The Hollyland Lark Max 2 sets a new standard for wireless microphones with features I have never seen in any other wireless mic before. Features that I actually think you will use and love. And the Lark A1 gives you a ton of great features at one of the most affordable price points I have ever seen for a wireless microphone system.

In this review, I am going to break down both of these mics and tell you exactly what makes them such game changers in the world of audio recording. And just so you know, all of the audio throughout the companion YouTube video was recorded using these two microphones, so you can judge the quality for yourself as you watch.

Note: This review was done in partnership with Hollyland. As always, all opinions are my own.

Lark Max 2: The Flagship Features You Need To Know About

Let’s start with the essentials. The Lark Max 2 is Hollyland’s flagship wireless microphone system, and it comes packed with the specs you would expect at this level:

• 32-bit float internal recording with 8GB of onboard storage (10 hours of recording time)
• Three levels of AI noise cancellation
• 11 hours of transmitter battery life, 12 hours of receiver battery life
• 54 total hours of battery life with the charging case
• 1,115 feet of wireless range
• Timecode support

And the transmitters are incredibly lightweight. You and your subjects will barely notice they are wearing them.

Full Chain 32-Bit Float Audio Recording (This Is HUGE)

Now here is where things get really interesting. Hollyland is doing something with this microphone system that, as far as I am aware, no other company has done before, and it is called Full Chain 32-Bit Float Audio Recording.

Let me explain why this matters. 32-bit float audio recording is incredible because it gives you a massive amount of control over your audio in post. You can recover peaked audio, bring up quiet levels without introducing noise, and basically have a safety net that protects you from audio disasters. I absolutely love it.

But here is the problem that has existed up until now: if you wanted 32-bit float audio from a wireless mic system, you could only get it recorded internally to the transmitter. There was no way to wirelessly transmit that signal to your recording device. So if you wanted the higher quality 32-bit float file, you had to plug the transmitter into your computer after the shoot, copy the file, and then sync it up manually with the 24-bit audio you recorded wirelessly. It was a real pain.

Full Chain 32-Bit Float changes all of that. With this system, the transmitter not only saves the 32-bit float audio internally as a backup, it also wirelessly transmits that 32-bit float signal to your receiver, which then saves it directly to your device. No syncing. No workarounds. Just pristine 32-bit float audio recorded right alongside your video.

I tested this with my iPhone using the Blackmagic Camera app, and it worked flawlessly. I connected the receiver via USB-C, set the audio quality to IEEE float, and recorded as normal. When I brought that audio into my editing software, it was recognized as 32-bit float and I could adjust levels freely, just like any other 32-bit float file. It is honestly a little crazy that this actually works this well.

Now, there is one important limitation to know: Full Chain 32-Bit Float is currently only compatible with smartphones and computers (like a MacBook or PC). It does not work with cameras yet, which makes sense given that virtually no camera manufacturers other than Panasonic even support 32-bit float recording internally. If I had one wish for this system, it would be for Hollyland to work with Panasonic to enable this via their DMW-XLR2 adapter. That would be extremely cool.

But even as it stands, if you are recording Instagram Reels, YouTube content, or anything with your phone where you need to guarantee high-quality audio, this microphone just unlocked a completely new way of recording wireless audio.

The Wireless Monitoring Solution You Did Not Know You Needed

Here is another major pain point that Hollyland solved in a really clever way.

Monitoring your audio while recording is important. It gives you peace of mind that everything sounds good and there are no transmission issues. The traditional way to do this is to plug wired headphones into the receiver’s headphone output. But let’s be honest, when was the last time you used wired headphones?

A lot of filmmakers have been asking wireless mic companies to add smartphone app monitoring via Bluetooth. But that solution has been flaky, laggy, and generally not ideal in practice.

So what did Hollyland do? They built a pair of wireless earbuds right into the system. When you put them in your ears, they instantly and automatically connect to the receiver so you can hear exactly what is being recorded, in real time, with no setup required.

And they use a 2.4 GHz wireless signal by default, not Bluetooth. That gives you a 100-meter monitoring range, meaning you do not have to be glued to your camera. You can be quite a ways away and still confirm your audio sounds perfect. (They do also have a Bluetooth mode if you want to use them as regular wireless earbuds, which is a nice bonus.)

Want to know what makes this even better for wedding filmmakers? If you are working with a second shooter, you can each wear one earbud and both monitor the audio simultaneously. And because the earbuds are open-ear, you can still hear everything around you while you film. It is such a smart solution, and I honestly cannot believe it took this long for someone to build this.

Four Transmitters, Hot Shoe Support, and a Lav Mic Option

A few more features worth highlighting:

One receiver, four transmitters. Most wireless mic systems cap you at two transmitters per receiver. The Lark Max 2 lets you connect up to four. For wedding filmmakers, this is a big deal. Imagine miking up four people right before a toast session. Instead of scrambling to mic each one individually at the last minute, you can have all four ready to go and recording high-quality 32-bit float audio to each transmitter as a backup. Really reassuring for those high-stakes moments.

Sony Hot Shoe Adapter. Hollyland worked closely with Sony to make it possible to connect the Lark Max 2 directly through the hot shoe of your Sony camera, no separate 3.5mm cable required. It reduces cable clutter and makes setup faster.

Lav mic support via USB-C. There is no 3.5mm mic jack on the transmitter, but you can use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter to connect a lav mic. This keeps the transmitter super compact when you do not need a lav, but gives you the option when you do. I personally prefer using a lav because of my beard, since I can tuck it further under my shirt and avoid any scratching noise. Either way, the flexibility here is really great.

Timecode Support

Yes, the Lark Max 2 supports timecode. It is audio-based timecode, meaning it will take up an audio channel on your camera. Hollyland gives you options: you can send a timecode signal via the 3.5mm mic jack on top of the receiver, or via the USB-C port. When you combine the USB-C option with Hollyland’s Sony hot shoe adapter, you can run a timecode signal directly into your Sony camera’s right audio channel without a separate cable, while still recording clean audio on the left channel.

I tested it with Deity TC-1 and Atomos Ultrasync devices. Getting it to work required using the hot shoe adapter and temporarily setting the Lark Max 2 to Mode 3 (which sends timecode on both channels) to jam sync, then switching back to normal audio recording mode. It works, it is just a bit of a process. I still dream of a day when all camera and timecode device manufacturers agree on one universal wireless standard, but audio timecode at least works everywhere.

AI Noise Cancellation That Is Actually Good

Anytime a company slaps “AI” on a feature, I am naturally skeptical. But the Lark Max 2’s noise cancellation genuinely impressed me.

Hollyland trained an AI model to mimic human hearing, essentially teaching it to separate the sound of a voice from background noise. What makes this implementation unique is what they call stepless noise cancellation. Instead of choosing from a few preset levels (low, medium, high), you can dial in anywhere from 1 to 25 dB of noise reduction. That level of precision is fantastic, and it pairs incredibly well with the wireless earbuds so you can hear exactly what effect you are dialing in as you adjust.

In my testing:

• Around level 5: Noticeably cleans up background sounds without any processed sound. Great for most situations.
• Around level 13: Strong reduction, still sounds clean and natural.
• Level 25: Definitely has a processed quality, but if you are in a truly loud environment and need clean dialogue, it is still very usable.

This is easily some of the best noise cancellation I have heard from a wireless microphone system. If you record in any kind of challenging audio environment, you are going to appreciate having this level of control.

Hollyland Lark A1: Budget-Friendly and Surprisingly Capable

Now let’s talk about the other microphone in this lineup, the Lark A1. This one is primarily designed as a smartphone wireless mic, meaning you plug the receiver into your phone and record audio wirelessly. But the features packed into this thing at its price point are genuinely shocking.

The transmitters are absurdly small. Like, smaller than anything I have seen before. And they weigh only 8 grams, so your clients will forget they are even wearing one.

Here is what you get with the Lark A1:

• 24-bit audio recording (not 32-bit float, but totally understandable at this price)
• Auto Clip Prevention: constantly analyzes volume levels and automatically lowers the recording gain if audio is about to peak. Tested this and it works really well.
• AI noise cancellation with three levels (light, medium, strong)
• 9 hours of transmitter battery life
• 54 total hours with the charging case
• 656 feet of transmission range
• Available in black and white

That last point is one I feel strongly about. I have lost count of the number of times I needed to put a mic on someone wearing a white shirt or a wedding dress and had to hide a black transmitter under their clothing. Having a white option makes a real difference. Every microphone company should offer this.

The noise cancellation on the A1 is similar in character to the Lark Max 2, just with fewer granular controls. In my testing, the light setting works beautifully for most situations, and I would save the medium and strong settings for really loud environments where you absolutely need clean dialogue and cannot move to a quieter spot.

You can also control the A1 via the Larksound app (same app as the Lark Max 2), which lets you adjust gain levels wirelessly. And like the Lark Max 2, you can charge your phone while the receiver is plugged in. Convenient.

Oh, and the starting price? $50. That is not a typo.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you can afford it, the Lark Max 2 is a no-brainer. The Full Chain 32-Bit Float audio recording alone is unlike anything else on the market, and when you combine it with the wireless earbuds for monitoring, the Sony hot shoe support, four-transmitter capability, and the best noise cancellation I have tested from a wireless mic, it is genuinely revolutionary. Especially if you are doing a lot of phone-based recording for social content.

But if budget is a concern, the Lark A1 at $50 is an absolute steal. You still get AI noise cancellation, Auto Clip Prevention to protect your audio, a compact and lightweight design, and solid sound quality. It is the Lark Max 2’s little sibling and it wears that title proudly.

If you want to level up your overall audio game on set, I also recommend checking out my full post on how I record audio for wedding films where I go deep on every recorder, mic, and cable in my kit. And if you want to sharpen your editing skills so your audio sounds as good in post as it does on set, check out my Edit Videos Like a Pro guide.

And if you are into the Panasonic ecosystem and want an incredible on-camera mic option, check out my review of the Panasonic DMW-DMS1, which also features 32-bit float recording.