My Sony ECM-M1 microphone review for videographers and KZreadrs! Sorry for my echo-ey room until 04:09 Check prices on the Sony ECM-M1 at B&H: bhpho.to/43lFjCu // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3pIBcCw Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Gordon’s retro gear channel: kzread.info Check MPB to buy and sell used gear: bit.ly/3ULU9yL Check eBay to find vintage gear: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=1&pub=5574908462&toolid=10001&campid=5338329149&customid=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg Lost photos? I recover mine with: www.dpbolvw.net/click-100568658-13808570?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stellarinfo.com%2Fphoto-recovery-software.php Equipment used for producing my videos Panasonic Lumix S5 II: amzn.to/3Hf5IcI Sony A6400: prf.hn/l/pRO0wp5 Sony e 24mm f1.8: amzn.to/2TqWNzk Rode NT USB mic: amzn.to/3AdHcUp Rode Wireless Go II mic: amzn.to/3xkCvGo Rode Lavalier Go mic: amzn.to/3ygzzKY Godox UL150 light: amzn.to/2VpVbXE Godox QR-P70 softbox: amzn.to/3yQfGdF MacBook Pro 14in (16GB / 1TB): amzn.to/3PrKbPV 00:00 - Sony ECM-M1 design, controls, features. Sorry about the echo! 03:10 - Sony ECM-M1 shock mount test. Sorry about the echo! 04:09 - Sony ECM-M1 recording modes in quiet woodland 08:24 - Sony ECM-M1 recording modes in noisy train station 09:47 - Sony ECM-M1 wind muffler test on windy street and beach 10:26 - Sony ECM-M1 noise canceling and filter on windy beach 11:44 - Sony ECM-M1 four channel recording and safety channel 13:38 - Sony ECM-M1 verdict vs other models Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

I have the ECM-B1M and record bird songs with it, for my videos. It is the only experience I have with microphones, so I can't really compare, but I get some very positive feedback. It's just incredible to access that quality with such ease - no wires, no batteries, directional and compact. Great products from Sony.

I have to say......the directional mode and the noise cancellation mode was seriously impressive 😮😮😮. Even when you were standing right in front of the ocean with it being quite windy.....your voice audio was crystal clear and I could almost hear no background noise.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

It is pretty neat tech!

What a crazy review! Loved it. Very easy to understand and appreciate. Feels like you went through extensive trouble (without losing the hat) to provide a wonderful review. Seems like a lot of fun, this microphone. I like how you gently remind us that "maybe we don't really need all the options at such cost" (if I understood correctly).

Wow this was an amazing test of all of this mic's capabilites. Thank you for all of the effort you put into this!

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

Thanks, it took a while!

What a masterful review. Thanks from Brazil Gordon!

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Obrigado!

The mic seems ideal for ENG Run & Gun situations where you can't hand off a mic to the subject (perhaps they're even a bit uncooperative) or the subject area changes frequently. ENG Run & Gun situations: Narrow Front when you're grabbing someone as a sound byte. Wide front when you're catching a spontaneous conversation between multiple people. Omni for full ambiance. Stereo where the sources are across multiple locations in the sound field and you want to make that audibly obvious. Back & Front and maybe even the mode that keeps the channels separate if you're interviewing on the fly and may or may not want your questions. Back only if you need to describe a scene even if it's just as an audio note for a shot's intent which may not be obvious to the editor in post. I use a Sony PXW-Z90v and Sony ILME-FX3 and normally a Sony ECM-680s (their high-end Mono/Stereo) mic and I can see the M1 replacing it where flexibly trumps overall mic quality (built limited to narrow sound field). M1 would make the kit more compact as well which might be important in some Run & Gun situations.

SOLD! Great review, answered all my questions, especially in windy conditions. Thanks for the detailed video.

I like what they are doing with this series.

Great job Gordon, you really highlighted the different modes and unique features of this new Sony mic.

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

thanks!

This was a very thorough overview. Thanks for taking the time to do this, and do it well! I'm looking at putting together a ducumentary kit with a FX-30, and the ECM series are definitely on my radar.

@cameralabs

8 ай бұрын

Glad to help!

I just got this mic delivered this morning. Can't wait to test it.

@gabrielbasurto124

4 ай бұрын

Hello how did you do?

@shootingamerica3646

4 ай бұрын

@@gabrielbasurto124 So far, I'm very impressed with it.

This mic sounds great, with lots of useful and convenient features. Great review, too!

Tysm for the effort and time to make this video

I’ve had two of these for about a year and the sound is amazing! I use them for wildlife videography.

Excellent review!!!

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Wow! Another excellent test/review. This mic is on my list but my A6700 isn't arriving until tomorrow, so there's no rush. Yeah I ordered it with the Sony E PZ 10-20mm F4 G, which means I might have had a stroke and not realized it. Oh well, I'll start a new mode of photography called "Things that are very very close". This mic will come though. Thanks again for one of your quality reviews.

thanks for the detailed review, sounds like a cool option for small run and gun setups when I don't want to bring my real 25cm shotgun mic, goes on my "nice to have" shopping list :)

Very impressive directional pickup qualities and on-mic noise cancellation.

I use many different mics but a fave is the micbooster Mini Pluggy EM258 with Foam Windshield. That new Sony mic sounds OK

Excellent review Gordon. Sony's ECM-M1 mike would make an excellent tool for any video journalist, its quick to set-up, and very adaptable to most any environment. Just what I'm looking for, many thanks!

The directionality is great. But the noise cancelling sounded too digital and it was artifacting. Sony should come out with a MI mic that allows one to dial in the frequencies to cut or boost. Or just give us an even better mic and we can do the noise cancelling in post. However it is a very convenient mic to have when turn around needs to be fast.... Esp for vloggers.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I agree, the NC is too heavy handed for my taste

Super directional is amazing!

Hi Gordon, just got hold of one of these. I film lots of live events, with on the fly vox pops, so the ability to switch from stereo to shotgun without changing mics is great. I'm comparing it to the Azden SMX30v which has seperate capsules for stereo and shotgun modes. The stereo on the Sony sounds really bad - constant noise compression sound and no sense of natural space. The Azden stereo is much better. In directional modes they're fairly similar, the Sony has less bass which actually makes for a clearer sound for interviews at least. (NB Your stereo test has come out in mono to my ears - it doesn't move round as you rotate the camera). I'll likely keep the Sony as it's so much lighter for use on a gimbal, but I wish the stereo mode was better.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'm not sure what was happening in the stereo mode

Thanks for another thorough review!

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

I really liked the super directional capability combined with the other modes for more general use. Unfortunately I'm on the Canon platform, so I'm going to have to do a little bit of research to see if they have something even close

Ok, here I come. I never own an external mic in my life, but always looked for a top notch mini mic with high quality sound and I do believe this one will do the work. I like to travel light on my holidays, the Rode, forget it, too bulky. But this one rocks all the way for it's size and a minimum of top quality. I don't need THX certified sound on my videos. So for my newly purchased Sony a6700 this will be perfect, so I think.

Using an A7RV, which has a headset port for audio monitoring. CAN I USE THIS PORT with an external headset while recording with the ECM-M1? Could I also plug in an external wireless receiver (Rode, ie) to the A7RV mic port to achieve an additional audio input to the camera? GREAT REVIEW GORDON!

Ótimo vídeo!!!! Tenho o microfone Sony B1M, porém estou achando a captura de áudio muito baixa. Você faz alguma configuração na câmera além do microfone? Desde já, agradeço!!

Outstanding review.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great videos

@cameralabs

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I'd definitely prefer to fix background noises in post. There are lots of excellent, relatively inexpensive plugins that do a much better job. But this does have features that could be useful for some situations, especially those where you don't want to or can't set up external mics.

@riparianlife97701

Жыл бұрын

Noise cancelation in camera is like shooting with a JPEG profile. Not what I bought my A7iv for.

@RealMattCook

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Post can do a better job.

Is it suitable for good sound capture on Rock\Metal festivals? Or any other compact mics without overload. Thanks!

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yes if you utilise the safety channel as well

Great review, thanks. The noise cancelling is not as impressive as I had hoped.

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

Thanks, I'm not fond of nc

Noise cancelation ruins the sound. But definitely I will buy this mic, love all other aspects. It's always better to kill noise at postproduction.

Hey Gordon, great review. The best I have watched on this mic. I'm so confused. Reading through the comments... ECM B1M sounds better? ....It's older but has the most capsules. The ECM-M1 has a lot of bells and whistles but sounds tinny, especially with noise cancellation. I think the ECM B1M would be a better choice for me, but reading through the comments a lot of folks are complaining about the mount saying it can be noisy, I will be using this mic while moving around my garden filming. Have you experienced a lot of noise from the mount?

@cameralabs

11 ай бұрын

Depends how wobbly you are. I am too wobbly for the older models

As always, another perfect review, though I do have one question. I have limited experience with shotgun mics, and I'm a little foggy on the difference between stereo and omnidirectional. For example, in STEREO mode, if a dog barks on the left side, I should hear it on the left channel. Is this NOT going to happen with OMNIDIRECTIONAL mode? Is it just 'mono sound' collection, but no direction? Am I interpreting that correct? Thanks in advance.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

It depends on the mic. Most record sound in mono, either from in front or including surroundings, like omni. So you will hear the dog in omni but not whether it's on the left or right.

So, to clarify, can this work with older cameras like the A9, A7III, etc? Or is it a bit limited?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

It can work on ANY Sony camera with an MI shoe, even an older analogue one. But for 4 channel recording you need a newer model with a digital shoe.

If you use the safety tracks do they play by default if you play the file straight from camera and don't do any editing on them? Or are they hidden? I wish the sony cameras would let you use the two channels from the 3.5mm then I could use the shotgun mic and LAV mics at the same time.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Depends what software is playing them. Final Cut plays all four so you have to mute or delete the unwanted tracks or it could distort.

I’ve got this and been doing some testing. The very tight forward directional mode is only good when you are basically holding the camera, you are too quiet when some distance away. I may do a comparison video to the inbuilt mic in the ZVE1, which I’m not overly impressed with- Sony sell it as a fantastic in built camera mic on the ZVE1, but it’s nowhere near as good as on the Nikon Z30 which is king of the in built mic- really!

Great video! Thank you! Can I ask what lens you used in the forest?

@cameralabs

7 ай бұрын

Probably the 20mm f1.8

The noise canceling feature is unusable even for amateur home videos. It’s sounds like you are talking is an empty metal barrel with inconsistent pitch. They should have done what the Hollyland Lark Max done with their ( environmental noise canceling ) That was impressive with little to no effect on you sound pitch what so ever. Other than that it’s a convenient mic to use. And most importantly very good review as usual. Thank you 🙏

Very impressive performance, this without a doubt is the best on hot shoe microphone available.

I have the ECM B1M do you think the new ECM M1 is better? I am interested with the new one for its stereo and back and forth audio.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

It's different. More directions, but less sensitivity and potentially less quality

@asoloda

Жыл бұрын

I Really appreciate for your quick response.

Rode wins on price/performance. Thank you for this comprehensive review.

I saw from all channels that it has 24bit right? Sony could have bumped it up to 32bit flow .. or waiting for the ECM - M2 TO HAVE 32 BIT FLOW SO they Sony can continue to grab much more bucks... Nice. Love this mic though but wish it was 32bit flow.

I am an owner ECM-B10. I get why people say it is stupid to spend money on microphone that only works on one camera system, but the elimination of wires and batteries easily makes up for it. I wish the shock mount on the B10 was as good as this one (and thank you for leading with that!). However, more importantly, even though the added features on this microphone are great, it’s core function as a microphone is a bit disappointing. I don’t really understand the decision to make the microphone shorter in the lens axis while remaining tall. It doesn’t add much to portability and I wonder if that is contributing to the poorer performance.

@alantan3582

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. I have the exact same complaint on my b10. The shock mount is worse than my cheap rode shotgun mic. From the review it is hard to tell how good the new shock mount is as there is audible noise. Remember Gordon did not report any mount noise in his review of the b10…

@adamadamis

Жыл бұрын

But you can connect these SONY mi interface mics to any camera using their mic out port, just like any other mic?

@stowgood

Жыл бұрын

@@adamadamis no you can't they don't have an output.

@adamadamis

Жыл бұрын

@stowgood I have the G1 and the stereo mic, and they both have mic out ports additionally to the mi interface one, so I can use them with other cameras or devices with a cable if I need to.

@z352kdaf8324

Жыл бұрын

@@adamadamis The ECM-M1- looks like a big NO. Other ECMs -Yes, you can if it has an audio cable, which most do.. It will be analog.

Can you do a comparison against ECM-B1M? Which one is better? B1M has 8 microphones and 3 pick up patterns. M1 has only 4 microphones but 8 pick up patterns. Which one is better in sound?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Sound quality? Should be b1m

@alexdublin2673

Жыл бұрын

​@@cameralabsshould but no conclusive reviews yet.... Which will you get/keep?

I don't understand why the clip using the stereo pattern is still completely mono. Identical in both L & R channels, even when you spin the camera. This is the second review of this mic I've watched this evening where this has happened. What's gone wrong?

@cameralabs

5 ай бұрын

Yeah, i'm not sure either, it's a bit odd.

How do you get the safety channels (3&4) for your edit- wherre are they stored?

@cameralabs

2 ай бұрын

As I recall, they show up on a four channel track in your edit. I can't remember if you need to start a project with 4 channels of audio. But when it works, you'll see four audio tracks rather than the usual two. But I may have mis-remembered, as it's been a while!

@wakeywarrior

2 ай бұрын

@@cameralabs cheers I worked it out, in Final Cut select ‘expand audio’ and all four tracks are there. Neat feature, not sure about the mic though need to do some testing, it seems very quiet on front facing when not close to the camera.

@cameralabs

2 ай бұрын

@@wakeywarrior yes that's right, I remember now!

Nice sir

Did the stereo mode work correctly? It did not sound stereo at all. That would be quite disappointing, as it is a major differentiator

@cameralabs

11 ай бұрын

Yes, I'm not sure what happened there

Which mic do you prefer, the b1m or the m1? Being able to record in stereo is the primary attraction over the b1m for me.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I personally prefer the size and the AB mode of the M1

@soholingo

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs Is there a difference in sound quality or sensitivity? I like the b1m because it can record audio from accross a lacrosse field. I can almost hear what people are thinking. :)

Great review! It really looks like a great mic!

Wish canon would come out with something like this to help with their brutally loud focus ticking on their RF lenses.

Interestingly you mentioned mounting noise here. I own the b10m amid and the mounting noise is the biggest problem I have with it when moving around. Why wasn’t it mentioned in your earlier reviews of Sony mics. It would have been very helpful I had known it before buying it….

@hkdom

Жыл бұрын

Use a rubber band to solve it

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

It wasn't a noticeable issue during my own tests with the B10, but I really noticed it on the little G1, so much so I sent it back and never received a replacement to complete a review of it. So that's the one I'm referring to in the review here.

So... some new fancy directional modes and dual channel... perhaps justifying a high price. But it only has 4 capsules compared to the 8 of the similarly priced ECM-B1M, and so it's therefore odd Sony have perhaps not changed the pricing a little to better shoehorn this new mic into the overall range. The (also) 4 capsuled ECM-B10 is less than half the price now as a result but, as Gordon says near the end, most would say the B1M has better sound than it. So is that still the case in comparison to the new M1 as well, I wonder? (I.e on the key directions that overlap, like super-directional and omni?) It would therefore be nice to compare those three products side by side in tests instead rather than the same old new Sony product vs. ancient analogue alternative in the field. (Yes, I know the B1 and B10 won't be able to do all of them.) And I do recall when Gordon reviewed the ECM-B10 in the same Brighton locations before, yes, so I would argue it is now time to move on... and have a full, definitive Sony digital mics-only in-field test. (Well, maybe dropping the G1 then.) Is it now simply just down to budget vs functions I wonder? I mean, also, is the M1 so much smaller than the B10?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I'd also like to do a side by side by side, but the challenge is getting ALL of the products at the same time - it's not always as easy as you'd assume!

@zeeox

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs - cheers, Gordon, I do appreciate that. I guess the only alternative would be to buy all three! (Which would then result in an expensive budget for just one review video of course... unless you then tried to recoup a little by selling-on the models which did not come out on top afterward!)

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

@@zeeox I can't make that work on the views I get on these videos - this one will earn me about $50

@zeeox

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs - understood! Times are tough when even much of the camera accessory gear out there is too expensive to buy outright for a professional review!

16-bit or 24-bit audio support with this mic?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

24 via a digital MI shoe - I show you the menu in the review, did you watch it?

The Rode still sounds very good.

@cameralabs

2 ай бұрын

It does, yes

Hi Gordon, I bought this microphone on the strength of your review. In the video timestamp 1:57 you say that if there is a digital connection you get an additional menu to set the audio/ bit rate/ number of channels. I have a Sony A7c with the latest firmware however when the ECM-M1 is fitted there is no menu to set the audio. What's going on? Where is the menu? Would be interested in finding out, I wonder if other people with Sony cameras are having the same issue, maybe you could do a video to find out!

@cameralabs

Ай бұрын

Hmmm, that's odd, as I'm pretty sure the A7c has a digital shoe. Is there a switch on the mic between analogue and digital?

@Richard-kl9bb

Ай бұрын

@@cameralabs Yes, it's on 'digital', have just sent a message to Sony customer support with photos of the menu etc. (not expecting an answer though). The camera does recognize the microphone.

@cameralabs

Ай бұрын

@@Richard-kl9bb it's possible that the A7c didn't offer the menu functionality - maybe that's on specific bodies like the A6700 I tried it with.

@Richard-kl9bb

Ай бұрын

@@cameralabs That's what I was thinking because the A7c was designed well before the ECM-M1 and the firmware update was before the release of the microphone. The A7c records audio at 48 16 bit in XAVC. Not sure how many channels are recorded, will have a look later.

@Richard-kl9bb

Ай бұрын

@@cameralabs Had a reply from Sony, they are going to look into it. I'll let you know what happens 😃

For me it is not worth the hassle. When I need to record voice I use microports like DJI Mic. I use shotgun mic only when recording b-roll or footage where audio is only ambient sound, but something like Rode shotgun makes much better choice, because of the sound quality but you can also use it with wireless transmiter as a boom mic or connect it to your PC for best possible audio experience for people you talk with on some online platform or record a voiceover

@seecraig

Жыл бұрын

In many ENG situations, you don't have time to hand someone a mic or attach a lav. Being able to switch pickup patterns without changing mics or passing someone a mic (especially if they're not cooperative) is a significant convenience.

@pawebaran3601

Жыл бұрын

@@seecraig It means that this mic is made for amateurs who run and gun and don't have time or make such junky videos that they can't attach proper mic. But price of this mic is not so "amateur"

@seecraig

Жыл бұрын

@@pawebaran3601 I normally use a Sony ECM-680s, hardly an amateur mic at $800 (US) but in some run & gun situations, the ECM-M1 may cover more bases in certain environments where changing the pick-up patterns may improve quality even at the loss of frequency response. Having the right pick-up pattern may make all the difference between capturing usable audio (again this is ENG work) and losing the sound byte.

@pawebaran3601

Жыл бұрын

@@seecraig I respect your point of view, probably our shoots differ a lot, and our workflow is different. I mostly work as a one-man-army, but somehow always menage to slap some lavalier to the talker, or at least give him/her a handheld mic or put a shotgun on a boom if I have someone to help. I dont remember when I used voice recorded from on-camera mic in my edits, as I said I only use one camera mic as ambient, but if you find Sony mics useful in your workflow and they help you get the job done faster or better, good for you

@seecraig

Жыл бұрын

@@pawebaran3601 Doesn't sound like you've done run & gun news. There's no way I'm handing a mic to someone who is angry or otherwise very emotional and focused on the cops approaching them. ENG is Electronic News Gathering sometimes while it's happening. I myself have been stopped by the cops often enough because they don't want to be recorded. I'm not handing a mic to a cop who's questioning me.

It's impressive but I can't say it sounded "expensive", I lean towards a lav mic and something like the Rode Wireless Go out and about and a Rode VideoMic Go II in the studio, with the added benefit of recording straight to the laptop using a USB-C - that combination sounds better to my ears anyway than this rather expensive mic.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I know what you mean

I would love to know how it works for home videos where the subject may not be right in front (arm's length) to the camera and maybe 10 feet away or so.

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

Not good at all, that's pretty far. Best to use a lav mic or a more sensitive shotgun at that distance.

@scottiebumich

10 ай бұрын

@@cameralabs do you have any suggestions if I were to buy just one microphone? Mostly picking up ambient sounds but focusing in the direction of the camera? Is the on camera microphone probably the most practical option at that point?

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

@@scottiebumich no, that's even worse! I'd get the best shotgun you can afford - maybe look at Rode and Deity's ranges.

@scottiebumich

10 ай бұрын

@@cameralabs Would a shotgun mike do a decent job of picking up some of the ambient sound?

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

@@scottiebumich not from all around, it'll mostly be focused in front. You have to have a bit of a compromise

Does not sound great, but it is convenient. The RODE micro sounded waaaaaay better. For about half the cost, I’d choose the Zoom M3 Mictrak with on board 32 bit float recording and true mid-side RAW file format.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I like the Zoom recorders. I still use an H2n with a lav mic for most of my video presentations.

Which mic has better sound quality - B1 or M1?

@cameralabs

9 ай бұрын

The more capsules generally the better, but I find they sound different, not necessarily better.

@FernandaSouzaFotografia

9 ай бұрын

@@cameralabsok… I work as a birth photographer… so most of my work is inside a room with a lot of water noise from bathtubs or showers. In this case which would be better for my purpose? I also work with children’s birthday party and baptism, but birth is my priority.

@cameralabs

9 ай бұрын

@@FernandaSouzaFotografia do you mean the B1M or the B10? The B1M has the best sound quality of all three. I would only recommend these mics though if you want the convenience of no cables on a Sony camera, as the digital noise reduction will sound weird in a noisy room especially with water splashing. I'd go for a more normal shotgun mic from Rode in that environment in order to concentrate on the sound directly in front. Go for the model which best fits your budget, be it $100, $200 etc

@FernandaSouzaFotografia

9 ай бұрын

Thank you! I meant The B1M. I already own a Rode shotgun, but it seems to capture a lot of noises and the voices are not that clear. I am not satisfy with it (Rode Videomic Go).

@cameralabs

9 ай бұрын

@@FernandaSouzaFotografia are the voices in front of the mic or to the side? As you know a shotgun is pretty focused on the front alone

Second video I've seen in this mic and it sounds echo-y 🤔 Maybe it needs to be used outdoors? I'd spend the money on a DJI or Holly Max mic instead...

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yeah it was very echoey in my room, more than I expected considering how close I was to it.

Good thing you put the time stamp 4:09. The sound was terrible up to that point. 😂

@cameralabs

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, that was more my room than anything else

I'm a little confused. The audio at the beginning of the video sounds VERY omni and not directional at all. I'm hearing the room reflections as loud as your actual voice.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's an echoey room and not ideal for that first piece, at least not for as long as I did. Hope you made it onto the outdoor stuff.

@JB_Eckl

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs I did, and it sounds pretty great. I've been very frustrated with shotgun mics in general because they always pick up way too much of the room ambience, so I'm hoping this one does the trick (without springing for a $1200 Sennheiser).

I am not convinced that it sounds better than the previous flagship MI microphone ECM-B1M. Or is it because Laing's space is just very reverby?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, don't base it on the first couple of minutes, check out the outdoor stuff later

@gigihanmandarin

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs I did, still did not feel it sounds any better than B1M, I think it sounds more like B10. Can you make a comparison Laing?

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

@@gigihanmandarin I can't as I don't have both mics at the same time.

@gigihanmandarin

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs it's okay thanks.

Thanks for the comprehensive and meaningful tests! Looks like I've just saved 400,- Euros. 😉I'll keep using my DPA 4060 setup even if it's less convenient.

The video, overview and quality of the presentation is superb! That said, the microphone itself sounds *_horrible_* - it id a shame, because the design, features and concept are excellent, but they forgot to make sure the sound would be good, which is what microphones are all about! I've watched numerous reviews and overviews and the microphone _definitely_ sounds mediocre Thank you for the great overview - shame the microphone sounds bad 😞

Thanks for the review. Really appreciate you doing a shake test. Never use my ECM-B1M anymore because it rattles too much. Glad to see they fixed that issue.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, yes, it seems much improved now.

@alantan3582

Жыл бұрын

@@cameralabs Is it improved over B1m/B10 mic? I thought you did not hear any noise on your copies of B1M/B10M.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

@@alantan3582 I didn't notice it on my original footage with the B1M and B10, but longer term testing did reveal it a little in very shaky conditions. But it was the smaller G model which was the worst offender, and that's the one I'm referring to most when complaining about the tapping. I believe the shock mounting is improved over all of them, I certainly couldn't hear it in any of my clips and I was really listening out for it this time.

Oh god. The noise canceling mode is a complete failure. Tinny and warped. Everything else works. Kudos for a very thorough review. I subbed.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I agree, the NC is a bit OTT

On my iPad - the audio sounds better OUTSIDE….

@cameralabs

10 ай бұрын

Yes, my room is very echoey

Amazing technology. Shame about the audio quality. Expect it could be sweetened in post, but that greatly diminishes the ease-of-use value proposition. A quality shotgun can't perform this microphone's tricks, but will sound far better straight out of the camera. Save time now, or save time later. Expect this technology will eventually take over the market, but as with many first generation products, not quite ready.

I hate to say it but I have yet to find something in any bracket that has done better than the Rode SVMX. Sony may one day do an MI shoe stereo XY that does not look or sound like an alien marital aid. I'll be waiting.

@POVwithRC

Жыл бұрын

Though to be fair, this thing does seem to cram a lot of whiz-bang into its chassis, and the engineers should be commended. Not disappointed as I hit the end of the review. Edit. Stereo!

£350 is painfully expensive for this type of mic

@cameralabs

9 ай бұрын

I agree, and would personally go for a simple shotgun

The directional audio sounds quite good. The digital effects, wind muffler and noise cancelling, sound bad. Not even passable.

The cheap Rode mic offered better sound . The Sony sounded thin

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I was impressed by the Rode as well, although as I noted in the review, it has no directionality options or NR and also requires a cable. Different products.

The sound quality is "dead", limited frequency range. Just not satisfing in my ears.

Sorry, I’m not convinced. Audio for you commentary at the top of the review was very thin. Rode is better.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Certainly in a static indoor environment there are better sounding options that are cheaper.

Sony is so hilariously greedy! Their latest dressed-up money-grab. Physics is physics - skyward-oriented microphone capsules with heavy on-the-fly signal processing to cover for their limitations, is an amateur move. Almost nobody lacks the time/access to record properly with suitable mics, so this gadget and its eye-candy dial is truly built for lazy videographers/"filmmakers"...

@hbp_

11 ай бұрын

I get what they are trying with the mic but this part is kinda weird. I have listened to all the samples I could find and it seems like the noise floor of this mic is extremely high. In most cases I can clearly hear *pshhhhh* on top of the person talking. Finally, the frequency response seems rather limited. It sounds a bit like the voice is coming over a traditional telephone line. Not as bad but the similarity is there.

@focuspulling

11 ай бұрын

@@hbp_ Completely agree. The product is solely is for inattentive KZread vlogger types.

@soarornor

11 ай бұрын

@@hbp_It’s weird how rare it is to actually see the frequency response spec in ads for mics like this. I’ve yet to see a reviewer quote the spec.

@hbp_

11 ай бұрын

@@soarornor B&H says SNR = 14 dB SPL That, can't be right, can it? :) It could be the self-noise of a single capsule in dBA but that doesn't seem to match with what we are hearing.

Sorry Sony, but the sound quality in the room is just unusable crap, it seems to perform better outdoors

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

I have a very echoey room

It sounds terrible! I love your video but stopped watching this one after a few seconds, no good.

@michaelpark952

Жыл бұрын

It's an inherent issue with using a shotgun mic indoors. Unless you echo-proof the room, not even a $1000 shotgun mic will sound any better than a $50 lav mic on your chest.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yes, sorry about my room, it did sound quite echoey, but please do skip to the outdoor tests as they are quite interesting.

@thb5505

Жыл бұрын

I was only commenting on the quality of the mic. This channel's content is always of very high production value, and the reviews are very knowledgeable. One of my favorite photo equipment review sources!

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

@@thb5505 thanks! Don't worry, I know you weren't having a go at me, I just didn't want you to miss out on the rest of the review as it is quite interesting. I do regret having more than about 30 seconds in my room to start with as it didn't sound great.

@rsmith02

Жыл бұрын

@@thb5505 For the quality of the mic listen to other parts of the video.

The rolling shutter at 3:24 ..wow. just terrible. 😟 And, I don't really have too much positive to say about the quality of the mic as well. Cool versatility, but the sound quality really isn't anything to write home about.

@Trevellian

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. An impressive technology demonstration, but it misses the primary mark, as the audio quality is - at best, mediocre. Expect this tech will eventually become the standard, but it still needs time in the oven. Will wait for the 2nd or 3rd generation.

First - overpriced. Second - if one is spending that much, there are great systems of mics, that will record 2 people at great distance and will work on every camera.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

True, and I get better sound quality from a simple lav mic or even a pair with a wireless system. But this is designed as a simple stick on the shoe solution.

Won't work with other camera brands ? Too bad. Useless. Proprietary product. The Mic has great sound ! Great, great, great sound. @ 9:18 The noise cancelling technology is very effective and really high quality.

@cameralabs

Жыл бұрын

Yep, Sony only

Smooth but I don't shoot Sony (and have no wish to do so)