Does the Lark A1 Combo connect to an iPhone as well as to an Android phone?
Yes. The combo contains two receivers, one USB-C and one Lightning, plus two transmitters to record two voices. You switch from an iPhone to an Android phone simply by changing receiver, plug-and-play. The mobile receiver weighs just 5.9 g and measures 34 × 16.3 × 9 mm.
Does noise reduction cut the transmitters' battery life?
Yes, significantly: a transmitter lasts 9 hours with noise reduction off, compared with 6.5 hours once it is on. The charging case (460 mAh, against 65 mAh for a transmitter) provides up to 2 full charges, bringing the total to 54 hours by alternating the two transmitters. A recharge takes less than 1 h 30.
Can I charge my phone while the mic is using its charging port?
Yes. The receiver has a side port that lets you charge the phone while using the Lark A1, and playback stays smooth without unplugging anything. The receiver is certified under Apple's official MFi programme: you can film a long live stream without having to choose between the mic and the phone's battery.
How far can I move away from the phone without losing the sound?
200 metres in line of sight. The link uses adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) at 2.4 GHz, with GFSK 2 Mbps modulation and anti-interference technology: the sound stays stable outdoors as well as on the move, with no dropouts or signal loss.
Does the mic distort when someone laughs or speaks loudly close up?
No. It handles up to 120 dB SPL, and automatic anti-clipping protection balances excessive levels to avoid distortion on sudden noises. Recording is at 48 kHz / 24-bit, with a sensitivity of -37 dBV ± 2 dBV at 1 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio greater than or equal to 67 dB.
How do you mute the mic discreetly in the middle of a shoot?
Two clicks on the transmitter button mute that mic individually, without touching the phone. One click turns on intelligent noise reduction and three clicks start recording. The LarkSound app also lets you turn off the transmitter's indicator light, so you stay completely discreet on camera.
Can you adjust the Lark A1's sound before filming?
Yes: 6-level gain from the LarkSound app, EQ (Balanced, Bass, Clear), small, medium or large reverb, and noise reduction on 3 levels, low, medium or high. Intelligent automatic limiting constantly balances the levels, without distortion.
Will the transmitter pull on thin clothing or show on camera?
No: it weighs 8 g and is 0.9 cm thick (30 × 16.3 × 8.8 mm), and it is worn without pulling or distorting the fabric. It clips onto clothing or attaches with one of the two magnets supplied. On camera, it stays discreet and almost invisible.
Does the kit include what you need to film outdoors despite the wind?
Yes, two windshields are included, along with a carrying bag, two magnets and a USB-A to USB-C cable. Intelligent noise reduction also filters out wind, traffic, car horns and air-conditioning hum. Between takes, the transmitters slip into their charging case.
Does the mic only pick up the person wearing it?
No: the capsule is omnidirectional and covers 20 Hz – 20 kHz, so it picks up sound all around the transmitter. That is exactly the role of the three-level noise reduction — low, medium, high — to be chosen according to the environment: it removes room reverberation and ambient noise while preserving a natural voice.
Can it be used in freezing cold or in the summer sun?
It operates from -10 to 60 °C, but charging is only possible between 0 and 45 °C. On a winter shoot, charge the case indoors before going out rather than on location.
Is the Hollyland Lark A1 Combo new and under warranty?
Yes: a new and genuine product, supplied with its invoice, which serves as the 1-year warranty document. The combo is complete out of the box: two transmitters, the USB-C and Lightning receivers, the charging case, the carrying bag, the two windshields, the two magnets, the USB-A to USB-C cable and the quick guide.