Hollyland is challenging the dominance of RØDE and DJI with its new wireless microphone system that offers 32-bit float recording and wireless monitoring through over-ear headphones.
The company is best known for its button-sized wireless mic transmitters that blend seamlessly with the subject.
The new Lark Max 2 system can capture nearly unlimited dynamic range and allows for untethered monitoring, marking an impressive advancement.
The original Hollyland Lark Max Wireless System.
Image Credit – Hollyland
First introduced by RØDE in 2023, 32-bit float recording expands the audio dynamic range, preventing issues such as clipping and distortion that often occur when the recording volume is set too high.
This innovation means users no longer need to worry about balancing audio levels while recording or risking loss of audio fidelity when saving to the camera’s audio track.
Image Credit – Hollyland
The Lark Max 2 System, previewed last week at NAB in Las Vegas, records audio locally on the transmitter, which is then sent encrypted to the receiver.
The receiver decodes and writes the audio to the camera’s track.
If the talent speaks louder than the system is set for or delivers an emotional outburst, the 32-bit float recording algorithm handles it smoothly, avoiding clipping or distortion that could ruin a scene.
The system features automated gain control and volume control for proper leveling, as well as a manual control option through the Hollyland mobile app.
Additionally, it includes a Sony Hot Shoe Adapter that captures 24-bit sound at 48 kHz through the hot shoe, eliminating the need for a cable that would require the signal to be converted to analog.
This results in a completely digital signal; however, some clipping may occur at the extreme ends of gain if proper audio levels are not set for the camera.
Hollyland advises users of Sony cameras to balance input levels according to the camera’s specifications to avoid exceeding them.
With each transmitter recording locally, the digital 32-bit float track remains preserved and can be downloaded and utilized, while the Sony 24-bit track serves as an archival or proxy option.
The menu system of the Lark Max 2 also provides audio level suggestions based on the camera model being used, which is quite useful.
Local recording time of the original Lark Max system is rated at the transmitter up to 14 hours of audio, thanks to 8GB of built-in storage.
Did Hollyland keep this storage size in the Max 2? It’s a safe bet that they did.
The transmitters have been redesigned for a thinner, more rounded profile, but still maintain the same working battery life of up to seven and a half hours, the same as the first-gen Lark Max.
This can be expanded to 22 hours courtesy of the included charge case.
Another featured innovation previewed at NAB with the Lark Max 2 was the optional pair of on-ear wireless headphones.
The over-the-ear style design can wirelessly sync to the system via 2.4 GHz WiFi, allowing sound engineers to monitor audio in real time.
This wireless solution also connects to iPhones or Android smartphones via Bluetooth for similar functionality.
Pricing and Availability
While there is no set price for the Lark Max 2 yet, the current model, the Lark Max, is priced at $249, so expect the new model to be in a similar range, minus the optional wireless headphone add-on.
It also means a likely price drop for the original Lark Max system. Hollyland plans to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2025, around summer.
[source: CineD]
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
