Sony ECM-LV1 Lavalier Microphone with Stereo Sound Capture,Black

I ended up buying two of these, to use with the Rode Wireless Go system. It was for a wedding and I wanted something that looked smart that could be worn. Threaded it through the shirt and the transmitter part was in the guy's pocket.SOUNDSound quality was very good indeed and I'm delighted with its performance. Level seems to be good without needing too much gain, keeping noise way down.CABLECable is just long enough to go from upper chest, around waist into a pocket without being tight or having much slack.PRACTICALITYI like how the mic can be angled on the crocodile clip. I had the clip horizontally and the mic vertically. This was to align it with the vertical of the subject's shirt, but also I was only broadcasting a single channel and worked out which channel I needed pointing upwards. It stayed attached until I removed it, so very happy.LIMITATIONSCrocodile clips is useful but not for all situations. Given this is going to be worn, a magnetic option would be a great alternative. That would allow mic to easily be placed behind clothing, which was my preference.The little wind muff that sheathes the mic, managed to fall off and I never recovered it. So now without it. Would have been nice if they'd provided a spare, and/or a lighter colour to more closely match certain clothing.VALUEIt's lovely to have a Sony branded product to compliment my mostly Sony lineup, and gives a professional appearance, which is important.VERSATILITYAt this price point, having a stereo lavalier mic is quite unheard of. My needs was mono, so I had to check which (L or R) was connected to my wireless system (I discovered it was the L channel).USESCable isn't quite long enough to do selfie shots to camera with it plugged in. It's ideal as a plug-in for radio mic system such as DJI and Rode's offerings. Also using it as a narrative mic while filming with the camera.OVERALLYou can pick up some decent mics at rock bottom prices. At this price for a Sony branded mic, my expectations weren't hight (Sony do put their label on some trash at times). I'm no audiophile but the sound is clear and great for speech. It does a good job at picking up ambient noise, although that could be an issue if using it in a noisy environment (this is where you could use the L and R channels effectively; one pointing at the subject, the other sucking up atmosphere).For under £30 I would recommend adding this to your kit. If using with a wireless system with mono input, work out which channel is live (L in my case). Or add a splitter and pump out two transmitters giving stereo feed.

I needed a good quality lavalier microphone and originally decided on a different make/model (Audio Technica). However, it only recorded on one channel (which means if you are using a stereo camera or stereo sound recording device, then you only get sound recording on one side, with silence on the other. This happens even if the mic is described as 'dual mono'. Having done more research, I found that this particular Sony microphone is genuine stereo, and it is one of the few mics that are available in this price range that offer genuine stereo (not 'dual mono') recording on both channels. This Sony microphone is well-made, and gives a rich deep sound reproduction, with low noise interference. A windshield is also provided for outdoor recording. The mic works perfectly on STEREO cameras, camcorders, and handheld recording devices (NB: it is NOT designed for use with mobile phones). There might be lavalier mics that will give you a slightly better sound quality - but for a lot more money). Within this particualr price range, I would definitely recommend this microphone.

The sound quality of this microphone is quite good. While it is not exceptional, it is certainly impressive even when considering the price. I primarily use it for gaming, paired with my IEMs, as I was looking for a compact alternative to a large desktop microphone. For that use case, it performs very well. As expected with an omnidirectional microphone, it picks up background noise very well, however, this is easily managed through software (NVIDIA Broadcast), so it has not been a problem in practice.The build quality is adequate, though not remarkable. The plastic construction feels lightweight but inexpensive. One small downside is the short cable length, which could be limiting depending on your setup.Overall, this microphone offers solid performance and convenience at an affordable price, making it a good option for users seeking a minimal, plug-and-play solution.

This little stereo microphone, complete with 1 metre cord and TRS 3.5mm plug, packs a deceptive punch. It is fitted with a spring clip for use as a lavalier.I bought it for use with an Olympus portable voice recorder to make stereo field recordings and wild sound for videos. The quality is full bodied and immersive. The supplied foam windshield is effective in calm situations, but I found a small deadcat was required for beating real wind situations.I also tried it with a Sharp MiniDisc recorder with similar success. Then I plugged it straight into the mic socket of my HP desk computer for Skype calls. Again it was clear and full bodied with a convincing lower frequency response.All of these devices provide Plug-In Power, a small 2.5v bias to the signal line to power a FET amplifier within the mike. Most modern recorders will have this as standard.If I have a grumble it is the lack of a case for transporting this valuable piece of kit. Although it appears robust, I will not be throwing it into a bag with other equipment to lug around. A used 35mm film canister serves the purpose well here.I have no hesitation in recommending this item for simple stereo portable recording.