Best Microphone For The Sony ZV-E1

In this video we test out 6 options for external shotgun Microphones for the Sony ZV-E1 and find out which one is the best Microphone for you!
The internal microphone on the ZV-E1 is better than previous cameras, but still not that best, so getting an external mic is a huge upgrade for this camera.
We will check out the RODE Video Micro ii , the RODE RODE videomic GO II, the RODE VideoMic NTG, the Diety V-Mic D4, the Sony ECM-B1M and the brand new Sony ECM-M1
Comment below which one is your favorite in this video.
Links for the Camera/Mics used in this video:
Camera:
-Sony ZV-E1 Full Frame 4K Camera: geni.us/OaXpVk
-SmallRig ZV-E1 Cage Kit with Silicone Grip: geni.us/LgknC
Microphones:
-RODE VideoMicro II : geni.us/yBthh26
-RODE VideoMic GO II : geni.us/amRGyV
-RODE WS12 Windscreen for GO II : geni.us/F71BZj
-DEITY V-Mic D4: geni.us/DvE7
-RODE VideoMic NTG geni.us/AIKx6Hu
-RODE WS11 windscreen for NTG : geni.us/cZwshfM
-Sony ECM-B1M: geni.us/KaRG
-Sony ECM-M1 Shotgun Microphone: geni.us/I44fr
If you're looking for a wireless kit take a look at this one:
-DJI Wireless Mic geni.us/q6CZN
Check out Paul Feinberg's channel
/ @paulfeinberg
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Instagram: @Kylewatts
GEAR I USE
Cameras:
-Sony a7siii geni.us/FT92
-Sony ZV-E1 Full Frame 4K Camera: geni.us/OaXpVk
-Sony ZV-E10 4k Camera: geni.us/N7fLy
-Sony a6400 geni.us/B18m6U
-Sony ZV-1 geni.us/EQesw3
-Gopro hero 11 geni.us/Rhs8tNL
Lenses:
-Sony 16-35mm f2.8 GM Lens: geni.us/P3EB
-Sigma 24-70 f2.8 art lens: geni.us/Fog3nO
-Sony 20mm f1.8 Sony e-mount lens: geni.us/83Bb
-Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens: geni.us/jcLc5WT
-Sigma 16mm f1.4 geni.us/tIyzB
-Sony 18-105mm f4 OSS geni.us/7rtb4A
-PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND Edition II (2-5): geni.us/zkHMPgQ
-PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND Edition II (6-9): geni.us/7fCe
Gimbals:
-Zhiyun Crane M3: geni.us/NyJRT6
-Zhiyun Weebill S: amzn.to/30HDK3F
Microphones:
-Sony ECM-B1M Compact Shotgun Microphone: geni.us/KaRG
-RODE VideoMic NTG geni.us/AIKx6Hu
-RODE VideoMicro geni.us/spt1
-DJI Wireless Mic geni.us/q6CZN
-RODE Wireless GO II (2 transmitters and receiver kit): geni.us/RbgBkOA
SD Cards:
(A7Siii / A7iv / ZV-E1)
-Lexar 128gb V90 SD card: geni.us/42wqkLD
(a6400/ZV-E10/aps-c cameras)
-SanDisk 128GB Extreme SD card: geni.us/Aj3fB
-SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC: geni.us/ZP71B
Tripods:
-NEEWER 66 inch Carbon Fiber Tripod: geni.us/Fgaj1
-SIRUI T-0S Series Travel Tripod with B-00 Ball Head: geni.us/Py3gO
-SIRUI Carbon Fiber Travel 5C Tripod (less expensive version): geni.us/v6pWDF
Camera Bags:
-NOMATIC McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L: geni.us/9e4n
-NOMATIC Peter Mckinnon 35L Camera Pack: geni.us/FmSC
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
/ cleatuswatts
/ kylewatts
Disclaimer: Most of the purchase links in my Gear list are affiliate links
All music is from Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
and
Artlist.io
@SonyAlphaUniverse

[@ChrisMitchells_FlyingCameras]

Awesome video Kyle! I have too many mics including the B1M but im thinking about getting the M1. Thanks for the video!

[@MikesManCave]

Days of any of the Rode Microphones are gone for any Sony camera. For a budget microphone the ECM G1 can't be beat, then any of the more expensive Sony ones you covered.

[@NikoBols]

Great review Kyle. For my ZV-E1, I’ve been using the ECM-B10 and I love it 😁

[@KyleWattsTV]

Also a great mic! Also less expensive ✌🏻

[@TravellingTechMan]

Interestingly Sony doesn’t list the b10 as compatible with the zve1, is it fully supported in digital? Edit: my mistake I was looking at the zv-1 page 😅

[@fernandorivera03]

Hello, do you have any noise problems caused by the anti-shock shoe of the B10 when vlogging? I have seen some videos where they put it as a recurring problem

[@RafaelPSilva-lj7zc]

Ótimo vídeo!!! Estou utilizando o Sony ECM-B1M em uma sony a7 IV em modo automático, mas estou achando o áudio captado muito baixo. Você faz alguma alteração de áudio na câmera? Desde já, agradeço!

[@JoshConnectMedia]

Nice video right there .I will suggest to Sony users you go for the DJI Mics or go for the Sony mics becos you got the slot to place right on it. That's why you bought your Sony cam. Compatibility is the key.

[@markleethephotographer]

Thanks for the content. I can't my unit to respond to the external microphones I have tried. TRS cables used.

[@christianeggbauer]

Thanks for the awesome review, I released recently a Review of the ECM-B10 on my channel and love it as well, next mics will be wireless though 😅

[@jasonmelchert155]

Nice work as usual Kyle. Was there other noise or interference introduced in the audio from the beginning to about halfway through the Diety mic? It seemed to go away after that. It wasn’t present in your video for mics for zv-e10 either. Thanks!

[@KyleWattsTV]

Didn’t really notice it when we started filming but there were a lot of crickets or some kind of insects in the area we were filming. That’s the noise I think you’re hearing.

[@tinylil]

Could you tell me if the shock mount for the Sony’s M1 is as bad as the one for B1M?

[@mrpsean98]

I have the ride wireless go 2 but it doesn’t detect any audio. I spoke to Sony and they said Rode isn’t compatible with the Sony zve1. How did you manage to connect your rode mic?

[@timbrowntown]

Yep. I'd rather watch a video shot with a GoPro and a decent Mic than just about any high end camera and the built-in mic. I am a budget guy and I LOVE my Rode Video Mic Go II. I love it for the price, performance and simplicity. It stays on my ZV-E10 and my Joby Wavo Mobile (not quite as good but decent) on my GoPro with the media mod for different scenarios. That was my first mic I purchased a few years ago when I first got the GoPro and started creating content. I could upgrade but I think the audio from it is good enough you're not going to notice the difference if you're not specifically trying to test mics out. Still, that new SONY is a dream!

[@KyleWattsTV]

The rode videomic go ii is very good! I couldn’t believe how good it sounded compared to the $250 ntg.

[@houstonmuseum]

I'd argue that 99% of a video is actually good audio. Bad audio will make even the BEST crispy cinematic video absolutely unwatchable, where good audio can still make a subpar image enjoyable to absorb. Great video dude! - Johnny

[@KyleWattsTV]

100% agree

[@semiwalter]

I am getting some weird static noise with my røde mic on the zve1. Any idea what could be causing that?

[@CasaFassa]

what about disabling the internal mic directivity settings?

[@alexdublin2673]

Good video and comparison with b1m and m1! Is it me or does the b1m actually sounds a little better and fuller than the m1? But the m1 has the 5 extra pick up patterns? In your tests did you check distance to sound source at all? You'd take the m1 over the b1m still?

[@KyleWattsTV]

Honestly between listening to multiple clips I shot, sometimes the b1m sounds better and vice versa. Sony did say for over all quality that the b1m would be a touch better but in functionality the m1 would be better.

[@alexdublin2673]

@@KyleWattsTV from the sound clips in this video the B1M sounds a little better and fuller than the m1. The m1 sounds a bit better than the b10. The extra pick up patterns of the M1 make it very appealing though and maybe EQ can equalize it. Only question remains is distance to target... As I'm sure you know some mics do much better than others at distance to target. Many things will sound good close but pretty bad when you get further away from the sound source.

[@johnnyhochstetler6133]

Great video! Have you run into any issues with the audio jack port on the ZVE1? Brand new camera and my rode mics or anything won't register in the camera. It defaults to the internal mic always. Did you run into any issues? Or maybe im missing a setting?

[@KyleWattsTV]

I haven’t had any issues. There is somewhere in the menu to allow external audio but it should be turned on by default

[@MMG_MINDSET]

Make sure the cable is for camera not smartpgone

[@PaulFeinberg]

Killer camera man in the video bro! 😂 Was fun times! Honored you would come visit me to help make this video! Nice job!

[@KyleWattsTV]

It was for the butter beer remember? 😆

[@PaulFeinberg]

@@KyleWattsTV 🤣🤣🤣

[@juliamagana8792]

Hey Kyle I recently purchased the rode mic for my zv1 however I keep hurrying a buzzing sound when I go to play back the audio I’ve tried lowering the audio on the camer settings but it won’t go away please help. It’s almost like a blade buzzing noise idk it’s like white noise 😢 Reply

[@KyleWattsTV]

Does the cable red with black ends on both sides?

[@DigiDriftZone]

What volume levels do you set for the Rode VideoMic Go II?

[@KyleWattsTV]

I mic check it until it gets to about -12 on the level meter. That gives you a bit of head room so you don’t clip. Then I just add a couple db in post

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@KyleWattsTV it's a bit tricky to get right as say you go to an event, or to a concert, the levels change throughout - for talking head, got you. I wish there was some kind of dual gain setting (safety channel) or maybe it's just best to record externally in 24bit (or even 32bit float) as the ZV-E1 appears to be limited to 16bit only.

[@KyleWattsTV]

@@DigiDriftZone that’s where the Sony ecm mics are nice since they have the auto gain setting on the mic. Just plug and play. The ntg video mic also has a safety channel that records both normal and a -20 channel into the camera incase your volume peaks you can just use the -20 channel in post

[@dsimms6]

That new shotgun mic is terrible if you move even a foot away from it, even with the other modes. You should test distance next. Great video though still, thanks for the hard work.

[@wakeywarrior]

I love the ZV-E1 but despite the microphone being designated 'smart' it is not that good. In fact it is nowhere near as good as the one on my Nikon Z30 which is much better sounding (best on camera mic in the world I believe that one). I have a transmitter clip on one, but it is a faff to set up. I have a Rode Video Micro but speak behind the camera with that and its useless. After being frustrated by the audio speaking to camera (internal ZVE1) on my latest video, I have decided to invest in one of the Sony ones. I have decided to get the new Sony one as it looks the best, no faff and very small.