Godox has introduced a new Virso / Virso S dual-channel wireless microphone system operating at 2.4GHz. A feature of the kit is the compatibility of the Virso S model receiver with the Multi Shoe of Sony cameras, so no wires are required to record sound with cameras from this manufacturer. The letter S in the model name just indicates this compatibility, the Virso model is suitable for working with cameras from other manufacturers, without the letter S, the functionality differs only in this. The price of the maximum set is $300.
Godox Virso and Virso S Wireless Microphone Systems
Another distinctive feature of the kit is the built-in microphone in the receiver. Thus, a system with two transmitters and one receiver allows you to record three interlocutors at the same time, for example, interviews of two guests and one presenter, however, the presenter will have to connect the receiver with a cable to a recording device, for example, to a camera using an extension cable. Also, such a setup can be useful for streaming – just recently, my colleagues and I conducted a series of stream interviews, where two people (a guest and a presenter) were in the frame, and I acted as a second host, behind the scenes, and such a kit from Godox was would be just the way. I would like to test this function in practice, since it is not entirely clear how, in this case, recording will be organized through the channels of a stereo pair.
Godox Virso S on a Sony Camera – Wirelessly
Like many wireless radios, the Virso offers mono/stereo modes as well as a safe track with -6dB level reduction. The transmitter does not have built-in memory, recording is carried out on a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 256 GB, which is enough to record voice for 16 days without interruption. The line-of-sight range is 200 m.
Other features:
- Noise reduction system
- Mute (mute) button
- Easy device pairing
- Mono / stereo mode
- Volume setting
The capacity of the built-in batteries is enough for 13 hours of transmitter operation and 17 hours of receiver operation, some kits include a charging case.
Godox has a wireless microphone system for smartphones and tablets in its arsenal, and the Virso system introduced today is a further development of the line, now more focused specifically on cameras.
Specifications
- Microphone Polarity: Omnidirectional
- Sensitivity: -32dB±2dB
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥70dB
- Frequency range: 50Hz-18KHz
- Maximum sound pressure SPL: 100dB
- Dynamic Range: 90dB
- Battery capacity, transmitter: 400mAh, receiver: 600mAh
- Dimensions, transmitter: 50×50×16 mm, receiver: 52×50×16 mm
- Weight, transmitter: 33 g, receiver: 40 g
- Charging case: 3500mAh, 174×71×42, 264g
As for the packaging, Godox decided to confuse everyone by providing several kits, the difference between which can be described, probably, on a sheet of A4 paper. At the same time, with everything, there is one oddity – a kit with the letter S, for Sony cameras, with a charging case is not provided, otherwise how to understand the logic of the picture below?
Various kits. T
What about the prices?
- Virso M1: $179
- Virso M2 (with charger): $249
- Virso SRX: $149
- Virso S M1: $209
- Virso S M2: $299
Presentation
What you can immediately pay attention to is that a large round on / off button is provided on the transmitter case, which, when pressed quickly, serves as a mute. This is an obvious ergonomic glitch, as an actor or host can accidentally press it, ruining the entire recording from that very moment of pressing.
Once again, the developers “please” the double functions of pressing the same button. For example: if we want to start/stop recording, we quickly press the REC button on the transmitter body, while long pressing the same button for 3 seconds will start the procedure for pairing the transmitter with the receiver. Another example is the ON/OFF button on the receiver that simultaneously rotates the screen by 180°. I wanted to flip the screen, pressed the button, held it a little longer, and … we start recording the interview from the beginning.
Judging by the images on the official website, as well as the presentation video, the receiver cannot act as a digital audio interface for a computer, we connect it to the computer using a 3.5 mm audio cable into the input of the computer’s sound card. It also shows a similar example of connecting to a smartphone using 3.5 mm. What to do with iPhones and modern Androids without a 3.5mm port is not said.
