Capture clear sound for switching your smartphone's microphone for a Joby Wavo AIR.

Have you ever watched a video on YouTube where someone is speaking to the camera but you can hardly hear them because they are relying on the microphone built into their smartphone or video camera? It happens a lot and it’s the one thing that marks out an amateur videographer from a more polished and professional job. Poor quality audio is probably one of the main reasons why people give up on watching a video.

To make videos sound more professional, you need to pay as much attention to the audio quality as the video. Joby is the company behind the iconic Gorillapod and it has just announced its new collection of Wavo audio products for creating great videos with high-quality sound.

I decided to review the Joby Wavo AIR kit, a collection of two wireless transmitters and a receiver that can pick up sound and transmit it wirelessly without the need for cables or even extra microphones. The Joby Wavo AIR kit comes with a couple of lavalier microphones. These tiny microphones can be clipped to a jacket lapel or a tie during an interview.

The Joby Wave AIR includes two wireless transmitters, a receiver, plus a couple of cavalier ... [+] microphones.

A lavalier mic picks up sound very clearly and makes all the difference to the quality of an interview.  The Joby Wavo AIR transmitter units also have a microphone built-in so there’s no need to use a lavalier mic if you don’t want to, but to get the best sound for an interview I would recommend using the lavs.

Setting up this versatile little sound department is very easy. The two transmitter units and the receiver are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. A full charge using USB-C cables supplies enough juice for a full day of filming. The transmitters automatically pair with the Wavo Air receiver and then the receiver’s line out jack just needs connecting to the video camera using one of the supplied cables. You can even connect the receiver to the headset input of a smartphone if you are using a phone to make a video.

The Wavo Air transmitters include a bayonet-style modular mounting system that can be used to attach the variety of clips and holders that are supplied with the Wavo AIR kit. There’s a choice of a cold shoe, a magnet and crocodile clip accessories that enables the Wavo transmitters to be attached to almost anyone or anything. The mounting system is quick and easy to use. Both the transmitters and the receiver are housed in a rugged plastic case that should easily withstand being dropped. 

The Joby Lav PRO is a superbly compact cavalier mic that can work with the Joby Wavo AIR or any ... [+] device that can work with a lab.

I mentioned earlier that there is a choice between using the built-in mics of the wireless transmitters or plugging in a lavalier microphone. The omnidirectional lavalier microphones in the kit are ideal for interviews or pieces to camera. The built-in microphones have their uses too. For example, they are ideal for putting anywhere in a scene to pick up the general background sound. You could be filming wildlife from a distance with a telephoto lens but you still want to get some sound. Placing one of the Joby Wavo AIR transmitters near the wildlife is a great way of picking up the sounds you need. 

Controlling the Joby Wavo AIR transmitters is simple. Just select the gain level by pressing the buttons on the side of the unit and then monitor the sound using a pair of headphones plugged into the receiver unit. Most people will be able to get great sound out of the Joby Wavo AIR without any specialist training. It’s designed to be easy enough for anyone to use.

The Joby Wavo AIR has a unique modular attachment system that enables the transmitter to be mounted ... [+] or secured in a variety of ways.

The two lavalier microphones supplied with the kit are great at picking up sound clearly. They have a clear and natural voice and Joby also sells the new Wavo Lav PRO microphone if you need an extra mic or a spare. The sound is clear and the pickup pattern is omnidirectional. I noticed that the sound is dry and neutral straight out of the receiver. This is a good thing because the sound is uncolored and that means you can add the level of EQ you want during the editing process. The microphones are free of sibilance and come with a fluffy windshield for cutting down on wind noise when filming outdoors. 

Verdict: The Joby Wavo AIR is a neat little wireless sound kit that’s ideal for interviews. The kit includes two separate wireless transmitter units with built-in mics and a jack for plugging in a lavalier mic. Gain levels on the transmitters can be set independently on each unit and the receiver has a line level out for connecting to a camera or digital recorder using the supplied leads. The whole setup is easy to pair and use, plus there are rechargeable batteries with sufficient muscle to last for a day of filming. Currently, RØDE has a great business serving this market with its Wireless GO Pro kits so it will be interesting to see how the Joby Wavo range is received by professional video creatives. 

Pricing & Availability: The Joby Wavo PRO wireless sound kit is available now and costs $249.95. The Joby Wavo Lav PRO is also available now and sells for $79.95. 

More info: www.joby.com