At the Windy Burrow, we used a lot the Røde VideoMic Rycote microphone, even for hiking despite its size. But for certain situations, it felt a bit awkward if not annoying to use such a mic, in particular for very low shots where the back of the microphone hides part of the camera screen, even by tilting it to the maximum. It was therefore time to change it something more compact with a smaller footprint for our outings.
Synco M1s microphone
Our choice was made on the small Synco M1s microphone, which is perfect for taking on the trails. Here are its main characteristics: ultra compact, very light with only 35 g, Plug & Play (no extra battery as with the VideoMic), windshield, 3.5mm TRS and 3.5mm TRRS cables.
This M1s is an evolution of the M1 model which improves shock absorption and noise reduction.
With its ultra-compact design, the Synco M1S offers very good recording quality and wide device compatibility as you only need to plug in a 3.5 mm jack. Its shockproof silicone suspension allows it to be mounted without generating noise.
Technical characteristics
- Sensibility : -35 dB +/-2dB
- Response frequency: 100Hz-20KHz / ± 3dB
- Signal to noise ratio: 60 dB
- Connectors: 3.5mm TRS and 3.5mm TRRS
- Dimensions: 21.5 x 72 mm
- Weight: 35g
What we think about it
The overall handling is greatly improved, it’s no surprise with such a small mic. I’m no audio expert, the quality is certainly slightly lower compared to the Røde VideoMic, but for our videos that would be negligible anyway.
Not having to worry anymore about carrying and charging extra battery is a big plus (although I only had to change the VideoMic’s 9V battery only twice in over a year). Some would say that the downside is that the microphone uses the camera battery, which is already not great on the X-T3. So We are very happy about the Synco M1S, it’s to be classified as an improvement for The Windy Burrow.