Sony’s new shotgun microphone for the professional audio market: ECM-778

The Sony ECM-778 was developed as a high-end shotgun microphone for professionals. It is primarily targeted at broadcast sound engineers and boom operators on location. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as connecting it to the company’s wireless system and directly to a camera.

This product is planned to be developed as a top-of-the-line model alongside the company’s professional microphones “ECM-678/9X” and “ECM-674/9X,” which were released over 10 years ago. Unlike the conventional on-camera microphones for general users that are compatible with MI shoes (multi-interface shoes) (ECM-M1, ECM-G1, etc.), this product will be released to the market as a shotgun microphone specialized for full-scale professional use.

　 　　

Unique technology that supports high-resolution audio and clear sound recording

The ECM-778 features clear, high-quality, and professional sound. During the development stage, sound quality was pursued through monitoring and supervision by multiple experts, including Sony Pictures’ sound engineers. The main feature of this microphone is that it can capture the target sound with excellent resolution and capture sound that is faithful to the original sound, from clear highs, flat mids to clear lows. It features clear and open highs, solid mids and lows, and a flat frequency response from lows to mids.

Additionally, the Sony ECM-778 maintains a -10dB level above 20kHz, making it possible to capture high-resolution audio. It delivers natural, neutral audio that is compatible with high-resolution audio, and is characterized by its ability to capture the natural nuances of human voices, environmental sounds, and musical instruments.

The internal structure that supports the sound quality is achieved by using a new brass acoustic tube that suppresses frequency fluctuations due to distance, provides stable directional frequency characteristics from low to high frequencies, and eliminates unnecessary resonance.

In addition, the ideal off-axis characteristics allow natural sound pickup from the front. The polar pattern shows forward directivity, and it can be confirmed that as a gun microphone, it accurately picks up the targeted sound. In addition, the boundary between the areas that pick up sound and those that do not is designed to be smooth, allowing users to record the targeted sound in a more natural way and reducing the difficulty of handling that often occurs with microphones with severe directivity.

Another feature is that it is quieter, reducing the effects of the external environment. The precision-machined aluminum exterior ensures robustness with just the right amount of specific gravity and vibration damping, and provides electrical shielding and low noise while eliminating unnecessary resonance.

Approximately 18cm and 102g, this model is highly maneuverable and robust.

One of the main features of this product is its small size and light weight. The ECM-778 has a total length of just 18cm, less than 20cm. This makes it stand out from the company’s ECM-678 and ECM-VG1, as well as other major shotgun microphones from other companies, many of which are over 20cm long.

This compact size prevents the microphone from appearing on the screen when a wide-angle lens is used, even when attached to a camera. In addition, when used as a boom microphone, it is easier to approach the subject, greatly improving mobility when shooting. The body is made of sturdy aluminum, but is also lightweight at approximately 100 grams, making it extremely light compared to previous flagship models.

　 　　

Robustness and noise suppression to withstand harsh environments

Another feature of this microphone is its reliability in a variety of environments. The main unit is equipped with a low-cut switch, which can be turned on to clearly pick up the desired sound even in outdoor environments with strong wind noise, machine noise, or air conditioner noise. In addition, two types of windscreens (foam type and fur type) are included by default, allowing users to use them according to the environment. The entire product is surrounded by aluminum, making it very sturdy.

This product comes with all the basic parts you need to use it, including a spacer to secure the microphone, the two types of windscreens mentioned above, and a sturdy plastic storage case, making it easy to transport to the location.

　 　　

The ECM-778 is primarily targeted at professional recording engineers and high-end users, and it will be interesting to see how its performance compares to industry-standard shotgun microphones. Its specifications are comparable to those of high-priced products, but it also boasts excellent cost performance and a compact, lightweight design, which are major advantages. We look forward to seeing how it is evaluated in the market and how it will perform in the future.

Sony ECM-778 Features