Comments on: Sony Introduces ECM-HW2 Wireless Microphone At CES

By: Sastrys

Sastrys — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:40:00 +0000

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”!!!

By: Sastrys

Sastrys — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:40:00 +0000

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

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

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:08:39 +0000

[...] kind of wireless microphone? I think Sony comes pretty close to this with a Bluetooth-based system (pictures). The receiver slides into a powered shoe on the camera. Still at least one too many boxes (the [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:08:18 +0000

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-...

By: symptomsofvisionproblems

symptomsofvisionproblems — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:08:18 +0000

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-...

By: Scott Coplen

Scott Coplen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:13:04 +0000

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.

By: Scott Coplen

Scott Coplen — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:13:04 +0000

By: stuart

stuart — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:15:06 +0000

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

By: stuart

stuart — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:15:00 +0000

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

By: JC

JC — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:17:06 +0000

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.