AnkerWork M650 Deep Dive
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: People will watch a video with poor video quality, but the moment the audio is terrible then they’re gone. It’s incredibly important that you get clean audio when telling your stories, making sure you do everything you can to keep the focus on the story. Today we’re going to dive deep into the AnkerWork M650 and explore exactly how to use in the field!
Hardware
I first tested out the AnkerWork when they sent it to me to beta test, and I ended up featuring it in my “ultimate smartphone mic matchup.” I noted in that video that I’d be sending my beta units to be updated with the newest firmware, and I’ve finally gotten them back. Overall the functionality only seems to be better, but let’s dive into the features first.
The AnkerWork M650 follows the lead of one of the other standouts in this category, the DJI Mic, by including a charging case and a receiver that mounts directly to your phone. The case keeps all of your main accessories organized and charged, and includes both a lighting and USBC connection for the receiver. You can also use the USB-C connection to connect your mic directly to a computer if you’d rather use these mics on your next conference call.
Both microphones allow for internal recording in addition to the audio recorded to your camera. AnkerWork advertises that these recordings are completely uncompressed, allowing for cleaner onboard recordings and more latitude when you take the audio back to edit. You’ll get 7 hours of uncompressed record time on each microphone. The AnkerWork M650 also includes three levels of noise reduction so that you can pull out a clean sound even in less than ideal situations. The included AnkerWork software allows you to manage the onboard recordings, customize functions, as well as adjust the equalizer and other sound related settings, though this is the one feature I still can’t test. AnkerWork advised me to not use the software with these units, as they’re still technically running a separate firmware from the shipping units, though feature wise it’s supposed to match up.
The receiver includes a beautiful touchscreen to adjust settings as well as live monitor your audio and recording status. You can also plug in a set of headphones directly into the receiver so you can listen to the audio and make sure you’re happy with the quality. Battery life on the M650 clocks in at 6 hours per unit, or 15 if you use the included charging case. The range is up to 656ft, so you’ve got a decent range.
You can use other microphones with the AnkerWork M650s, but there’s no locking mechanism to prevent the mic from coming unplugged. The M650 transmitters include covers that allow you to change the color so you can match it to your clothing. The M650 retails for $249 and includes the full kit - two microphones, a receiver, the needed connections as well as the charging case.
Software
One of the best features of the AnkerWork M650 is the software layout and ease of use. Thanks to the touchscreen on the receiver, everything is just a swipe away. On the main screen, you’ve got a quick view of all of the information you need while rolling. You’ll see live meters, gain level, connection strength, as well as battery level for each of your transmitters. On the top bar, you see the settings specific to the receiver. The first icon shows if you have noise cancelation enabled, while the second shows if you are in stereo or mono mode. Finally, you’ll see the battery level for the receiver itself.
If you swipe down from the top of the screen, you can adjust the receiver’s settings. This includes three levels of noise reduction, stereo or mono recording, safe mode, and the AUX levels. Safe mode allows you to record a second audio channel on the receiver at -6db from your main recording, allowing you a bit of a safety net if there are any sudden loud noises.
If you swipe left to right you’ll find yourself controlling settings for transmitter 1, while right to left adjusts transmitter 2. In this panel, you can mute the transmitter, toggle recording, adjust your gain from -15db to +15db, as well as review the remaining storage and number of files recorded. When it comes to gain level, you’ll want to adjust that to the voice of the person wearing the mic as well as the optimal sound in your phone. A soft spoken person may need a higher gain while someone with a booming voice may need to remove some of the gain to prevent clipping.
Finally, if you swipe up from the bottom on the main screen then you can control both transmitters simultaneously. This panel allows you to toggle recording as well as mute/unmute both transmitters simultaneously.
One other nice feature of the receiver is that if you don’t touch it for a bit, it automatically locks while still keeping the screen active. This allows you to set your settings exactly where you’d like them without worrying that you may bump them while recording. To unlock it, you just push the button on the side of the receiver. You can also lock it by repeating this same action.
When it comes time to offload your recordings, you just place each transmitter in the case and then connect the case to your computer via USB-C. Each transmitter will show up as an external drive, so you can just drag/drop your audio files to your hard drive. Alternatively, the AnkerWork software allows you to adjust the transmitters and receivers further as well as manage your recordings.
Usage
When it comes to using the AnkerWork M650 in the field, it couldn’t be easier. If you want to use them on a computer, just connect the USB-C connector to the receiver and then plug it into your computer. The AnkerWork M650 will then show up as a microphone in your system, which you can choose to use in your video chatting application.
That’s cool and all, but this is Smartphone Storytellers. How do you use it with a Smartphone? It couldn’t be easier. First, connect the required connection to the bottom of the receiver. USB-C for Android, Lightning for Apple. Then, just open up your video recording application and roll! If the application you use allows you to select your microphone, make sure to select the correct microphone, but at least in the iPhone’s native application it automatically uses the audio from the AnkerWork M650.
One thing to note is that if you are using the AnkerWork with your iPhone, you cannot record in stereo mode. The receiver will default to mono, recording both transmitters to a single channel. If you are running records on the receiver in addition to your phone, you will still have individual recordings from each transmitter.
Speaking of receiver recordings, you have a few ways to use these microphones. The first, and easiest, is to just plug them in and roll record on the phone. This gives you audio embedded into your videoclips, and you know that everytime you hit record you have your audio. This isn’t using one of the best fallbacks of the AnkerWork M650, though. Wireless audio, no matter how high end the gear is, can still have issues with signal interference. Airwaves only keep getting more and more crowded, so there’s always the possibility that your connection between the transmitter and receiver can be interrupted. If you lose signal, there’s nothing you can do to recover the lost sound. That is, unless you run recordings directly to the transmitters via the receiver’s control. This creates local recordings on each transmitter, giving you wave files that you can download later and sync up in your editor. It’s an extra step, but it gives you a piece of mind knowing that there’s a backup if any issues arise.
On the transmitter side, you’ve got a few options as to how you want to utilize it. The easiest is to just use the clip to place it on the lapel of the person speaking. You always want to get your microphone as close to the audio source as possible, so this is where I tend to place my microphone. The closer it is to the audio source, the less the microphone needs to work in order to cut out background sounds. Another option is to use the magnetic back of the transmitter to place it a bit lower on the shirt and potentially in a less obtrusive location. The clip on the back of the transmitter actually connects via magnet, so you can place that portion inside the shirt in order to put the transmitter wherever you’d like. Finally, if you happen to own a lapel microphone that you like, you can connect that directly to the transmitter and place the transmitter in a pocket and use the lapel.
Usage Example
Gain Levels
Noise Reduction
Recording to Phone
Transmitter Recording
The AnkerWork M650 is not without it’s flaws, but it’s a very solid option for anyone looking for a wireless audio system to use with their Smartphone, camera, or computer. Ultimately, it’s just another tool that helps you to keep the focus on your story and keep people focused on the journey that you’re taking them on. No matter what, though, don’t let the gear hold you back when telling your stories. Save up for great gear, sure, but make sure you’re still telling stories and building your skills. The only way to get better is to practice. And remember, it’s ultimately not about the gear, it’s about the story!
