Sony Introduces ECM-HW2 Wireless Microphone At CES

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Record from afar. Through Bluetooth wireless technology for secure recordings, the ECM-HW2 (successor to last year’s ECM-HW1) wireless microphone introduced at CES 2009 communicates from distances up to approximately 100 feet. It also features two-way communication, and you can shoot while still talking to a friend up to 100 meters from the camcorder. The microphone and receiver unit are even equipped with earphone jacks that correspond to “5.1ch Center Mic” mode. The ECM-HW2 Wireless Microphone is compatible with almost every camcorder with Active Interface Shoe. Microphone and receiver are equipped with separate earphone jacks, and two separate low-quality earphones are provided for both the microphone and the receiver units.

The ECM-HW2 is currently a pre-sale item available on or about 02/09/2009 for $229.99.

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They also made a new mic design for the HW2, which is somewhat better looking than the HW1′s mic.

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11
Jan 2009
POSTED BY Christopher MacManus
POSTED IN

Cameras/Camcorders, CES, Hardware

DISCUSSION 11 Comments
  • http://sapromo.com JC

    Where or when will it be available in the UK.

    I am looking forward to this product as now I can do interviews at shows and events with my HDR-SR10E without worries about sound quality. Plus!!! It’s got a MIC jack, how awesome is that. Let me know if anybody finds it at a store in the UK where I can go grab one.

  • http://sapromo.com JC

    Where or when will it be available in the UK.

    I am looking forward to this product as now I can do interviews at shows and events with my HDR-SR10E without worries about sound quality. Plus!!! It’s got a MIC jack, how awesome is that. Let me know if anybody finds it at a store in the UK where I can go grab one.

  • http://www.sdsdvdproductions.co.uk stuart

    Great unit, can be purchased for£100 from Calumet via Sony.

  • http://www.sdsdvdproductions.co.uk stuart

    Great unit, can be purchased for£100 from Calumet via Sony.

  • http://www.thyseo.com/expert.html Scott Coplen

    I am using two Sony wireless ECM-HW2, to record a group of people. I'll have to place one of these on a microphone stand, but positioning it so the video guy can see the blue light will be difficult. I'd like to see Sony offer a hollow microphone housing unit to house the ECM-HW2 wireless for situations like mine.

  • http://www.thyseo.com/expert.html Scott Coplen

    I am using two Sony wireless ECM-HW2, to record a group of people. I'll have to place one of these on a microphone stand, but positioning it so the video guy can see the blue light will be difficult. I'd like to see Sony offer a hollow microphone housing unit to house the ECM-HW2 wireless for situations like mine.

  • symptomsofvisionproblems

    Hey i want this for my next event. Can you send me the link from where i can purchase it

    http://www.wireless-microphones.net/microphone-…

  • http://www.mushroomfieldguides.com/stuffed.html Alex

    Hey i want this for my next event. Can you send me the link from where i can purchase it

    http://www.wireless-microphones.net/microphone-…

  • Pingback: Philip Greenspun's Weblog » Best camcorder with built-in wireless microphone system?

  • Sastrys

    I recorded a one-one interview using Sony Bluetooth wireless ECM-HW2, placed on the subject’s jacket lapel. The distance from the subject to the Sony Camcorder was about 7 meters. It was shot in a private study with good room-acoustics (insulated floor with pile carpets, double curtains and book shelves) no barriers or any external stray sound distortions. I was very disappointed at the results! The first problem was there was time delay/lag or no lip sync between the audio and the video images. The interview was with a VIP and unfortunately could not be re-shot. The only option open to me was difficult post-production tweaking. The second ‘problem’ pertains to the very ‘attractive’ looking blue light on the lapel Mic which is quite distracting in video shoot. The lack of option to selectively switch off the blue light when required (once the pairing between the camera mounted transmitter/receiver and the Mic unit is completed) is a sad shortcoming. I’d like to see Sony offer this option in the next version. Suggestions on how to rectify the audio/picture time lag problem is very welcome.
    By the way Sony has this to say in their instruction manual (4-126-699-14 (1)): “This wireless microphone processes and transmits sound digitally, resulting in a slight lag between actual sound and the recorded (monitored) sound. As a result, when monitoring via earphone, an echo effect may be heard. Similarly, viewing pictures with sound recorded on this wireless microphone may also display this delay effect. However, this is not a malfunction.“

    Try watching a clip with no lip/picture sync and tell me …”however, this is not a malfunction”!!!

  • Sastrys

    I recorded a one-one interview using Sony Bluetooth wireless ECM-HW2, placed on the subject’s jacket lapel. The distance from the subject to the Sony Camcorder was about 7 meters. It was shot in a private study with good room-acoustics (insulated floor with pile carpets, double curtains and book shelves) no barriers or any external stray sound distortions. I was very disappointed at the results! The first problem was there was time delay/lag or no lip sync between the audio and the video images. The interview was with a VIP and unfortunately could not be re-shot. The only option open to me was difficult post-production tweaking. The second ‘problem’ pertains to the very ‘attractive’ looking blue light on the lapel Mic which is quite distracting in video shoot. The lack of option to selectively switch off the blue light when required (once the pairing between the camera mounted transmitter/receiver and the Mic unit is completed) is a sad shortcoming. I’d like to see Sony offer this option in the next version. Suggestions on how to rectify the audio/picture time lag problem is very welcome.
    By the way Sony has this to say in their instruction manual (4-126-699-14 (1)): “This wireless microphone processes and transmits sound digitally, resulting in a slight lag between actual sound and the recorded (monitored) sound. As a result, when monitoring via earphone, an echo effect may be heard. Similarly, viewing pictures with sound recorded on this wireless microphone may also display this delay effect. However, this is not a malfunction.“

    Try watching a clip with no lip/picture sync and tell me …”however, this is not a malfunction”!!!