Sony ECMS930C Camcorder Microphones

Rating:
Summary: Clean and ambient but needs work...
Review: As a test, I used my Sony DCR-H30 camcorder and filmed some acoustic guitar music at a moderate volume. I alternated between the built-in mike on the camcorder and then the ECMS930C. I then compared the audio from each using a pair of quality headphones.

The built-in camcorder mike has a moderately midrangy sound, kind of boomy. Top end treble is rolled off. A slight amount of grungy mechanical noise from the camcorder motor intrudes and the mike has a small audible hiss across the music.

The ECMS930C is very clean and low in noise. Guitar zips are sharp and notes are dynamic and musical, ambiance is pretty decent. Unfortunately this extra clarity picks up the motor sound of the camcorder very well, putting a "mosquito drone" behind all the audio. In addition, it's so clean that it almost sounds tinny, and the input level is lower than the built-in mike. Bass is supposed to be good down to 100hz, but it doesn't sound like it.

VERDICT: a toss-up

- If you want clean audio and accuracy, the ECMS930C is the way to go. Unfortunately if you film a situation with any real bass you're going to lose bottom end. The camcorder noise is bothersome too.
- If you use the built-in mike you add some expected noise and grunge, but it's much bassier and under normal TV conditions is probably the more musical of the two.

SONY: why not make a high quality/low noise camcorder mike designed for full range music? You need to find a way to isolate camcorder noise as well......