Audio for Photographers and Videographers

Photography is usually described as a visual medium, but a lot of the work around it happens in sound. Learning, editing, and reviewing work all benefit from being able to control what you hear — or don't hear — while you're working. That's where a good pair of headphones becomes less of a convenience and more of a practical tool.

Today, I put the incredibly small Saramonic Air up against the current industry favorite, the DJI Mic 2, to see how it really stacks up. The results will surprise you. 

Hollyland has consistently been at the forefront of wireless audio capture, and their latest flagship, the LARK MAX 2, represents a push to consolidate nearly every desirable modern audio feature into a single comprehensive system. Are all these features important, or is the result overly complicated?

Getting into video production? Want to record a podcast? Maybe interview someone for a vlog? There are microphone solutions for all of these individual audio scenarios, but there isn’t any one handy solution that covers them all. Until now.

Wireless mics now come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes at the cost of important features. This new wireless mic system packs way more features than it seems.

For mobile-first creators, capturing good audio can be challenging, often being more expensive and complicated than the point-and-capture nature of mobile video. Hollyland is aiming to solve that problem with its new Lark A1, a dual-channel wireless microphone system designed specifically for mobile devices that prioritizes simplicity while keeping costs impressively low.

There's a very good reason why you should consider buying a microphone. Lav mics offer a versatile solution. A combination of good sound reproduction, quality build, and value for money is more important than you may realize.

Increasingly, I am running presentations or attending Microsoft Teams meetings from my desk. Therefore, it became time to improve the sound setup at my workstation. Maono is a respected name in the field of microphones, and so their PD300X seemed a great choice for me, but how did it fare?

A few weeks ago, I tested the Saramonic Ultra against the Rode Wireless Pro and DJI Mic 2 — and to my surprise, the Ultra held its own, even outperforming in a few key areas. But what if you need something more professional? The Saramonic K9 is the answer. 

Don’t expect a tech review where I list a whole bunch of numbers and stats—and copy and paste lines oozing hyperbole written by young copywriters looking to impress—from the media release. I’m bored just thinking about that. No, I’m reviewing this neat and rather unique little wireless mic from Shure from the perspective of an actual vlogger and filmmaker. Because, well, that’s exactly what I am. 

Convenience is one thing, but not all wireless mic systems can evade signal interference and loss. When the project has no room for re-dos, this might be the mic system for you.

There are a thousand and one different wireless microphone options on the market, and these two options from Godox aim to cater to a range of users. But since the brand is better known for lighting gear, are they any good?

Last week, I received an email from Saramonic. They wanted to sponsor a video featuring their new Ultra Mic System. But unlike every sponsored video request I've ever gotten, they didn't want control over the video, they asked for a fair and honest review, comparing their product to two of the industry leaders: DJI and Rode.

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.

As a photographer, I'm starting to use video more often, whether to work on a client's project or promote my work using video. Most, if not all, mirrorless cameras on the market today can also produce high-quality 4K video. However, there is one factor that needs to be taken into account when making a video: sound. Sound is often overlooked, yet it is one of the most essential factors in any video or film.

Today, I’ll share a quick look at my simple solution to a sometimes convoluted process.

In the past few years, we’ve seen the emergence of more convenient photography, video, and content creation tools that make it easier for creatives to wear more hats. This affordable but feature-packed option is a testament to that.

Times when the main creative outlet for photographers was taking and editing photos are long gone. For many, recording videos plays an equally important role now. But, the creation of videos is not only about the visuals. Audio is equally important. And for it, you need a good microphone, like the Saramonic MV7000.

DJI took everything about their beloved "DJI Mic" system and improved every major aspect with the all-new "DJI Mic 2." It's smaller, has better battery life, 32-bit float recording, direct Bluetooth connection to certain devices like your smartphone, and an all-new noise canceling feature. This is the mic we have all been waiting for. 

The all-new Bose QuietComfort Headphones really aren't that new at all. They are almost Identical to the QC35 headphones that came out in 2016. They are boring — perfectly boring — and that's why they are my favorite headphones ever. 

Packed with features and accessories, the Rode Wireless Pro is easily the best value in wireless audio. At just $400, it's an easy decision to buy, but it still has room to improve. 

Wireless mics have come a long way in the last few years. In this post, we will look at four different systems, with a focus on the newest mics from Rode and DJI. 

Wouldn't it be great if all of your clients and subjects came to you? There are times when you may have to make the trip to them, and if you do podcasts, how easily can you pack up your studio of mics and other gear with you to record on the go?

I finally received my DJI Mic after pre-ordering it more than a month ago, and at first, I was disappointed. When I did the initial test with the DJI Receiver connected to my Canon R5, the audio I recorded was much noisier than what I was used to from my old setup, for which I used a Zoom H1 with a Rode Lavalier GO. But there's a solution to this problem, and in this article, I share it with you.

Patrick and I have recently moved into new homes in Puerto Rico, and we have each been building our individual studios. I knew removing the echo from my concrete room was going to be difficult, but I didn't realize it would be this hard. 

Sennheiser recently sent me six different microphones from $49 up to $999. Does spending more money really get you better audio quality? You be the judge.

The Rode Videomic Go II certainly isn't the best-sounding microphone at $99, but there is no doubt it's the most versatile. 

As visual people, we photographers and videographers may neglect extensive post-production on basic audio recordings, but that would be a mistake. In this video, find out how to match the sound of a cheap microphone to one far more expensive.

I have slowly been making my way into the video realm and have quickly realized that I need an easy-to-use audio setup for filming on location. But since I mostly shoot photos, I didn’t want to take up a ton of room in my bag. After some research, the Hollyland LARK 150 checked all the boxes, but how does it hold up in real-world use? 

Two photographers in Iceland have been capturing the recent volcanic eruption in the country, and after spending many days filming and photographing, they captured some incredible audio to go with their videos. Here's how they did it.

When you see an advert on YouTube, it either has to be gripping and interesting for you to continue watching, or it's clicked through. Artlist has a strong campaign, and they made a video explaining the process of shooting one of these ads. 

Ever wondered what your images sound like? Well, you can find out with a strange process known as sonification.

We always emphasize the benefits of shooting raw, we spend a lot of money on high-end monitors, and we calibrate those monitors, all so we can create the best foundation for editing our photos and video. But do we do the same for our audio? That's where reference monitors and headphones come into the picture. 

Audio is half of the viewing experience. Learn from these tips to improve your video’s sound quality.

For streamers and vloggers, audio quality is often a secondary consideration but a few simple changes to your setup can make a huge difference. Check out this short video to find out how to bring dramatic improvements to your audio.

A year ago, Røde introduced its Wireless GO microphones which offered fantastic wireless audio performance at a great price. The company has just released an updated version which brings a number of improvements to an already impressive system.

Getting good audio is essential to creating a quality video. The Lark 150 from Hollyland is positioned as a turnkey solution for easily recording two subjects without the need for a tangle of wires. Whether you’re just getting started with video or are looking for a competent wireless option, you’ve got to hear what this piece of kit can do!

With the exponential growth of content creation, trying to pick out the best gear can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with it all. The market for microphones is constantly growing as brands dish out new models faster than they did several years ago. With many competing brands out there, which one should you get?

Sennheiser recently introduced a new compact microphone, the MKE 200, that is more than just yet another Rode VideoMicro clone. I paired it up with the Sony a7S III, GoPro HERO9, and iPhone to test its sound quality in this hands-on review.

Good audio is just as important to creating a successful video as the images on screen, and as such, anyone working with video should have at least a basic knowledge of how to edit and improve their sound. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use the spectral frequency display in Adobe Audition to make more precise audio edits. 

Audio settings can be confusing at first glance, so here are one videographer's go-to settings, delivered in just a few minutes!

Whether you’re working remotely or recording videos for YouTube, producing a high-quality video can require some smart gear decisions. Your Macbook’s built-in webcam and mic are fine, but spending just a small amount can translate to a huge improvement in quality. Here are the essentials, along with recommendations at a variety of price points, to set up your perfect streaming and recording setup.

The Rode Wirelss GO Compact Digital Wireless microphones have been a bit of a game-changer when it comes to ease of recording audio. This short video gives you ten excellent ideas of how to make the most from this very affordable piece of gear.

Last week, in a gloriously nerdy video, DPReview tested the preamps of various hybrid cameras to see how they performed alongside one another. One of the big surprises was how poorly the Sony a7 III fared, giving a notable hiss. In response, Gerald Undone then conducted his own tests, finding completely different results. So, where does the truth lie?