audio high quality of the system is first rate and doubtless what you’d count on from a finances wi-fi audio system with a built-in mic. The microphone can appear a bit skinny, particularly if it is not fairly near the place your topic is talking.

Above you’ll be able to hear a pattern of the audio recorded in an abnormal room. I put on the Lark C1 and it’s about 15cm from my mouth.

If you happen to use the Noise cancellation set to Robust then the audio high quality actually takes a giant hit.

Above you’ll be able to hear what it seems like. Now, you would not truly use noise cancellation underneath regular situations like this, however I simply wished to present you a comparability of the way it sounds when it is on and off.

Actual-world use

The Lark C1 is basically plug & play as marketed. It is fast and straightforward to arrange, however its controls are very restricted, and it is not potential to document two separate tracks for those who’re utilizing two TX items without delay. It additionally lacks any type of monitoring if you wish to take heed to what’s being recorded. Listening to a recording by means of the audio system after stopping recording is handy, however it’s too late for those who discover any points.

You’ll be able to actually use any smartphone app that permits audio recording. If you happen to simply use the conventional video recording perform in your iPhone, the audio from the Lark C1 is routinely used.

Apps like Filmic Professional, in addition to different rivals’ audio recording apps, additionally permit you to select the Lark C1 as your audio supply.

What you are able to do with the Lark C1 is use it as a further recording gadget to choose up ambient audio on location by utilizing it along with a Sync E mkII Tentacle and the Tentacle Sync Recorder.

This permits me to seize audio externally with matching timecodes for my different cameras and audio units.

Sure, I might simply use a Tentacle Sync Track E to do precisely the identical factor, however it’s useful for those who want one other audio supply, or as a fallback possibility.

It is also useful in conditions the place you are recording content material that is going to be transmitted to another person, as you’ll be able to lower a TX on your self after which document audio describing what you are filming or what the settings of your digital camera, and many others. This manner you’ve an audio file comparable to the timecode that’s not embedded in your footage and that an editor may also use.

Hear, I do know the Lark C1 is not a product that many professionals are prone to see, however it’s an excellent choice to have in your emergency package.