Apart from offering some of the best microphones for studio and field recording in its professional division, Sony also frequently updates its microphones for consumer and content creation applications in its Sony Electronics range.
The Sony ECM-S1 microphone enables closer sound pickup with a wireless receiver for in-camera audio recording, and the ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S wireless combos allow for a wide range of shooting scenarios. The ECM-W3 has a two-channel receiver and two microphones and the ECM-W3S has a one-channel receiver and one microphone. All are designed for video content creators who work in a wide range of shooting scenarios such as Vlogs and interviews, easily recording high-quality voices even when shooting away from the camera.
The new Sony ECM-S1 microphone resembles the classic condenser microphones in a more compact format that is also ready to be used on a desktop. The compact and lightweight microphone is equipped with three large-diameter capsules (14mm), delivering uni-directional, omnidirectional and stereo capture, with a response that Sony says was optimized to capture human voice. While the microphone was designed for high sensitivity and wide frequency characteristics with intrinsic low noise levels to be able to record any type of sounds, Sony says that by tuning it to record human voices clearly, the ECM-S1 delivers unique effective results for voice streaming applications. With those applications in mind, the ECM-S1 also includes a pop guard to reduce plosive noises.
Audio can be recorded directly to the camera via a wireless Bluetooth connection using the included dedicated receiver that attaches directly to a Multi-Interface camera shoe, avoiding the lag that sometimes occurs when sound and video are input separately during live streaming. At the same time, both the Sony ECM-S1 and the receiver are ready to connect directly to cameras, computers, and smartphones via USB-C and there are also analog jack outputs from both the microphone and receiver.
The ECM-S1 wireless/streaming microphone includes analog filters to tune the response and eliminate environmental noises, complemented with built-in DSP noise reduction. The microphone is equipped with an independent dial that adjusts the sound recording level, while checking the audio input level in real time with the indicator lamps. The built-in LINK lamp indicates the communication status between the microphone and receiver to prevent any missed recording.
The microphone transmits audio wirelessly to the receiver using Bluetooth 5.3 encoded in LC3plus to deliver low power consumption, low latency, and high sound quality. When recording via USB, the user can monitor the sound source on the headphone output with adjustable volume, and also adjust the audio mixing ratio between the input volume level of the audio from the microphone and that of the audio from the computer or smartphone.
The ECM-S1 and receiver each have a built-in battery for extended use. The receiver can also be used continuously with the support of direct power supply when connected to the camera's MI Shoe or a USB-C cable. The microphone can be used continuously for up to 13 hours when the battery is fully charged.
Sony ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S
The Sony ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S receiver and microphones are very compact units optimized for interviews and are equipped with both a low frequency filter and a DSP noise reduction process to eliminate problems with wind, air conditioning, and vibration noise. The included windscreen helps reduce the noise at the source and works together with the audio filters to avoid less need for noise removal processing during post-production. The ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S are also equipped with a safety function that suppresses sound distortion at high volumes, and an attenuator function that manually reduces the sound during high-volume recording.
Apart from supporting digital recording to the camera through the MI Shoe connection, power is also supplied directly from the camera to the receiver. The ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S receivers are equipped with a USB Type-C interface that makes it possible to output digital audio (24-bit/48kHz) to any USB-connected smartphone or PC. The microphones also have a 3.5mm mini jack (stereo) audio output to ensure recording with other devices, and have a 3.5mm mini jack (mono) which can be used as an external microphone input, such as a lavalier microphone. The rechargeable microphones can be used continuously for up to six hours on a full charge. Both the microphones and receivers are designed to be dust-proof and moisture resistant, while a lightweight charging case makes it possible to charge even while on the move.
The ECM-S1 wireless microphone ($419.99 USD) will be available in October 2023, while the ECM-W3 ($349.99 USD) and ECM-W3S ($469.99 USD) wireless microphones will follow in November 2023.
www.sony.com
