Sony's new phone mic can record spatial audio on the go

It may not be apparent at first glance, but one of the biggest challenges for a content creator is choosing the best microphone for their setup. While smartphone cameras are more than enough for most content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, mic quality can still make or break your videos. So, while you’re frantically comparing the DJI Mic 2S and the DJI Mic 3, you might want to add Sony’s latest smartphone mic to your list, too.

Sony has launched the ECM-AX10 mic today, continuing its longstanding trend of giving its products the most confusing names. The mic is aimed specifically at content creators, vloggers, and mobile filmmakers, and it packs features such as support for spatial audio recording. The ECM-AX10 is also the world’s first mic to feature Eclipsa Audio certification. If you’re wondering what that means, it’s simply an assurance that spatial audio recorded using Sony’s new mic will play properly and accurately on YouTube.

It features four omnidirectional microphone capsules to record sound from multiple directions, using Sony’s spatial audio processing to accurately capture depth, distance, and other characteristics of the sound.

The ECM-AX10 uses USB-C to connect directly to smartphones and supports three audio recording styles: Ambisonics for spatial audio, binaural for an immersive experience on headphones, and stereo.

Surprisingly, binaural recording mode may suit most creators seeking an immersive experience, since Ambisonics spatial audio will likely only work properly on YouTube. Sony says binaural recording mode creates a headphone-optimized, three-dimensional sound experience even on platforms that don’t support Eclipsa Audio.

The ECM-AX10 weighs just 24 grams, making it easy to carry for on-the-go video recording. It’s priced at $249 and is available for pre-sale on Amazon, the Sony website, and other retailers.