Sony ECMS930C Camcorder Microphones

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.6 x 2.1 inches ; 4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006HOLM
• Item model number: ECM-S930C
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 15, 2003

Product Description

A camcorder microphone that is designed for digital recording / One-point stereo pickup with two microphone capsules (L/R)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Clean and ambient but needs work..., December 30, 2004

By 

B. Little (Hamden CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony ECMS930C Camcorder Microphones (Electronics)

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 loud "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 very bothersome too.
- If you use the built-in mike you add a slight amount of noise and grunge, but it's much bassier and under normal listening conditions is 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......

3.0 out of 5 stars Sony stereo mic, May 30, 2011

By 

Douglas H Floyd - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony ECMS930C Camcorder Microphones (Electronics)

I bought this mic to fit onto a new Kodak Zi8 camcorder. It is WAY better than the built in mono mic and does turn the unit into a stereo recorder. I chose this one because it is a powered mic which helps with setting the mic level - plenty of signal coming in for the Zi8. It does have a thin "tinny" sound, which was no surprise given the price range. I would have given it 4 stars if it had been in the 50-60 dollar range. Overall it's a good improvement to my set-up.