Sony ECM-VG1 Mic Comparison

[@markipophoto]

Thanks for this review of the Sony ECM-VG1, super ! I finally bought one second hand. I love the form factor (short) on my FX6

[@wotiluv]

A real review which I so much treasure these days. Thanks 😊

[@sirnigelcogs]

The Sony had a nice clear sound, whereas the Audio-Technica had some good warmth to it. If I was going to pick a microphone from this assortment I would pick one of those two.

[@shropmedia]

Thanks for taking the time to make this. Helps me consider these options.

[@BrennanMurphy]

4:11 this was super useful thank you for the distance test

[@dragdriverepeat]

This was a great video and helped me find out about the Audio Technica, which what I am buying now. Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@bigtb1717]

Glad I could help. It's definitely a good mic.

[@dvamateur]

Thank you for this video. I was going to buy the ECM-680S, but I think I am going to go with the BP4029 instead.

[@actioncollectibles5826]

I love how the Sony one sounds for me :)

[@TOYBALLFACTORY]

Nice test!Thank you.

[@timklein5850]

Hi Tony!!!! Love your videos!!!

[@johnbb99]

In the 10' distance test, am I kidding myself, or did the Sennheiser 'pull' your voice out of the background a little bit better? Thanks for a very interesting and useful test.

[@dylanj8676]

It's probably the bigger high frequency boost the MKE600 has.

[@Alecaom]

Very thanks!

[@sheers5337]

The Audio Technica sounds considerably better to my ears

[@danieldougan269]

I was surprised that the Sony held its own in these tests against more expensive mics. It's not the best (the Sennheiser is), but it's good enough in most cases, and it's a more affordable option. It is nice with the Rode NTG2 and the Sennheiser that you can power them with a battery and convert XLR to 3.5mm. It's not the ideal way to use a mic like this, but it's good in a pinch if you don't have XLR inputs with phantom power available at the moment. (What if your recorder malfunctions or breaks?)

[@bigtb1717]

It's also very compact and lightweight, and comes with a furry windscreen. It's a good value.

[@StandardTime]

Super useful video!

[@KiaTaatje]

Sony sounds pretty good but no option of battery power , so my choice is the sennheiser MKE600

[@erickperdomo277]

great video! I need a compact XLR shotgun mic for my FX30 when I use the XLR handle. I'm on a budget so I'm thinking this Sony VG1 would be ok or the cheaper Sony ECM-XM1...do you have any experience with the XM1? is the VG1 much better? Thanks- PS I have a NTG-2 but I find it too long for the camera...in your tests the VG1 sound cleaner than the Rode NTG2-I think

[@bigtb1717]

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the XM1.

[@antoineinniss5586]

mr bigtb. greeeaat test and review. can you tell me where I can purchase a wind filter like the one used in this video? I need one for my audio technica at875r shotgun. thanks

[@bigtb1717]

The one I have is an Auray, I think 5.5". I get a lot of stuff from B&H Photo, but I got that particular windscreen in a kit along with a mic from a different retailer. By itself it's pretty pricy at around $85. Granted, you could spend a lot more on something like a Rycote, but there are other brands that are less expensive too. Boya makes some that I've used that aren't quite as nice, but have probably 90% of the performance and are far less expensive. The Boya fur windscreens are available on B&H and Amazon, and I'm sure other places. Hope that helps!

[@Idontknow4]

Hi :D how are we all doing today?

[@timklein5850]

Great!

[@MarkArturo]

I realize this video is from two years ago, but I am a tap dancer trying to get a crash course in microphones and miking a stage. If I was trying to use a shotgun mic to target the surface I am dancing on (about 3.5' sq.), in a bar or club, and I didn't want to pickup the audience sounds as much, which one would you recommend? Imagine that the mic is directly connected to the sound system through a cable and that the mic is about 6 to 8" above the board and maybe a foot away in front facing the board and back to the audience. Thank you.

[@bigtb1717]

Honestly, any shotgun mic, or even just a small diaphragm, cardioid condenser mic would probably work. What you describe is a good setup. The mic would be relatively close to you with the back facing the audience. So any shotgun mic or cardioid mic in general would probably do a fair job. I've never had a big issue with this, but technically, a shotgun mic can cause issues indoors, particularly in reverberant spaces, because the interference tube can cause phase issues as the echo of a sound comes into the sides slightly out of time with the original sound coming into the front. So it might be worth starting with a small diaphragm condenser (sometimes called a "pencil" condenser) mic. They can be relatively inexpensive. Most of them don't block noise from the sides and back as as well as a shotgun mic, but in your use case, it may still be a good trade-off.

[@SanKraN87]

Exactly what i required to know, nice comparison between sony and mke600 from 10m away, from the looks of it the mk600 cancels the background noise a tiny touch better than sony, but also its a bit more expensive, i was also wondering what will be the difference between sony and Sennheiser MKH 418 S or Sennheiser MKH 8070

[@bigtb1717]

Unfortunately, I don't have experience with either of those mics. However, they are quite different from the Sony ECM-VG1. The 418S is a stereo mic. It has dual capsules and will provide a stereo output. The 8070 is a much longer (and MUCH more expensive) microphone and will likely provide far more focused pickup pattern and off-axis rejection and isolation.

[@SanKraN87]

@@bigtb1717 interesting, what you will sugest to be the best purchase between all of them if i am a solo shooter and i usually record me or 2-3 persons from like 5-6 m away from camera ?

[@bigtb1717]

Is your only option a microphone at the camera? Could you put a microphone on a boom, closer to the people? Wireless mics on the people? How far apart will the people be? Really, no microphone is going to work super well at 5-6 meters away. But a long shotgun mic would probably be the best option.

[@SanKraN87]

@@bigtb1717 I have a rode wireless go, but i also wanted an XLR mic to go well on my FX3 handle, i am sometimes doing indoor recordings where the sound will not be a problem, but sometimes i shoot outside like interviews type, and i am also the camera guy and also the talent :)

[@bigtb1717]

A long shotgun mic is probably the best option for longer distances. If the people talking are very spread out, you may have to either split the difference with the mic, or if possible, actively turn it to face whoever is speaking at any given time. But that will mostly apply if they are really spread out or much closer to the mic. At 5-6 meters distance, they would have to be pretty far apart to not all be within the pickup pattern of the mic.

[@CarlosCastillo-se5mb]

Can I Use the Sony mic with a zoom H1n recorder? Great vid btw

[@bigtb1717]

Unfortunately, no. The Sony mic requires an XLR connection with 48V phantom power. The H1n only has a 3.5mm mic jack and doesn't provide plug in power.

[@chapo2684]

should i leave it on m or v?

[@bigtb1717]

That's going to be purely up to you and which way you prefer the sound. In the "M" position the low cut filter is turned off. Depending on the situation, this can result in a more natural sound, or at the very least, a sound with a bit more low end frequencies. However, if you have a lot of wind noise or other rumble, turning the low cut filter on (position "V") will reduce some of that rumble, but you will have fewer low frequencies overall. It just depends on which sound you prefer in your particular recording situation.

[@activemessiah]

Which one of these can i plug directly into a mirrorless?

[@bigtb1717]

The Sennheiser MKE-600 and the Rode NTG2 both can be powered by an internal AA battery. If you had one of those mics you could get an XLR to 3.5mm cable and plug it into a mirrorless camera 3.5mm mic input jack. The other two require phantom power and would not work unless you had a camera with an XLR jack with phantom power.

[@danieldougan269]

If you're looking for a mic to plug directly into your mirrorless camera, you might want something specifically designed for that like the Rode VideoMic Pro. I personally own a Takstar SGC-598, and it's a tremendous budget option if you're just starting out. The mics in this review are XLR mics, and they are intended for more professional use.

[@activemessiah]

@@danieldougan269 I ended up going for the MKE600 in the end... Happy with it so far. Cheers.

[@timklein5850]

First to comment!!!