Hollyland’s LARK MAX 2 wireless microphone system brings dynamic flexibility and precise control to the world of drone videography, allowing professionals to capture high-quality audio and video while pushing the limits of flight distance.

“The whole test was surprisingly simple. Attach the mic, fly the drone, and listen. The product basically proved itself,” says Tom Beeken, a professional videographer and drone pilot from the United Kingdom.

Meet Tom Beeken

Tom Beeken specializes in cinematic FPV (first-person view) flying, creating high-quality video and photography for brands. He handles everything from planning and filming to editing and delivery, with a focus on creative storytelling and dynamic visuals. Tom’s work pushes the boundaries of immersive video content and is built on a foundation of precision and creativity.

Challenge & Setup

Tom’s project involved testing the transmission range of the LARK MAX 2 wireless microphones. He filmed and flew a drone with the microphone attached, providing a live POV split-screen view while tracking the distance in real-time. The goal was to prove the LARK MAX 2’s long-range signal performance in a creative and engaging way.

The project took place outdoors at Hunt Cliff in Saltburn, United Kingdom, with cold temperatures and strong winds making for a challenging environment. Tom chose a larger 7-inch long-range drone to handle the weather while carrying the LARK MAX 2 mic. A small two-person crew, with Tom as the drone pilot and camera operator, and a spotter for safety and line-of-sight monitoring, managed the entire production.

Solving Real On-Set Pain Points

The LARK MAX 2 system was key to overcoming several technical hurdles during this outdoor shoot. Tom attached one microphone to the drone and clipped the second one to his jacket. The system was set to split stereo mode, allowing the crew to record commentary separately from the drone’s motor noise. This setup provided clear audio for post-production, making it easy to analyze audio dropouts at long distances.

Real-time audio monitoring through the earphones gave Tom and the crew immediate feedback on the quality of the sound. “Being able to monitor the audio in real time with the earphones meant we didn’t waste any battery or flight time. We knew instantly that everything was working,” Tom added.

Despite the challenging weather conditions, the LARK MAX 2’s stable signal remained strong, and the drone was able to fly at distances approaching 300 meters, still transmitting clean audio. The crew completed the test without any issues, knowing exactly when the signal changed. “Seeing the drone reach close to 300 meters and still transmit clean audio was seriously impressive. We expected dropouts long before that point,” said the spotter.

Takeaways

For Tom Beeken, the LARK MAX 2 system transformed his approach to long-range drone videography. It allowed him to efficiently test the microphone’s range under real-world conditions, providing stable, low-latency transmission and flexible viewing for multiple departments.

The system’s reliability gave Tom the confidence to focus entirely on capturing the perfect shot, and the ability to monitor audio in real-time meant no wasted time or resources. The LARK MAX 2’s performance proved that it is an essential tool for outdoor shoots and long-range testing.

“Having both my commentary and the drone’s motor sound on separate channels made post-production analysis incredibly easy,” Tom explained. The split stereo channel feature simplified the task of pinpointing when any audio degradation occurred, saving significant time during editing.

The LARK MAX 2 enabled Tom to push the limits of drone videography without worrying about technical limitations, and its robust performance under tough conditions made it an invaluable part of his toolkit.