Sony - ECMS1 Wireless Omnidirectional Streaming Microphone - Black

This is a great microphone for many uses. My favorite feature is how versatile it is where you can record directly to USB, wirelessly to a camera or wirelessly to your computer. The quality is outstanding both in hardware and sound. Pros: - Sound quality - Compact - Sturdy - Versatile connectivity - Ease of use - Both units use USB-C Cons: - Might need you to read the instructions initially Unboxing & first impressions: The packaging is your typical Sony Alpha box with orange and white design loaded with warranty info and cardboard. In the box you will find the microphone, a cloth case, the receiver, a pop guard and a stand. I was initially impressed by how sturdy the device feels. All buttons and knobs feel high quality. The design is great and matches any of your Sony Alpha equipment (not required). Be sure to charge the receiver and microphone after unboxing as my unit came without a charge. Use: My first test was a simple one with recording to my laptop via USB-C. Everything was plug and play and very easy to use. The sound quality was amazing compared to what I was previously used to, and the pop guard does its job. The first thing I was impressed by is the LED meter on the front of the microphone that goes from white to orange so you can better adjust your volume and gain, plus it just looks cool. I then connected the receiver to my a6500 camera. Some cameras will require the receiver to be in “analog” mode such as mine, but newer cameras or higher end ones will work with the “digital mode” which will give you less audio delay, less noise and 24-bit audio straight to your video. It worked great in analog mode and was immediately detected by my camera. This setup is best if you want the audio directly on your SD card in sync with the video Last, I connected the receiver to my laptop and wirelessly used the microphone, again all items work flawlessly with outstanding sound quality. This setup is extremely useful for interviews and podcasts if you want to edit the audio later. Other features: You can switch the directional mode of the camera, adjust low cut/noise cut, use a 3.5mm mic out, mute button, adjust gain, and even support CL3 plus codec. I haven’t used it enough to drain the battery yet but in my few hours of playing with it, it has not died yet, I would bring a battery brick with you if you planned some off-site recording though just to be safe as the battery is not swappable.

I recently had the opportunity to use the Sony ECM-S1 portable streaming microphone during an interview, and I was impressed with its performance. Design wise, it’s compact and lightweight which made it very easy to carry and set up. This was a major benefit for me because I was on-the-go for this interview. I can already tell this will be a huge advantage for me during my travels and live-streaming opportunities. I also think this can be great for someone that has an established podcast. I’ll cover some highlights on sound quality shortly, but you will be able to have your podcast “anywhere” because this is so travel friendly. One of the standout features of the ECM-S1 is its ability to provide clear, low-noise audio. During my interview, the microphone captured crisp and detailed sound. When I was going through the editing process, I noticed so many segments were clear! I conducted the interview outside (not ideal, I know), but I was so impressed that it truly reduced and limited the background noise. Words that I thought would be hard due to the wind or neighboring children’s playground, were actually there! It made my post-production process much smoother than I thought and saved me a lot of time. What I really liked is that the microphone offers both wireless and wired connections. I appreciated the Bluetooth 5.3 technology, which had a stable connection with no significant audio delay. I don’t think many people will notice, so kudos here. This helped maintain a natural flow in the conversation without any noticeable lag. Also, because it’s Bluetooth, you can connect it to your cell phone! I actually thought this was pretty cool. Another highlight is the three directional sound capture modes. It’s really easy to switch between Uni-directional, Omni-directional, and Stereo modes. This is great because it’ll allow me to depend on my interview and tailor the audio to fit the environment. I can say oh? It’ll be better in this specific environment and then choose the sound mode. This type of flexibility is perfect for both indoor and outdoor recordings. Pros: High-Quality Audio Bluetooth 5.3 USB Type-C for wired connections Directional Sound Capture - Three modes (Uni-directional, Omni-directional, Stereo) Noise Suppression Compact Lightweight Compatibility with multiple devices Felt travel case, but you’ll want to invest in something more protective for storage Cons: Price: Requires Additional Equipment Heavy use will make battery drain quickly Size of Microphone Capsules Overall, the Sony ECM-S1 portable streaming microphone is a high-performance unit that delivers fantastic quality. I think it’s a little pricey, but and not for a first timer. That being said, it’s fairly easy to use. It does come with some advanced features that make this microphone perfect for traveling and conducting interviews on the go. I think it’s great for anyone that wants to make recordings or does live-streaming on social media or your website.

The Sony ECMS1 Wireless Mic is a great streaming microphone that also offers the flexibility of being wire free. The Mic comes with a detachable pop guard, a wireless linking device also called the Multi Interface shoe (MI), and a detachable stand. Both the mic and the MI can be charged using a USB-C cable (not included). The base mic has a good build quality, and is solid and sturdy. The same can’t be said about the stand though. The mic attaches to the stand with a flimsy magnetic clip, and when attached the mic can be tilted back and forward. The problem is, the clips on at the bottom of the mic detaches way too easy, especially when trying to tilt it forward or back. Luckily the mic can be mounted to a swing arm. CONNECTIVITY: The Sony ECMS1 can be used with many devices wirelessly, as long as you have a USB-C input on your device. Otherwise, you will need to use a 3.5mm mini audio jack plugged into the MI. Unfortunately the actual MI shoe adapter part is only compatible with a couple of Sony’s camera’s. This wasn’t an issue for me, as I use my mic stationary and just connect the link to my PC using a USB-C cable, while using the mic wirelessly. SOUND QUALITY: This is where the ECMS1 really shines…The sound quality on this mic is outstanding. There are 3 positioned microphones housed inside base - all angled to pic up different sound positions. The mic has 3 different recording settings depending on how you want to pick up sound, omni, uni and stereo. These modes can easily be toggled with a switch located on the back of the mic. The mic also features 2 different noise suppressing modes, digital noise cut feature that removes background noise, and a low cut mode that removes wind, vibration etc. When I tried out the NC mode, it did work, but the mic still picked up background voices. I did notice a big difference while using the LC mode, the sound quality came in much clearer and more amplified - making my recordings sound professional. CONCLUSION: Overall, I am very pleased the the sound quality of the Sony wireless streaming mic. It really enhances the sound quality of my videos and voice overs. I would have liked to see Sony make the MI shoe adapter compatible with some of there older cameras instead of having to use a 3.5mm mini jack with my camera, but at least they give you the option to use an alternative. That being said, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to buy a streaming mic. PROS: Great sound quality Wireless Swing arm mountable Multiple recording options CONS: Stand comes off too easy Lack of compatibility with the MI No cables included

Sony’s ECM-S1 microphone is a solid choice for streamers, content creators and group conversations thanks to its good sound quality and versatility. Its compact size and wireless capability make it convenient for various situations, such as outdoor settings or when mobility is essential. The microphone does a decent job in capturing clear audio with minimal background noise, making it perfect for casual interviews and semi-professional use. Standing at barely 5 inches on its base, the microphone is very light but the all plastic body seems to be well put together and has a feel of good quality. It consists of three strategically placed microphone capsules to capture the sound from all directions. It runs wirelessly by connecting via Bluetooth to a small receiver or you can connect it directly to your computer, phone or tablet through usb-c. It has three directional modes: unidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo, and two filters: low cut and noise cut that are quite effective depending on the environment. For the sound, it has a traditional gain control knob and a second knob for the headphone or pc sound control. An LED meter runs vertically on one side and a mute button is also present. At the bottom, a 3.5 mm MIC out lets you connect headphones or even a speaker. I mostly use it at work for group discussions as it is placed in the middle of the conference table on omnidirectional and noise cut modes while five of us are having our daily conference calls with other offices. The calls usually last up to 2 hours and the microphone performs flawlessly. It is connected wirelessly to my laptop through the receiver and I haven’t experienced any dropouts. I have used it once directly connected to the laptop when the receiver was not present. A pop guard is also provided to filter out noise but it’s never been used in the office environment. The battery performs well. Sony claims up to 13 hours but I always charge it after 4 hours of use. I’ve used it at home as well in unidirectional mode and with the low cut filter that greatly reduces the sound of my air conditioner. Overall, the Sony ECM-S1 is a solid performer. Not as sophisticated as more professional models, it’s easy to set up and use, with no complicated software required. It’s compatible with a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets and cameras. Whether you're a live streamer, podcaster, vlogger, or you simply do group discussions, the ECM-S1 is a useful tool that delivers clear voice recordings at home, at the office or on the go.

This is one of the most simple ways to put a high quality audio on my videos. It is so simple, I don’t even know why I am only aware of this today, and why this product only came up now for me. It is excellent. Setup and Installation The box had only four items in there—the mic itself, the hotshoe adapter, the pop filter and the mic stand. There are no wires, but it has the USB-C ports on both for both mic and adapter, and these are pretty standard nowadays. The Mic stand slips into place under the mic and the pop filter snaps right in front. The hotshoe slides right into my Sony a6000 hotshoe bed. Both mic and adapter still had battery so there does not seem to be a n eed to charge. Plus, the adapter seems to take energy from the camera. Once I turned them both on, adapter slid to digital and the mic with the power button, the mic flashes this blinking light and the blue light becomes steady when it has paired. This tells me I’m ready—except that there is a warning notice on my screen. It says: “This accessory is not supported..” and that I have to verify its compatibility. I ignored it anyway and started shooting. Audio was being picked up perfectly, so I am not sure what that notice was. So far, so good. Using the mic The mic sat nicely on top of my desk. Even if I record it within the frame, the design of the microphone is beautiful. The mic pick up was very clear and sensitive that I can even shoot with it not being in the frame. I have another set up where my camera is on a tripod about 20 feet away because I use a basic 18-105mm lens that gives nice bokeh on that distance. This mic sits perfectly in front of the subject and picks up audio nicely. This makes me have multiple set ups, camera near or far, as long as the mic is by the subject—or even a little farther, it works well. Design Like I mentioned, I place this sometimes on my desk, and the mic is nicely sculptured that I want it seen in the frame. The Pop filter looks good with it too, however, it does not seem to add much function. The “puh” reduction is not too good. There are also settings on the mic where I can use it to pick up only certain areas, like only front, or around. And the light in front helps see my levels, with the dial conveniently situated at the side. The mute button is great as well—with an easily recognizable light to know if I am recording. Noice filters are placed at the back, and alongside the USB C port, where I can charge the mic or connect it directly to my PC, is a headphone jack which is great if I want to use a monitor to hear my audio level output. Output The output quality is very clear—definitely much clearer than my default camera mic. And this output has a quality edge over my pro phone recordings. The recorded audio is crisp and very clearly captures direct speaking audio even with background noise—any noise of course I can filter out. But overall, there is a huge advantage over this dedicated mic. I love this microphone and I am glad Sony introduced this accessory. I am recommending it to my videographer buddies!