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 enlarge | Brand: Sony
Category: Photography
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $131.27
You Save: $68.72 (34%)
New (40)
Avg. Customer Rating:  49 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 8
Dimensions (in): 90 x 60 x 42
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: ECMHW1
Model: ECMHW1
UPC: 027242235960
EAN: 0027242235960
Availability: Usually ships in 2 to 3 days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Too easy. Where's the pain? February 14, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
The cube plugs into the top of your video camera (HDV Handycam in my case). The Sensor goes where the sound is coming from. That's it.
OK, don't expect surround sound from a voice oriented clip-on. But gee, there's nothing else to do. OK, you can plug earphones into the cube)to monitor.
Simple, Great; Best for the Sony! June 19, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2OLQ5E0VQ0WQ2 *Added info below after a month of use*
We just purchased this wireless bluetooth microphone. I give it five stars because there's nothing better - either in the Sony line, or from other companies - that keeps wireless audio gathering simple for this product line. We need simplicity for our news-gathering because we have to shoot both video and still images. If we were only video journalists, it would be a no-brainer to use gear that is more designed for commercial/spot news gathering. But the ECMHW1 offers a very simple set-up: mount the receiver, place the transmitter unit on or near the subject, and turn the camera and both wireless sets on. When the blue light glows steady on both units, the audio can be gathered. The camcorder already uses built-in auto audio levels.
For field tests, I tried a number of different placements, from using the lanyard, to clipping the transmitter on my belt, as well as using the strap that wraps around the upper arm. The lanyard works best, but you can also place the transmitter on a table or in an inconspicuous area near the subject (for sit-down talks). One test, with the camera recording 30 feet away, caught 3 people in the conversation quite well, and the third person didn't even know he was being recorded.
We started in our own work area, which consists of two rather narrow rooms. As for distance, I could record audio clearly within line-of-sight at 40 feet distance; taking the camera from view by walking to the hallway (a doorway was the only way to see him in the other room), the signal started breaking up about 15 feet after losing sight when I turned down the hall.
Outside, the subject walked away as I recorded video with sound. We took the setup outside our building, which sits 100 yards from an elevated highway; the white noise (that sound of traffic rolling) bounces right off our building. But when the subject placed the transmitter around his neck, the recording sounded quite good, considering how loud the ambient noise levels were. Audio began breaking up about 100 feet away, and started going in and out. However, he walked a good 140-150 feet and turned towards me, and I could clearly record sound. This product simply works, no matter how much I tend to hate proprietary gear, like Sony's AIS (Active Interface Shoe), which makes it hard to use things like mounted video lights. However, this unit is great, because the receiver also sports a headset miniplug. People with some of the non-HD camcorders that were built without mic and headphone jacks can now have a camera where you can monitor your sound now.
The receiver also has 3 kewl settings: Off, on, and 5.1 stereo. Turning it off, your camcorder only captures sound from its built-in mic. Turn the units on, and the wireless mic is captured, while no sound gets recorded from the camera's microphone. But turn it on 5.1, and both camera and wireless mics work. That can help if you're shooting 2 people. You keep your camera close to the subject you're shooting, and let a second person wear the transmitter, and you have sound from 2 people. Great for covering spouses or kids.
Things that Sony can IMPROVE on?? Of course. First, I'd like to see the transmitter colored in the same charcoal hue as the receiver is. That bright silver can shout at you when you're recording somebody with it on. My workaround is two-fold: First, frame the subject to crop that transmitter out. Or, set it near your subject. If it doesn't work, well... I see microphones shoved beneath people all the time, so that little wireless mic won't bother me too much. I will try using black tape to cover the silver, which may slightly limit the transmission range. The other thing Sony SHOULD do? Design the next-gen transmitter to have an optional miniplug jack to use a lavalier mic. That way, you can place the transmitter on the belt and run that small mic right to your subject's collar. I hope all that info helps. Hopefully I can add some images as well. If I can, I'll try adding a video clip of the sound levels and situation. Meanwhile, I've recommended that we equip all of our shooters with this wireless microphone set for the Sony Handycams.
**Update** There is a little grey sock that comes with the set, which fits over the small microphone. While shooting an outdoor press conference today, I heard even the smallest gust of wind, which bothered me. It turns out that the little sock is perhaps a windsock. It's a bit thin - but sticking the transmitter inside so the mic sits protected, helped cut that wind noise down. Because the Sony has no XLR jack, I couldn't use the "mote box" that the network cameras plug into for the NFL press conference. All I did was clip the microphone onto the thick mic wire and the sound was pristine. The camera also adjusts audio levels, so whenever a reporter asked a question, I could actually record it better than the podium mic they used. It can even pick up whispers much better than I anticipated.
This mic rocks January 10, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought this for my Sony DVD-505 because I wanted all the gadgets I could get my hands on. After using it once, I want to use it all the time. It does everything the sales pitch says it does. Works great over 100 feet away. On the 505, comes through as center channel while on-board 4 mics pick up everything else. (A very cool effect).
The remote mic isn't as cumbersome as some other reviews I have read said it was. In fact, it's easy to conceal.
I would recomend this wireless mic to anyone who wants to get every drop out of their surround sound camera. Playback on surround sound theater set-up makes your movie way more interesting.
 Microphone - SR 80 February 8, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I used this microphone wiht My DCR - SR80. I used this when I had an outside wedding. It was great. There was a few times where it cut out but I think it was because it was in my husbands pocket. I would recommend this product if you taping anything outside where you need to hear people. The only downfall is its expensive. I actually received it free because I bought the DCR - SR80 from Amazon.
All the reviews were spot on. April 4, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I recently used this mic to record a wedding. I placed the mic inside the Preacher's coat pocket. And other than some rustling sounds, it worked great. I was able to hear the preacher, the bride and the groom almost perfectly. Even when the bride and groom would whisper!
The only complaint I have is the light on the mic and on it's receiver. There is this distracting blue bar that seems really bright. It's purpose is to confirm the connection between the two. It can be solved with a strip of dark tape, but it looks a little tacky.
Overall, great product...and a must have!
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