JOBY Wavo – New Ultra-Lightweight Vlogger Mic Announced

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by Mark ZdunnekFebruary 29^th, 2020

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A new announcement comes from within the Vitec Group: The new JOBY Wavo, a mic for Vloggers. This ultra-lightweight microphone (40g/1.4 oz), with compact dimensions of (HxD) 9.3cm x 7.1cm (3.6 x 2.8in) just entered the stage on February 29th and is available now. It comes with a one year warranty, has a frequency response from 35Hz-20kHz, and a 78db SPL Signal to Noise Ratio. The Wavo is supposed to reach Consumers, Mobile Creators, Podcasters, Vloggers and should combine well with mobile phones (like the Apple iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max), legacy DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras.

JOBY Wavo with GorillaPod flexible mount (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY)

JOBY Environment – Family & Pairing

The Wavo (JB01675-BWW) Super-Cardioid polar pattern mic forms a new product family together with the Wavo Mobile (JB01643-BWW) Cardioid mic.

There are various available pairing options with pod, rig and stand solutions that JOBY has to offer already. These include the GorillaPod Mobile Rig (JB01533-BWW), the GripTight PRO Telepod (JB01534-BWW) and every other product with a Cold Shoe attachment. It also comes with a 1/4 20 mount for direct attachment to audio stands. With two cables, TRS (Camera) and TRRS (Mobile) already in the package, the Wavo offers multi-device support, unlike some of its competition that sometimes only ships with one of these solutions.

JOBY Wavo (JB01675-BWW) with family and pairing options (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY)

JOBY Wavo – Isolation, Materials and Directionality

The Wavo consists of the materials Hytrel®, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PU (Polyurethane). The ABS body provides the product with durability. The Hytrel® Double Point Duo-Lyre® is a concept by a team within Rycote. Like Joby, Rycote is also a member of the Vitec Group and provided the product with this engineered design to isolate or diminish unintended vibrations or shakes. This Hytrel® Thermoplastic Elastomer thereby detaches the microphone a little bit from the camera or support that holds it, which would otherwise straightly transfer movement, handling noise or vibrations to the mic. For extended ambient noise reduction, a foam windshield that helps to reduce distractions and get a more precise reproduction of the voice is in the package as well. (By The Way, if you recognise this microphone shock observer part from Rode microphones, it is worth mentioning that Rycote is the one holding the patent for it and Rode is the one to licence using it).

Some of the main aspects when using such microphones as a vlogger are its unidirectional and shock-isolated characteristics. Such a mic empowers the user not to rely on often spherical sound and potentially lower-quality in-built microphones that ordinarily capture more surrounding distractions and ultimately noise or irrelevant audio. It is principally aimed at focusing and isolating the vlogger’s voice from the crowd.

JOBY Wavo attached to a headlight on Sony A7II (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY)

JOBY Wavo – Pricing & Availability

The Wavo is available now has a price tag of $79.95, alongside the cheaper Wavo Mobile at $39.95 and offers substantial shock isolation as well as a tiny and portable size. JOBY thereby wants to compete with the already small and versatile RØDE VideoMic GO (73g; H 7.9cm x W 7.3cm x D 16.7cm; shipping for 65 EUR) and argues that the new Wavo is smaller and more compact in relation. The flexibility for interchangeable use within a wide range of JOBY products makes this product a viable solution for day-to-day vlogging in the entry-level arena.

JOBY Wavo DSLR & mobile phone setup with headlight (Credits: Vitec Group / JOBY)

What are your first impressions of the new JOBY Wavo? What are the types of projects you would use such a microphone in? Is this a product that would meet your expectations or professional standards?