Sony takes on Rode with new wireless microphone for vlogging cameras

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony has announced a new vlogging-enabled wireless microphone that could be a compelling alternative to the

Rode Wireless Go 2

for owners of Sony mirrorless cameras.

The elegantly named Sony ECM-W2BT consists of a transmitter and a receiver, which communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth to give you cable-free audio recording that apparently works up to 200m from the camera.

Unlike the Rode Wireless Go 2, Sony's solution doesn't include two separate receivers to capture audio from two different people, but it does bring other potential benefits, especially if you have a recent Sony mirrorless camera with the latest multi-interface (MI) shoe.

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(Image credit: Sony)

On some cameras, such as the

Sony A7S III

, this MI shoe supports digital audio sources, meaning the Sony ECM-W2BT can send its digital signal directly into your camera, rather than depending on cables or requiring your camera to handle analog to digital. conversion.

Sony believes this process reduces noise and interference compared to the usual process of plugging a receiver into your camera via a cable. But this configuration is only available on the four Sony cameras whose multi-interface shoe supports the digital audio interface: the

Sony A9II

,

Sony A7R IV

,

Sony A7S III

and

Sony A7C

.

Other cameras, like the Sony A6000 series, can still feed the Sony ECM-W2BT through their MI shoes, but instead receive an analog signal from the transmitter (to be converted in the camera). And non-Sony cameras are also compatible with the Sony ECM-W2BT, but they will need to be plugged in via their external mic output, which means losing most of the system's claimed audio quality benefits.

Its effects

What else is great about Sony's wireless microphone system? You get a windscreen included with the microphone to help reduce wind noise, and there's also an attenuator switch (which lowers the level of an audio signal) on the side to help reduce distortion .

There are also three sound pick-up modes: in “MIC” mode, the system will only pick up audio from the microphone (handy if you are streaming live), in “MIX” mode, it will record audio from both the microphone and receiver (for interviews), and in “RCVR” mode, only the receiver will record audio, which might be useful for anyone who likes to record a running commentary on what they are filming.

(Image credit: Sony) p>

While you can clip the Sony ECM-W2BT's microphone to your clothes, it also has a 3.5mm input for lavalier (or lapel) mics, if you want something a little more discreet.

For this reason, Sony has also made a new lavatory mic called the ECM-LV1 (above), which comes with its own windshield and a 360-degree rotating clip to attach it to pockets and ties.

You will be able to buy both the new wireless microphone system and the lavatory microphone from April. The Sony ECM-W2BT will cost $230 / £210 / AU$399, while the ECM-LV1 will set you back a fairly reasonable $30 / £32 / AU$59.

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Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson is the Camera Editor for TechRadar at Future. He writes and oversees reviews of the latest cameras on TechRadar and handles all photography tutorials. Mark was previously Digital Editor (Cameras) at Trusted Reviews, Acting Editor at Stuff.tv, as well as Features Editor and Reviews Editor at Stuff magazine.

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