Pixel UHF Review | Musician Nerd
Updated on Mar 16, 2022
Table of Contents
The Pixel UHF Wireless Lavalier Microphone System is a microphone system we've recently got our hands-on. It's another microphone released by Pixel, and we cannot wait to tell you all about it. Our team at Musician Nerd has done a lot of work with Wireless Microphone, and love finding more options targetted towards lavalier microphones like this one.
Pixel UHF Wireless Microphone Kit
Pixel develops an assortment of perfect products for lifestyle businesses, whether you're recording TikTok or live streams. Beyond just microphones, they offer lighting equipment, tripods, and much more. Their latest UHF system fits right in with their niche, allowing you to keep a discrete Lavalier Microphone on your clothing while connecting wirelessly to the receiver attached to your camera or smart device. We'll talk more about device compatibility later.
What we're going to be looking for in this review is not just how well the UHF Wireless Lavalier Microphone System performs, but how it compares to others in the same price range. Sound quality, wireless connectivity, ease-of-use, and price all play an important factor in our determinations. So let's get into it!
Why It's Great
There are a few notable features about the Pixel UHF that we will cover in this section. Let's start by talking about the wireless transmitter. The transmitter uses a smart-select frequency by default, which prevents your audio from picking up any interference. I tested the system at my local football field and found the microphones were connecting flawlessly, even as I went way beyond the length of the area. There was absolutely no latency or static noise throughout the entire testing period.
Woman Wearing Pixel UHF Microphone
The microphones (receivers) hold a charge for 8 hours. We tested this out for ourselves, and this statement has true. The transmitter only lasts 4 hours, however. That being said, both the microphones and transmitter charged up within a few hours, and we didn't have an issue with battery life throughout our testing period.
Something else notable about the wireless system is the real-time monitoring capability & background music input function. For most filming projects, I add background music after-the-fact, however in this day and age where many young people are recording TikToks, it's a great feature to be able to connect the TikTok sounds into your recording.
Of course, one of the essential features to talk about is the quality of those microphones (receivers). A robust wireless system is only as good as the microphones connected to it, right? For the most part, I was impressed with the audio quality. I've worked with a good amount of lavaliers, and these receivers sound good.
The Pixel UHF offers five voice output modes, which are "Original," "Noise Reduction," "Female-Voice Beautified," "Male-Voice Beautified," and "Children-Voice Beautified." Now I may be a bit traditional, but I prefer the original and noise reduction. The Male Voice feature gives a more polished effect, but I like editing audio in post-production. However, I believe that many people will make great use of the Male/Female-Voice Beautified if you're not looking to invest time into editing your audio.
The audio depth is tailored for vocal use. It sounded better than other lavs that I've worked with and leagues ahead of camera/phone/laptop microphones. You can tell the sound has a wide-range Frequency Response, as the audio stays consistent across the highs and lows.
Pixel UHF Compatibility Chart
The last thing I'll touch upon is the compatibility of the device. The first thing I noticed when unboxing this microphone system was the variety of cables. To start off we have the TRS cable, which can connect to your DSLR devices. This is great for anyone working on a film project, as you can mount the wireless transmitter to your camera and plugin. You'll also be able to connect a 1/4" adapter so that you could connect to a soundboard or field recorder for filming.
Lastly, you'll have the option to use their TRRS cable to connect to smartphones, tablets, and laptops (other adapters may be necessary). I used my phone for a lot of the testing, which is great for those filming videos with their phone.
Their are a lot of great features going for the Pixel UHF. Not only does it have a versatile range of uses (which we'll discuss in the next section), but even the compatibility for the device is versatile. You should have no trouble at all getting set up with the Pixel UHF no matter what you're working on.
What It's Good For
The Pixel UHF is a versatile microphone system; however, it's best for at-home lifestyle businesses, including but not limited to YouTube videos, TikTok, one-on-one interviews, live streams, and more. Technically, from a functional standpoint, this system could be used for more, such as filming projects and live speaking, although there are some limitations that we'll touch upon in our "Downsides" section of this review.
Recording Video With Pixel UHF
The microphone system works at a distance between 100 and 200 meters, so you're not limited on how far you go with your microphones. For a lavalier system, this is a perfect distance. Thanks to the beautiful design of the microphones and lack of cables, you'll be able to record videos at home without your audio setup sticking out. It looks pretty natural whether it's sitting on a table or clipped to your clothes.
Better yet is the fact that the Pixel UHF includes TWO microphones. If you're recording more than one audio target, it's great to have a system that maintains two audio channels without having to pay for a second microphone. If you only need one, you'll have the advantage of swapping them out should one of them run out of battery.
While it wouldn't be my first choice for someone recording live streams, it may still serve a purpose there. If you're walking around a lot during your live stream, you can keep your audio with you as you go. This logic would apply to recording videos as well. For the average person who's recording in a single spot, there are better microphones for your money. Still, the versatility of the Pixel UHF will give you the advantage of being able to move around or work with a second person.
The Downsides
The primary downside with the Pixel UHF would be the poor capabilities of the noise reduction setting. Noise can be a common issue with some lavaliers, as they're typically omnidirectional and prone to picking up your surroundings. While testing outside, I repurposed a windscreen from another lavalier I own. While it worked okay, the fit wasn't perfect. This issue mainly applies to those working in noisy environments, whether inside or out. If you have a good spot for recording, you will be fine.
On top of that, I did find the microphones to be slightly worse with handling noises compared to other lavaliers. I think this is mainly due to the size of the microphones themselves, but it can be mitigated by properly attaching them to the right spot of your attire. This isn't a deal-breaker for me, and if you aren't even planning to wear it (for example, you might set it down on your table), then it doesn't apply to you. Even if you clip it to your person, take your time finding the perfect placement.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good Price
- Good Transmitter Quality
- Highly Compatible / Accessories
- Storage Case
Cons
- Mediocre Noise Reduction / Handling Noises
Best Used For
- Video Audio
Summary
The Pixel UHF Wireless Lavalier Microphone System has a lot of upsides that make it worth buying, in our opinion. It's not perfect by any means but has a lot of value for what it is. The wireless capabilities work wonderfully, and coming with two great-looking lavaliers all at this price point is very impressive. Of course, there are some downsides to the microphone quality that you wouldn't hope for at this price, but it's important to remember that wireless functionality plays a big part in the cost.
If you can ignore the few cons, which don't even apply to everyone, then you're left with two great-sounding microphones and a receiver that works at a great distance. Whether you're recording videos or managing interviews, there's a lot of value you can get here.
Let us know in the comments below what you think! Are you going to try out this new product from Pixel? If so, let us know your feedback. Happy recording!
Posted on Dec 28, 2021
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