Editor's Note: The initial version of this video mentioned the lack of gain control on the Saramonic system. This was incorrect, and the offending portion has been removed.
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In the last few months, we’ve seen a deluge of new dual-system wireless kits. Jordan has been using five of them: the Saramonic Blink 500 B2+, Hollyland Lark M2 Duo, Rode Wireless Pro, DJI Mic 2, and Shure MoveMic. Ranging from $130 to $500, which of these kits will be the right one for you? Watch and learn.
Pick up any of the mics discussed in the video:
Saramonic Blink 500 B2+: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Hollyland Lark M2 Duo: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Rode Wireless Pro: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
DJI Mic 2: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Shure MoveMic: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
0:00 - Intro
2:22 - Saramonic
3:58 - Hollyland
5:56 - Rode
8:08 - DJI
9:53 - Shure
12:47 - The wrap
Editor's Note: The initial version of this video mentioned the lack of gain control on the Saramonic system. This was incorrect, and the offending portion has been removed.
Thank you for the clarification.
I think you're right the Shure and the DJI are definitely the most compelling options, I'm surprised how versatile the DJI mics are, I had no idea, worth a very serious consideration.
Great video. I think the biggest feature is reliable audio, over subtle differences in EQ. Fo that, something that records as backup, and knowing it can work in RF hostile environments. So that'd be the DJI and the Rode- which I had used on the NAB show floor, multiple wireless systems, at the same time, and there was zero dropout.
A tutorial on how you treat the signals in post, would be very interesting. When I tried a first time external mic, I was shocked by the sound of it. So now I don’t have one anymore. But in the meantime I learned that audiacity has a couple of filters and effects, and there my sound is better. So how would you treat the raw signal of the external mics, tat would interest me very much. :-)
Just the video I needed. Thank you!!
Is it just me or the Hollyland and the Shure have a lot of self noise?
Yeah, I’m listening to Jordan talk about how the Shure has the best sound quality, and I’m like….did he listen to this at all? It sounds horrible. The Hollyland and Shure are nearly indistinguishable from each other and appear to have a very high noise floor.
I think it must have been a settings error, issue with the import, or KZhead upload problem. I’ve heard the Hollyland on a Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) video before (I think a car review) and was reasonably impressed given its size.
I've seen multiple videos with the Hollyland, but mostly in noisy environments or with background music. I agree, though, it sounds good.
I think the gain setting problem, mine has no lot of noise like that
Well, Curtis Judd just published a review on the Shure system on his KZhead channel. Haven’t watched it but he’s an audio guy primarily so he’d catch any issues with self noise.
A few months ago bought a Hollyland Lark Max Duo ... and a love it... small mic units (lav inputs, 8 GB internal 24 bit/ 48 kHz recording) and a great receiver (i can all parameter remotely change), charging case and 2 lav mic also in the package... and it's now 250 USD The last weekend i recorded a theater performance, so that the two transmitter put the ground of the stage floor. I was 15 meter far away the mics... and no interference, no dropouts... the auditorium was full... tons of smartphones, a few WiFi systems in the area. Because the mics characteristic is cardioid therefore the actors voice undertstandable and the audiences claps and reactions was a little bit quieter. I am so very happy with this set... it is easy to install... and i a want then setup so that the internal recording started automatically... and with one charging it's run more than 6 hours.
Great video! The Shure really sound amazing!! The denoiser feature eats up the background noise
Rode and DJI sounded the best. The Shure didn't sound good with a lot of noise; Hollyland was noisy too, but sounded better than the Shure.
someone finally said it! the Shure has terrible sound tbvh
For someone on a budget honestly, the best system right now is the DJI Mic 1 system. So so good.
Yes, that's a good point. Especially since the Mic 2 came out there's a lot of used ones for good prices.
I agree. That is what I have and will not be upgrading to the v2.
@@JackieDElia it seems like the audio quality overall degraded. The noise cancelling feature ruins the vocals as well. I bought the rode wireless pro for the threaded input but use the DJI mic still for a lot of things.
But there are a few budget options nowadays right? Even with internal recording like the ulanzi
@@MaranaVisuals Oh, the Mic 2 _absolutely_ has far worse audio quality than the first one. It's so, so weird how few people have ever mentioned it considering how obvious it is.
Good stuff, Jordon! And really impressed with your movie posters in the background “Red” AND “Rushmore”!!!
Thanks! Jules and Jim is back there as well.
Great review, Jordan! I appreciate not editing out the hiss from all the recordings. What do you do to control it when editing the videos?
AS someone who works with unedited video and audio all day, I agree. The hiss is something that's hard to find in many reviews, and something that matters to me as a creator.
My company shoots with the DJI ronin 4D and we found that if the video transmitter module is installed on the camera but we do not have the wireless video monitor connected and powered on we get quite a bit of feedback on our wireless mics. Maybe that explains the issues you had with the Rode? As soon as the wireless video monitor is powered on and connected to the cam, all the audio feedback disappears.
This is a real nice, concise, breakdown. Would it be possible to explore some UHF options as well? I know they're much more expensive and aren't for the masses, but your in the field and professional experiences would be great to hear if you have any!
Nice video Jordan. Please do more video about video!! Those first 2 systems were rough. I love the way the DJI sounds!
I am glad fstoppers and petapixel came upon the same problem half a day apart. It cannot be easy wanting a two mic system in march.
Thank you so much for your great videos. A question.... What do you do if you want to interview one person with LAV and transmit the signal to two cameras? Meaning One transmitter to Two Receivers. Thank you again.
Have you considered the Hollyland Lark Max? I would love your opinion on that wireless microphone.
I bought the previous Hollyland version with the charging case but it would actually go flat in a really short time and drain the kit inside it too so unless you charged it right before the shoot it was super risky to rely on. I quickly replaced it of course!
Hollyland Lark Max Duo is great with some drawbacks, most glaring is the screen saver on the receiver that goes extremely dark and hard to monitor.
Just a tip for the Hollylark Lark 2 with the windscreen on. There is a small arrow on the back that shows where the mic is, it is just hard to see because it is all the same color. I filled in the arrow with silver sharpie and it helps a lot.
I've been using the Hollyland Lark Max for sometime now & very pleased with it.
Awesome video brother thanks so so much for the information!!
Wireless microphone reviews may be a smaller audience, but this was a great comparison and I would love even more video-focused videos (including discussing workflows) from Jordan. Let's call it "Jordan Explains it All".
Have you heard of or worked with the PicoGear lav system? As far as low profile goes, I feel like these are the most discreet. But I haven't used as many mic systems as you so it would be great to know how they compare.
I use the Hollyland Lark Max 2 and very happy about it.
To me, shure sounded the 2nd worst, only better than the saramonic. The DJI and Rode sounded much better than the rest. I would probably go for the Rode but you can't go wrong with either of the two
You are shooting with a Lumix S5IIX, do you hear a tjirp sound when connecting a mic cable on your camera and record?
Thank you Jordan ❤
Speaking as an audio professional and someone who works for an audio company where quality is everything, the Rode is the only one that sounds great to my ear on this video. The frequency response is flat and neutral sounding with low noise. All of the others, even Shure's, sound awful. Noise level is awful. There's noticeable missing frequencies, too.
You missed off the one decent mars hollyland system, (stay tuned to a new product soon), what I'd like to know Chris is the post process on the dji mic 2,s you use please.
Great review! I'm curious with the dji mics how well external mics work? When they came out there was so much controversy about how lavs wouldn't fit in the jack properly
Love the look and sound of the M2, but note that its mono-only over USB. You can't get left and right signals separately unless you use the 3.5 jack
Can you use the Dji or Shure for phone calls as well.
Fstoppers had a very different opinion on the Shure, which I find remarkable. You had any connection issues with it?
It sort of looks like the Hollyland's have a marker on the back that shows where the mic is facing. I could be mistaken.
I bought these Hollylands as soon as they came out. The magnet on the back is round and as such, it can be rotated any which direction. It was just by sheer dumb luck that they had their clip magnetized to the mic in an upward position. That's why it appeared like it was marked where the mic is. With that said, I've NEVER used the windscreen on any of my mic sets (I have 4 different sets) so that issue probably will never affect me. I LOVE these Hollylands especially cause they come with necklace/lanyard attachments. It's so nice to use on sets where I have to swap mics between people real fast.
@@smc1377 they do seem neat and they sound good. I'm not a fan of the logo taking up the entire button though. I got the Hollyland Lark Max sometime last year they have been so versatile. I needed quick audio recently and didn't have time to setup lavs. I just slapped the mics the the metal frame of a table and it worked well enough.
@@SooksVI The M2's come with custom stickers that you can slap over the logo on the button mics. So it's just all black. No branding at all.
@smc1377 oh wow, that's great
This was a very useful review of an extremely relevant topic. It answered all my questions except this one: When are we going to see Chris's Thypoc Simera (09:41) review?
I'm quite interested in this lens. 28mm f1.4 I'm guessing. 🥰
Wasn't featured directly in this video, but I had a similar issue with wireless interference on my RODE Wireless GO IIs a couple years back. Shot an interview in a small business and had to move her iPad cash register and wireless card reader because it was causing a hum on the receiver a few feet away. Still liked using them overall.
It’s odd to me that Fstoppers gave the Shure system low marks overall and said it was the worst sound quality of the wireless systems tested, though to my ear the Shure mics were brighter/clearer with good enunciation sounds in the recording. You can always eq more low end into spoken word if needed. But you can’t magic clarity into muddy mic sounds. Unfortunately the full Shure kit feels kluged together.
Very helpful, thank you.
Peace be with you! Thank you reviewing these wireless microphones. Your review was informative. However, IMHO, I would've liked for you to have included the PicoMic 2 Pro that offers external microphone and audio source support and may be the smallest wireless microphone. Thanks again.
Based on the self noise alone I'm going with the Rode system. All the others had WAY more noise.. and the dji sounded hollow.
Thank you- great review!
On the very budget end, you should have add the Ulanzi U-Mic AM18 for 80-100 USD. It even has Internal recording.
It's amazing, especially considering the price.
Jordan, try out the Hollyland Lark Max if you have a chance. Its got internal recording, a lot more features aiming towards more advanced user like yourself. The lark m2 is nice but really targetiing very beginner users and have a lot of limitations and compromises. i only use the lark max myself even i have both
Do you have any suggestions for car audio? Would any of these be a strong fit for an engine bay mount and rear/exhaust of the car?
Do you have a preferred lav for the dji system?
Thank You for producing this video. I love the quality of my Shure SM7B Studio Mic! I chose to move from my Original RØDE Wireless GO mic system to the DJI MIC (Original-V1) The DJI MIC system is so good I have no need to upgrade to anything,... unless I receive another unit for a professional review (free) hint hint.
Nice job Jordan. I have thought about the Lark M2 for quick interviews. Love the sound quality and small size but any of these 2.4ghz systems without internal recording are risky to use for a paid gig. That dial like you pointed out is no bueno. Seems like user experience with these devices can be hit or mis. Recently watched a reviewer who couldn't get the Shure second transmitter to connect. When he did a distance check and the signal dropped the transmitter would not automatically connect. He hated the audio quality. etc
To my ears, the Rode sounded the best. I live in Chicago and drive by the Shure HQ in Skokie frequently, and tend to buy their products whenever possible if competitive. The high price, lack of being kitted like the others, and audio quality has probably ruled them out for me. I love the DJI featureset, but the audio was not doing it for me. When I make me decision, it will be the 'features' pick. However, if I'm going off the samples I've heard, it's the Rode. Not saying the Rode is perfect, but it feels really neutral and lacks a tininess/hollowness. I feel like with a slight EQ it will sound fantastic.
It's worth noting that when the DJI Mic 2 is used with the Pocket 3 camera it seems to use BlueTooth as the connection so it has quite limited range when compared to using it with the separate receiver unit.
Given that we're looking into investing in our first pair of wireless mics, this video was an AMAZING help. Thank you!
So many interesting sound options and here's me just using a basic Saramonic Blink100 B3 for my iPhone. Works well enough for me and it's really simple to use. Plus, I'll be honest, I didn't want anything too complicated because I know bugger-all about sound setups 😅 Definitely a stark difference in sound quality compared to the other brands though!
I would like to know which system have a replaceable battery? I don’t want a paper weight in a few years. Even if I need to disassemble and do some light soldering.
There’s an arrow on the back of Hollyland Lark M2 so you can see where mic is. You could also mark on your own.
I use the Røde Wireless Go II. It's a little older than the Go Pro and didn't come with a charging case. I had to buy one from a third party maker. But the sound quality is very good, I can adjust the levels, and the deadcat goes on much easier than with the original Wireless Go. I see no reason to upgrade to the Pro model
I agree, I like the Shure's audio! BUT the windmuff is absolutely useless, especially knowing the price. Great comparison video.
If deciding on a first wireless lav, the DJI Mic2 if happen to already have the Pocket3 or the Action4. The pocket3 is a nice improvement in the pocket line.
I like to imagine that you just left Chris out in the snow talking about a bunch of lenses and he’s just gradually getting colder and colder while you’re warm and inside making this video 😂
I use the Hollyland Lark M1 *previous gen which is probably great but was blown away from the Lark M2 size....this was actually my first wireless mic since Rode was soo expensive but glad theres soo many options around 100$ cheers for great video the Hollyland Lark M2 is 100% great if used 100% indoors no wind scenerio in my mind
I'm with you on the DJI Mic2, and I even love the DJI Mic (maybe called 1 now?). I use the DJI Action 2 and DJI Osmo Action 4 cameras too as they seem to do a lot of things right. Currently, I don't see the need to try other mic systems so I appreciate your making this video. Thanks!
Excellent Vid! Rode is clear winner for rich deep sound quality. I wish we could have heard sound quality on dji with lav's...maybe the Senneheizer MK2 pro lav. I know, crazy expensive, but sound quality is that important.
Good run through these options, but have you guys even tried the DJi Mic 2 Bluetooth option? I made a video about this when it came out, hoping the bluetooth feature could cut down on gear to bring, but The audio quality is *really* bad on iPhone connecting directly with bluetooth. To make matters worse the DJI Mic 2’s internal recording feature is disabled when connecting to smartphones via bluetooth - so it’s not really a valid selling point at all :/
DJI Mic 1 is the best for me. Love it with the Shure MVL Lav mic.
Can any of these put each mic on seperate channels? One on channel 1 and the other on channel 2 or pan then to the channels?
The fact you can pull real-world use examples of most/all of these from your already published videos is a fantastic bit of effort and proof that you guys really take testing gear seriously
I've been happy so far with the audio quality from the Hollyland, but my big complaint is that the receiver doesn't really fit the hotshoe of my Fuji X-T4. It kinda jams in there, but I can't really push it in all the way securely. I've thought about filing it down a bit to fit, but it seems like I shouldn't have to do that. Anyone else have this trouble?
The Sennehiser system does have rechargeable lithium batteries by default though maybe the transmitters don't have these by default. This is based on Sennheisers page for their EW-DP EK. Also on the Shure system there was noticeable additional noise from it.
The DJI is impressive. One thing I notice though is that it only comes with 2 windsocks whereas the Rode comes with 3. What happens if you lose one? I did a search to see if you could get just the windsock but couldn't find one.
Ulanzi U mic is my current go to the price to performance is worth it
Good t see jordan doing some reviews. As per previous posts some tutorials beginner tutorials would be good. Some of us photo centric photographers may dabble a little into video if we knew what we were doing. If I were to try video it would be 1080p max
Never shoot at final res , shoot at 4k and scale it down
Hey Jordan, I just bought the DJI Mic 2 and found out I need a female Trrs - male Trs adapter to use the Shure MVL Lavalier mic, so let your listeners know if that is of any help.
DJI seams like a better choice. But for run and gun situation, especially as the summer is coming, this mics are heavy and Shure is to expensive, Lark M2 it might be a better deal, since they are very light and they sound good. What do you think?
What is the title of the track you used for your intro and where did you find ? Audiio?
Any lav mic recommendations for DJI Mic2?
On the Hollyland transmitter there is a symbol that shows were the mic capsule is at the back :) so, when using the wind shield, you can tell were it is
Have been curious about the Hollyland because they are just so small and you just don't always notice them. I get it if you need a lavalier but then if you are going that route there are so many other options available including a bunch not listed here. Feel like in this market it really shouldn't be about the lavalier availability.
caution on the dji mic - its audio drift is quite apparent on some units
4:58 not sure why he has a problem with the Hollyland's wind screen? You can see a sort of arrow on the clip, which indicates the side of the mic.
Did you normalize difrent mics signal? volume is jumping all over and it making it hard to compare audio quality.
Sounds like Shure is the premium option, but the dji with the lag will be a solid way to go. Does the Shure have 32 bit audio? Also, it is sad to hear that the ride has transmission issues.
No 32 bit with Shure unfortunately. This may be due to the patent being held by another manufacturer
What about the Godox options? Any opinions from anyone?
As a camera sling user, every millimeter counts. I wish you would have made precise dimensional comparisons in this video. For example, holding each mic and receiver next to its competitor to show small differences in height, length and width. Personally, when I am shopping for gear and my choices are close in features and price... I always buy the smaller option for portability.
What about the hollyland lark M1 I feel like that would have been a better comparison at $149.99 CAD
Hi! Are they waterproof?
At least in this video, the Røde sounded the best to my likings. Could also be settings etc, but there is something about that Røde sound that sounds more appealing to me
RODE sounds the best to my ears. But DJI connects so easily to my OP3 and OA4. Lots of great options at reasonable price points.
🤡
I'm always down for photography/videography adjacent tech roundups. I've been looking at some of the wireless mic systems from Comica, I'd be curious how they stack up to the ones in this video
They are pretty bad systems.
Thanks 🙏🏼
The mic direction of the Lark M2 is an easy fix using their ridiculous stickers included in the box. I've cut an arrow out of the white one and used for indicating where the actual mic side is. The dead cat is really the industry worst I'm still figuring what to do about it. I've already lost the bloody thing once - fortunately someone picked it up and handed over. Sony users beware, it produces very strong output volume so in the camera you have to turn the volume down to 1 or else your recording will be screwed up.
You missed out on a few other contemporary direct competitors. Godox, Neewer and Ulanzi all have solutions in this market segment.
Would have loved to see you include the PicoMic 2 Pro in this round up to see how it compares. It chargers with the receiver and you can attach lav mics. The only weakness is that it doesn't do onboard recording, but it has one market advantage of being the most discreet and hidden mic which is something that isn't as valued for KZheadrs. For creators doing corporate or client based videos, having a DJI mic hanging on the shirt is unacceptable.
I bought the Shure set recently and love the sound. I think Curtis Judd is the only one to mention the internal compressor, but that can make a huge difference for quick turn around. At the same time it is a fussy product. The firmware update process is fussy, time consuming, very old school, and designed around large production environments where you need to push firmware updates out on a network (not beginner friendly). The mics themselves are small and internal recording isn’t an issue because I have other equipment for that when needed. But transmitter clips are very small and do not have a magnet option, so if you need to clip this to a hoody or jacket collar, it may not stay put all that well. On the other hand, if you’re doing a bunch of corporate interviews (with people wearing dressier clothes), as long as you clip with the battery inside the shirt or blouse then these are quick to put on and off as well as being very inconspicuous. Bottom line, for certain kinds of direct-to-camera quick turn around commercial work, the Shure set will be a huge improvement over dealing with traditional lav systems. Or if you want to record direct to your phone (please Shure, make your mics compatible with the Blackmagic iPhone app!) with higher fidelity, it’s a great system. Those who need the Shure setup will know it. Would I recommend them to a beginner? Probably not.
I’m really impressed with the Neewer CM28 that you can get under $80. Not mind bending audio, but lots of features.
You didnt cover it but I like the Nady system. You can plug two mikes into one camera. It is good to trans and receive up to a hundred feet.
Is Tentacles sync relevant in 2024 ? Nice video & Thanks :)
Does the DJI Mic have the low pass filter on?
Can we get a 32-bit float audio tutorial video? I think a lot of people would benefit from knowing just how big of a deal it is.
Not the people who like to hold a lav mic in their hand though.
@@MaranaVisuals Thankfully not everyone does that. :P
What really is there to give a tutorial on? You just play the mic as usual, and don't set the gain lol. I use it and its a breeze. I agree on how siginficant it is, but there truly is nothing to say. It just works.
Would it work with amplifier?
I m looking for wirelllless camera mic with Line Input. Pls suggest if any Was thinking of boya wm4 pro but still confused. Pls help