Saramonic has launched Blink Me, a new two-person wireless microphone system. The Blink Me system features customizable touchscreens and onboard recording.
Transmitters
The Saramonic Blink Me includes two circular microphone transmitters with built-in omnidirectional mics and touchscreens. The transmitters also feature an HD active noise-cancelation function. This delivers an ultra-low noise recording that focuses on the subject’s voice and eliminates background noise. In addition, the transmitters include digital gain control and muting and come with a furry windscreen. You can attach them to your subjects’ clothing with the included magnetic clips and mounts.
Onboard recording
The Blink Me transmitters have 8 GB of onboard memory, which you can use for internal recording. This is a great backup in case you experience any dropouts with your wireless signal. You can also choose between 16-bit/48 kHz recording for up to 22 hours or higher quality 48-bit/48 kHz, which reduces the record time to 15 hours. Internal recording does impact on battery life, however. The rechargeable battery in each transmitter unit will last approximately six hours with recording enabled or 8 hours with recording disabled.
Customizable OLED display
Saramonic’s Blink Me transmitters feature an OLED display which you can use to adjust the unit’s settings. You can also customize the wallpaper of the user interface via the Saramonic App. This means you can display your company’s logo, social media handle, web address, for example. However, the company also suggests you could show your art or even pictures of your loved ones and pets. In addition to customizing the screen of the transmitters, the Saramonic App allows you to change what the transmitters’ buttons do.
Dual receiver unit
The Blink Me system includes a patented camera-mountable touchscreen dual receiver. It incorporates a magnetic cold shoe mount so you can attach it to the top of your camera. You can also attach the receiver to a smartphone with the included tripod phone holder. In addition, you can magnetically attach the transmitters to the receiver to charge them between shots. The receiver has a touchscreen, so you can control the receiver’s settings as well as remotely adjust the transmitters’ settings.
External recording
The Saramonic Blink Me receiver features an autosensing 3.5mm output with a TRRS output cable. This means that you can plug it into any 3.5 mm device, and it will automatically detect if it is TRS or TRRS. It also features a stereo USB-C digital output. This means you can connect it to USB-C smartphones, tablets, and computers. In addition, the receiver has three output settings. In Mono mode, you can record the two transmitter mics as a mixed signal. Alternatively, in Stereo mode, the mics are individually recorded on the left and right audio tracks. Finally, Safety Mono mode mixes the mics to record a full signal on the left channel and a -6 dB safety track on the right.
What we think
Saramonic’s Blink Me wireless microphone system is competing with Rode’s Wireless GO II and the DJI Mic system. However, it is a little cheaper than both of those alternatives. In addition, the option to add a custom logo or wording to the transmitters is a nice feature. The ability to be able to charge the transmitters from the receiver between shots is also useful. If you are looking for a new two-person wireless mic system, the Saramonic Blink Me should be on your shortlist.
Pricing and availability
The Saramonic Blink Me 2-person Wireless Microphone System retails at $249. It is scheduled to be available in early May.
