Product Reviews

I just received it last week and tried it out. Great audio quality! I'm very happy with my purchase.

This microphone has been a great addition to my work from home setup. Installing was as simple as plugging it in to a USB port on my PC and making it the default mic. The only trouble had I at first was remembering to turn it on to start using it, but otherwise it was extremely straightforward. The volume adjustment knobs for both the input and output on the side are a great feature to quickly change levels without having to worry about changing anything in the volume settings on my PC. However, my favorite feature is the lights on the front of the mic that display a live level feedback, so you know just by looking if the mic is on and working properly. It's a great feature that I haven't really seen in any other desktop mics I've used. The wireless capability is great as well. Being able to seamlessly go from a wired connection to a PC to a wireless connection to a camera is incredibly useful. I was also astounded by how lightweight this mic is. For the amount of features packed in and the sound quality, it is extremely light and portable. It's certainly designed to be a desktop mic, but it could very easily be packed in a bag and give you professional audio on the go. While the price is a little steep, for someone wanting very professional sound and a great list of features in a light and portable package, I think this mic is hard to beat!

This microphone has such a smart design, it's probably one of the most versatile mics out there. - If you're a streamer, you can attach the receiver to your Sony camera with zero wires and have a wireless mic with an all-day battery life that you can place anywhere. Even outdoors. No wires, no setup time. - If you spend a lot of time on Zoom calls, this is the mic to get. Your voice will be crisp, clear and professional sounding with zero effort. I use it attached to the Sony FX30 camera that I use as my webcam. That makes it wireless and very easy to position. You can also connect it to a computer via USB-C. - I also used it as a backup mic on a video shoot. I had interviewees wear lavalier mics and I could hide this wireless mic on a table to have an extra sound channel recorded. You can never be too careful when it comes to recording sound. The design is very elegant and smart. It looks impressive and well built, but also unintrusive when in shot. Depending on use case, you can switch between three modes. - Directional single person mic that reduces ambient sound and focuses on the voice. - Directional two person mic that records left and right channel separately (or a stereo mic). - Omnidirectional mic to record room sound coming from all directions. This is also useful when recording people at a round table all around the mic. It has a noise canceling function and internal automatic gain and dynamics processing which makes it sound excellent out of the box with no need for any extra filtering or plugins. It even comes with a physical pop filter you can attach to it. The wireless connection is very reliable, even in spaces with many BT and Wi-Fi devices. Sony makes high end studio mics and this is not the mic to get if you need something that will be a part of a multi-thousand dollar studio setup. And even then it might be useful for situations where you need a wireless device. But for everyone else, this is the perfect all-in-one mic.

What’s in the Box: - Receiver without bottom hotshoe plastic cover weight .87oz or 24.7g - Receiver with bottom hotshoe plastic cover weight 1.04oz or 29.6g - Microphone w/stand weight 5.48oz or 155.4g - height is just over 5.25” - Microphone by itself weight 3.51oz or 99.6oz - Mic w/pop guard and stand weight 6.13oz or 173.7g - height is 5.75” - Mic with pop guard but no stand weight 4.15 oz or 117.7g - Pop guard weight .64oz or 18.3g - height by itself is 2.5” - Black pouch .42oz or 11.8g - Everything together weight 7.58 oz or 215g - Printed documentation - for the manual, you must scan a QR code. Pros: Setup is super easy. Even a novice can figure it out. The microphone offers three sound capture modes: Uni-directional (top), Omni-directional (middle - full circle), and Stereo (bottom - two circles). A side switch allows the user to choose the ideal directivity based on the scene or application. This is fully wireless and truly cableless. It can be used either as a stand alone USB mic or the receiver can be used in connection with USB. The microphone and receiver have a USB Type-C port that lets them send digital sound to different devices. This makes it easy to use for filming and streaming with different types of connections. A digital noise cut filter eliminates persistent background noise, while a low cut filter on the microphone reduces unwanted low-frequency sounds. The abbreviations on the back are NC for Noise Cut and LC for Low Cut. A pop guard is included to eliminate the distracting popping sounds caused by vocal plosives when the microphone is positioned close to the speaker's mouth. This is easily removed if you don’t want to use it. On the receiver hotshoe cover, there is a screw hole for tripod attachment (1/4 in. in diameter) An independent audio dial allows real-time adjustment of the audio input level with the upper dial. The receiver is very lightweight and has a bottom cover, when it is not in use on a digital camera. The entire setup is very portable. This might be a con for some, if you like a heavy duty or more robust/solid mic, but being able to put it in a backpack or sling pack to go on a mobile shoot is convenient. The microphone and receiver have a USB Type-C port that lets them send digital sound to different devices. This makes it easy to use for filming and streaming with different types of connections. I used the mic for some online meetings and it was really fantastic. I recorded a handful of videos while testing this and got about 7 feet away from the mic, and the audio was still very clear. Cons: No real user manual. You have to scan a QR code which opens to a website and you read about the product there. Some people really dislike change and prefer real manuals. I am also not sure if Sony could make this process easier by putting the QR code on the box or maybe the QR codes are different based on language and region. The included stand that comes with this microphone, it is small, so if you are doing interviews or recording very important things that you need to isolate one voice, you might need to stand it on a box or use a mini tripod. Sony does state that you can attach the microphone to the included stand or there is a 1/4" thread on the bottom of the microphone, it can be used to mount the microphone on a tripod, or a conversion adaptor can be used to attach the microphone to a boom arm. The pop guard is made of plastic. I did not have any trouble attaching it to the mic, but I could see that over time, this could be a weak point as plastic breaks. Price point is a con. At full MSRP, people may shy away from this, especially if they are just getting into broadcasting, recording and streaming or they just don't have the ability to buy it. The sound quality is rather amazing, and being cableless/wireless is an added bonus, but some people don't mind cables - especially if it can save you some money. Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes. I have friends that record Podcasts and do YouTube live-streaming and this would be a product that I would recommend to them, if they were in the market for a new wireless mic.

As a multi-camera user, with everything from my A7III through to my FX6, The Sony ECM-S1 is a great compliment to my system and the right tool for the job when I am not working with lavaliers. It rounds out my Sony multiverse of audio solutions because of its direct delivery of digital audio via the hotshoe (also referred to as the multi-shoe). I own other hard-wired microphones that are both handheld and shotgun, but while can connect in via the audio in port on the side of the camera, those use an analog cord to connect, and I really like the digital connection feature of this microphone. The mic has a discreet built in LED levels meter on the front that lets you know how your levels are being received by the mic, as the audio is being captured. The base is snug and tilts, but also removable so you can use a 1/4-20 mount for other standardized mounting solutions, and it includes a removable pop guard for when that’s a possible concern. The quality of the audio is exceptional, very much in line with a high-end studio microphone solution, and discreet controls on mic allow you to adjust levels while viewing the levels meter as you go. Settings on the mic allow you to select front-facing or front/rear pickups (polar pattern directionality, 3 options) depending upon if you are solo recording or recording multiple people face to face in an interview setting with the mic between them. The camera receiver is also much smaller than the many other solutions, largely because the switches on it are all that’s needed, and the audio meters that take up the screen space on some other receivers can be seen on the mic and checked also on your camera screen without any problem, so why be duplicative? Further, when paired with a Sony camera the camera supplies power to the receiver, so your receiver is always being charged by the camera. The mic battery allows for up to about 13 hours of record time on one charge. The mic can also be used to connect direct to a computer or smartphone via a hardwired connection, or using the wireless receiver you’d normally use on the camera, direct into the computer or smartphone for a wireless solution without any apps or other software required for use. The audio quality is excellent, and without any tweaking in an editor, is warmer and sounds more robust when compared side by side with other comparable options. There is also a switchable option to engage a Low Cut and Noise Cancelling feature, when needed. The mic system has a line-of-sight range of about 500ft, using the mic at this distance is also an outlier case and unlikely, but it’s good to know the range. The key here is simplicity without sacrifice. This mic travels in my FX6 A Camera case as a part of my audio kit where a lavalier is not the best solution but I still need great audio.

Sony have open up many option for content creator, I used this with my Sony Camera, record voice over for my drone video, record group interview and even used on PC for meeting. Audio sound great everytime and it never disappoint me. This will stay on my bag everywhere I go.

I have been working in film/video production professionally for 40 years. I have a lot of experience with studio mics of all types. 

 The advantage of the Sony ECM-S1 wireless system is that it works fluidly with Sony Alpha cameras. Plug the receiver into the hot shoe on the camera, turn on the microphone, and it instantly shows up on the camera’s menu. Levels can be controlled from the microphone.

 It will connect to non-Alpha cameras with standard 3.5mm connectors and has an analog mode to go old school. In addition, it makes a terrific USB microphone; plug it directly into a USB slot. It worked flawlessly on my Mac Studio.

 Most importantly, this microphone does a stellar job of audio reproduction. The mic records music with a full flat dynamic range and has a natural quality sound. To me, it is comparable to a good-quality condenser microphone.

 The microphone comes with an adjustable clip-on stand and has a 1/4” thread hole. It fits on a standard light stand stud or a tripod. However, I wish there was a shock mount for it. I find that without it, this very sensitive mic picks up noises when the stand is touched, or floor vibrations are present.

 The microphone and receiver charge through USB-C cables. The manual says it will go 13 hours. It certainly holds power for a long time. 

 The microphone has a pattern switch, which is very important. For the most part, I use the stereo pattern. The playback reproduces the space well in headphones; the separation is excellent. The cardioid pattern is best for recording a single voice, and the omnidirectional pattern is helpful for recording a room.

 There is noise reduction and a low-pass filter. I tend to leave these off and do all my signal processing in post.

This microphone is a definite must have for any SONY camera users. A great lightweight mic for Podcasting, voiceovers, and content creation. With 3 mic capture modes this mic is adaptable to any situation. Go wireless with the MI (Multi Interface) hot shoe adapter to remove the dreaded 3.5mm jack noise. Compatible with Sony camera and smartphones via USB.

Innovative, great voice quality, multi-purpose wireless condenser style mic for those pod casters, voiceovers, and content creator that is very simple to use. It's very versatile on how you can connect to your recording devices. You can also connect it to a PC via USB-C cable, connect to another audio device via 3.5" phono plug, or wirelessly to its Bluetooth receiver that is connected to a Sony camera with a Multi Interface hot shoe. It has good recording features such as low-cut filter, noise-cancelling, 3 different capturing patterns from its 3 large-diameter 14mm capsules, sound levels knobs and mute button. Voice is clear in the mid-range. It feels premium quality with its hard plastic shell.

I have been very pleased with the quality of the ECM-S1 microphone, both in build and sound quality. The microphone unit itself was well thought out. I really appreciate the ease of connecting the microphone to the receiver, it just works right out of the box. The level meter on the front of the microphone is very useful when setting up to film as I can clearly see my record level as I speak and can adjust volume right on the microphone if needed. Using this microphone in Live steams is very easy when connecting to my FX30 camera. The receiver plugs right into the hot shoe and just works. No set up other then selecting the digital signal path switch (since the FX30 uses the digital hot shoe interface). The ECM-S1 has three sound field selections on the back of the microphone and it works extremely well when set to forward array and really helps eliminate the room noise from the recordings. The noise suppression filters also help with eliminating unwanted noise from being recorded like the air conditioner running. My only complaint about this microphone is the fact to benefit from the digital processing connection to the hot shoe on the FX30, is I have to remove the XLR-H1 handle sound unit from the camera to use the receiver, While there is still an option to plug it in with a 3.5 TRS to the XLR handle, it would be nice if any newer XLR devices had provisions to connect another Hot Shoe accessory to the top of it. This is only a problem if you own a XLR device that utilizes the hot shoe connection point for its operation. So far this is my new favorite microphone in my studio. Very Happy!

Upon receiving the ECM-S1, I quickly put it to the test between recording podcast episodes and using it for live performance music videos. The feature rich microphone held up insanely well! From sound treated studio settings to recording sessions in echo and reverb-rich environments like a parking structure, this microphone has outstanding clarity and quality! The ease of use when making adjustments to dial in the spectrum of captured audio was a delight for an evolving set.

I recently got my hands on the Sony ECM-S1 streaming microphone, and it is the real deal! The first thing that caught my attention was the form factor. The body is well-designed, and the flat, round-edged shape makes it incredibly easy to handle and store, especially when I'm on the go. One of the best features for me is how it integrates with most cameras in the Sony ecosystem. Mounting the receiver directly on my camera's hotshoe is a game-changer. It not only enhances the overall aesthetics, giving me that professional podcast look, but also delivers high-quality sound, which is essential for my content & podcast. Lastly, I've found it super convenient to use the ECM-S1 with my laptop during screen recording and other tasks. The USB-C plug and play functionality makes the setup process a breeze, saving me time and ensuring a hassle-free experience. As a Sony Hybrid shooter, I really appreciate the value that the ECM-S1 brings to the table. The wireless streaming microphone provides clear, low-noise, high-quality digital sound recording, aligning with the high standards I expect from Sony products. Overall, the Sony ECM-S1 has truly elevated my content creation setup and I highly recommend it to fellow creators within the Sony ecosystem.