Sony has always been famous for its audio devices; it has produced many high-quality on-camera and studio microphones for solving both amateur and professional problems. Today, the company’s arsenal has been replenished with two new products – the ECM-W3 radio system and the ECM-S1 wireless desktop microphone have been introduced .
Everyone who follows my articles about microphones and radio systems remembers very well various jokes about the oversaturation of the market with inexpensive, functional and at the same time similar sets with two transmitters and one receiver, as well as the fact that these same jokes have long since ended, and I don’t want to laugh anymore. There are leaders on the market – RØDE, DJI and Hollyland, about 20 Chinese companies are following on their heels, if not more, and each has its own set of similar microphones. Sony cares very little about this fact – Sony simply takes it and releases its own version. Your own, under the Sony brand, for Sony cameras and more. This confidence is worth a lot, figuratively and literally – $469! It is very interesting to understand the power of such confidence.
Wireless microphone system ECM-W3
The set of wireless microphones comes in two versions, both with two transmitters and one receiver, and “solo” – with only one transmitter.
Connection occurs via Bluetooth 5.3 using the LC3plus codec. There is a noise filter and a 3-stage volume control on board. The transmitter has a built-in microphone; you can connect an external lavalier using a 3.5 mm plug. A special feature of the system is the fact that the receiver is mounted on the multi-interface “hot shoe” connector of the Sony camera, and, of course, works wirelessly, transmitting the digitized signal directly to the camera. To work with cameras from other manufacturers, the receiver can be connected using a regular 3.5 mm analog audio cable.
There is a USB-C port for audio transmission, so there is a 48 kHz 24-bit signal digitizer inside the receiver. For plein air work, furry windbreaks are provided. The dimensions of the transmitters are 25 x 53 x 21 mm, weight 17 g. The declared range is 150 m in line of sight, while Sony promises minimal signal delay.
Charging occurs using a special charging case or via the USB-C port, battery life is 6 hours. When installed on the multi-interface hot shoe of Sony cameras, the receiver will be powered by the camera’s battery.
Radio system kit
What about the prices?
The price for the solo set is $349, the double set is $469. It would be very interesting to work with a similar device and find out whether it makes sense to overpay, and what are the advantages of the Sony device over the same RØDE Wireless PRO kit , which offers significantly more advanced functionality and costs much less. Is it really just a matter of connecting to a Sony camera via a shoe without a wire?
Presentation of the ECM-W3 radio system
ECM-S1 Wireless Table Microphone
ECM-S1 Wireless Table Microphone
The ECM-S1 wireless microphone can be called a desktop USB device for recording blogs, podcasts, and streaming. The microphone connects using Bluetooth 5.3 and consists of the microphone itself and the receiver. Of course, the receiver can be installed either on the multi-interface connector of Sony cameras or connected to a computer via USB-C. You can also connect the receiver using a 3.5 mm analog cable; digital-to-analog switching occurs using a switch on the receiver body. The microphone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
ECM-S1 Wireless Table Microphone
The microphone is built on the basis of 3 capsules measuring 14 mm, so it offers three polar patterns to choose from – omnidirectional, cardioid and stereo. The set includes a pop filter in the form of a mesh. Among the adjustments, there is a low-pass filter and a noise reduction system, which is activated by a lever, and there is also a volume control knob.
The wireless range is 150 m. The microphone has a stand on a table and a 1/4″ thread for installation on brackets or pantographs. The microphone is powered by a built-in battery, operating time is 13 hours, can be charged while working via USB-C. The receiver is capable of operating 3 hours from the built-in battery and is able to be charged from the camera battery through the “hot shoe”, while simultaneously transmitting a signal.
ECM-S1 Microphone Kit
What about the prices?
The ECM-S1 wireless desktop microphone costs $419. In essence, we have a fairly functional USB microphone with the ability to connect over the air, as well as with the option of connecting to the hot shoe of modern Sony cameras.
Presentation of the ECM-S1 microphone
As a cinematographer who constantly works with Sony sound and cameras, I can say that I personally would find it very useful. Namely – extensibility. I mean, it would be really cool to be able to connect one, two, three or more transmitters like that, and still add the same desktop microphone into the setup, and mix it all together in different ways. Let’s say, within 4 channels, for example, a gun, a couple of lavaliers, one table microphone. And all this without wires, including sending a mix of 4 channels to the camera through the “shoe” into one receiver. Only yesterday, during the filming of an interview, such functionality would have helped me out, but I can immediately name 5-6 options for application in real practice.
This would be a real competitive breakthrough for Sony, such functionality would immediately cancel out all other radio systems combined, as it would give owners of modern Sony cameras amazing flexibility on site and the point of buying such expensive equipment!
Without such scaling, these both devices, to be honest, look like expensive toys for fans of the brand, nothing more.
