Hollyland Lark M2 Combo w USB Type-C & Lighting for Anroid & iPhone (Shine Charcoal) rental

Now that we have discussed the main components of the Lark M2 microphone, it is time to dig deeper into the design of each working component. The transmitter and receiver are the two main working components of this tool that play their role in the successful recording of the sound. 

1. Transmitter 

The transmitter is the same for both camera and mobile versions, as its role is to capture and transmit the sound. You only have to attach this 9-gram transmitter to the speaker body to let it capture the sound with utmost efficiency. In addition, the Lark M2 transmitter has an omnidirectional sound reception quality that helps you record sound from every desired corner of the surroundings. 

Users will also be able to enjoy crisp quality sound with its frequency response range of 20 Hz – 20 kHz. Also, this transmitter comes with clip magnets for securing the microphone for safe recording. 

In addition, it also contains a noise cancellation button, which has several functionalities, including turning the mic on and off, entering pairing mode, and enabling noise cancelation. This microphone also has a connectivity indicator and charging contact along with other design elements. 

2. Receiver

You may see a difference in build and design in the mobile and camera versions of this microphone. In the following part, we will discuss the design of both these receivers to help you analyze the difference. 

RX Camera

This receiver version supports more functionalities than the mobile version. Moreover, this 14.8-gram mic has a volume adjustment knob that supports three different levels of volume. Also, the camera version receiver has this additional mode-switching button that allows users to switch between mono and stereo modes. You can connect this receiver to your camera using a 3.5 mm audio output.

Other than that, it has a back clip and a Type-C port for securing and charging the receiver, respectively. Like the transmitter, this component also has a status indicator and charging contacts for optimizing the usage of this microphone.

RX Mobile 

It is a simpler version of the camera receiver with fewer design features. This mobile receiver contains a lightning or USB-C plug based on its version. Moreover, this 6-gram microphone also has a status indicator to give an idea about the connectivity to the other devices. Users can also make use of the pairing button present in its design to ensure connectivity with the new mobile.

3. Charging Case

Along with TX and RX, you get a strong build charging case for protecting and charging the working components of this microphone. A fully charged case will help you charge 2 TX and 1 RX more than 3 times. In addition, this charging case has four LEDs on the outside that show the current power level. Every LED of this charging case represents 25% of the charging status. 

When only one LED is on and the color is red, this will indicate that the charging case is out of power. Moreover, if the case is connected to the power source, a flashing LED light indicates the charging process. 

Setup and Use

Hollyland Lark M2 has a diverse use case, making it applicable to multiple scenarios. Whether you are shooting while hiking on mountains or recording wildlife, this long-range microphone will help you make the process easier. It has a LARK M2 necklace silicone case, which makes it portable while shooting adventurous vlogs. 

You can also utilize back clips to attach the transmitter to the speaker’s clothing securely. In addition, it also comes with clip magnets to ensure the transmitter doesn’t fall off while recording. Simply wear the necklace or attach the clippers to clothing to optimize the content creation.

1. Mobile Version Pairing 

To connect to the mobile version of this microphone, you can follow this simple procedure. First, you need to press the side yellow button present on the transmitter for 6 seconds. By doing so, you will enter pairing mode, which is indicated by quickly flashing blue lights. Following this, long press the bottom yellow button for 3 seconds present on the receiver after plugging it into the device. 

In this way, the transmitter and receiver will enter pairing mode simultaneously. Finally, the steady blue light on both of these components will indicate that the pairing is successful.

2. Camera Version Pairing

After connecting your camera receiver with the camera using a 3.5 mm audio output, press the M button on the receiver for 3 seconds to start pairing. Then, long press the yellow button on the transmitter for around six seconds to enter pairing mode. However, you have to make sure both TX and RX enter the pairing mode at the same time. 

3. App Control

If you want to optimize the settings of the mobile version of this device, install a Hollyland Lark M2 mobile app. Once you install this application, you are only required to configure all settings within this app once for each device. Within this application, the Speaker Play function will trigger a device restart. In addition, you have to wait for 3 to 5 seconds before the device resumes normal operation. 

The differences in volume levels in Android and Apple versions are because of variations in system versions and hardware design standards. To make sure the volume works well on various devices, the Lark M2 application provides more adjustable options. This helps achieve a consistent volume level that works effectively across different phones.

Performance and Audio Quality

So, after using this microphone for quite a while, I was extremely satisfied with its performance and audio quality. With its 2.4 GHz adaptive frequency hopping, it ensures seamless wireless transmission over a long range of 300 meters. However, I did experience a lower transmission range when I tried to record in the presence of obstructions. 

As discussed repeatedly throughout the review, its omnidirectional audio reception makes this mic optimal for outdoor recording. The thing I loved the most about this tool is its ability to cancel the background noise with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 70dB. Plus, the audio is recorded in the 48 kHz/24-bit WAV format to ensure crisp quality sound.  

The camera version of Lark M2 performs even better with its ability to switch between Mono and Stereo modes. Other than that, this version also supports 3-level volume adjustments, including high, medium, and low. These advanced features are absent in the mobile version of the mic. However, you can optimize the performance of the mobile version with the installation of a dedicated application.

Battery Life and Charging

Hollyland Lark M2 has an exceptional battery quality that allows you to record for hours without any interruption. This microphone is tailor-made for travel vloggers who have to record while hiking or traveling without access to any power source. The transmitter of this mic has a 97 mAh battery that lasts for about 10 hours of recording. In addition, it only takes about 1.5 hours to get fully charged. 

Moreover, the camera version of this mic lasts for over 9 hours with its 145 mAh battery. It also takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge for interruption-free recording. Furthermore, the charging case of mobile and camera versions have 750 mAh and 1950 mAh battery, respectively. With its greater charging capacity, the camera case works better than the mobile version. 

So, the camera version charging case charges all TX and RX at the same time more than 3 times. On the other hand, the mobile version can do so only two times. Due to its excellent battery timing, the camera version case takes half an hour more to get fully charged.