Sony's ECM-W5 kit pairs two transmitters with one receiver and gives each transmitter 64 GB of backup storage. It costs $399 and ships in November.
Sony has introduced the ECM-W5 wireless microphone system, which comprises the ECM-W5T wireless transmitter, the ECM-W5R wireless receiver, and a kit that bundles the receiver, two transmitters, and a charging case.
Low-latency transmission supports live streaming, and the system transmits over a line-of-sight distance of up to 500 m (1640 ft) when the microphone is visible from the receiver. Sony says the system is approximately three times more stable than the ECM-W3.
The microphones record at up to 96 kHz/24-bit High-Resolution Audio, with 32-bit float available only at 48 kHz. Sony cautions that if clipping occurs at the microphone input stage, the original audio cannot be restored by adjusting volume during editing. The system works best with Sony cameras because, through the Multi Interface (MI) Shoe, digital audio travels directly to a compatible model and records with video in a single file.
Each transmitter has 64 GB of built-in storage for backup, holding up to 90 hours of audio at 32-bit float/48 kHz or up to 60 hours at 24-bit/96 kHz. A 3.5 mm microphone input supports lavalier and external microphones, including the separately sold ECM-L1.
For a cable-free setup, compatible Sony wireless headphones can monitor audio over Bluetooth LE Audio and double as wireless microphone inputs. Timecode functionality supports synchronization across multiple cameras and audio recordings.
Compatible Sony cameras can also power the receiver through the MI Shoe and support linked power control. The supplied USB Type-C adapter enables recording on smartphones and PCs that support USB Audio Class 2.0, and a transmitter can connect directly over Bluetooth for wireless recording.
Sony says camera compatibility information will be at https://www.sony.net/dics/ecmw5/ and headphone compatibility at https://www.sony.net/di/TWS/.