Hollyland has officially unveiled its latest wireless mic solution, the Lark M2S microphone. Tailored for content creators who demand excellent audio quality without compromising convenience or dominating the shot, this sixth-generation Lark Series microphone delivers on multiple fronts. Here’s why this ultra-mini wireless microphone deserves a spot in your production toolkit.
A Tiny Clip-On Microphone
The Lark M2S uses a clever clip-style design, with the battery, transmitter, and button interface sitting on a coin-sized module that goes on the inside of the talent’s clothes. A thin, black "titanium alloy" arm then positions the mic capsule in front of the clothes for optimal audio capture. The result is the cordless convenience of wireless mic kits like the Lark M2, DJI Mic, or Rode Pro but with the reduced visual weight similar to a small lav mic.
If you’re not a fan of the in-your-face branding or influencer-style black box aesthetic of bulkier wireless mic setups, the Lark M2S offers a great way to still get the wireless convenience of these solutions. At 7 g, the small unit of the Lark M2S is also much less disruptive to talent’s clothes, requiring less clamping force and being less likely to tug their collar down. That lower weight also translates to less violent flopping around if you’re walking, running, or moving around. I don’t think you could get enough momentum going to dislodge this mic, unlike bulkier units. Even still, Hollyland uses a titanium alloy in the clip, and I’ve found that it feels very solid, with good clamping force and spring.
Competent Audio Specifications
Being tiny and lightweight isn’t everything. A wireless mic has to deliver quality audio, and the Lark M2S does. While Hollyland hasn’t jumped to 32-bit capture like some competing products, the M2S still delivers a solid set of specs. It features 24-bit/48 kHz sampling and a 70 dB signal-to-noise ratio.
Voices are captured clearly and sound good. In more chaotic environments, you can use the Environmental Noise Cancellation tech, similar to noise-canceling headphones, to reduce ambient sounds and bring out the talent’s voice. Hollyland includes windscreens for the mic, but the small size of the mic ends up being a bit of a drawback here, as they are finicky to mount and prevent you from using the charging case with them in place.
The 2.4 GHz transmission protocol works well. Hollyland rates it for ranges up to 984 ft/300 m, but I’d be more conservative, particularly in crowded RF environments or areas with obstructions. Even still, for 99% of the scenarios where a mic like this is used, talent will be close enough to the camera that range is never a concern.
The Lark M2S doesn’t support onboard recording, probably owing to the tiny size of the transmitter. That small form factor doesn’t impact battery life, however, with the transmitters being rated for a perfectly reasonable 9 hours on a single charge, with the included charging case able to extend this to 30 hours with recharging.
The M2S comes in three different kits, with the Combo and Mini Combo including a Camera Receiver suitable for use in the hot shoe. The M2S base model includes just a USB-C plug for use with mobile devices. Given the very small MSRP bump, I’d strongly recommend the Mini Combo, as the Camera RX includes a dial for control over power, pairing, mute, and volume levels. Using the LarkSound app, you can get control over a broader set of features, including noise reduction, battery life, and more.
Overall, the Lark M2S is positioned as a very affordable option for content creators who need good audio quality in an integrated wireless solution. At an MSRP of just $139 for the Mini Combo, this product is priced right in my opinion. The Lark M2S is available now.
