Comica CVM WS60 Combo
Overview
What sets the CVM WS60 apart from the WS50 as well as all other single channel microphone systems is that it includes two separate microphones on two separate channels or frequencies. This allows you to record interviews, wire up a bride and groom for a wedding video or just do your normal hobby or cooking show with an assistant or guest without worrying about audio quality, which can be a problem with shotgun style mics, especially when you need to move around a little.
The small form factor of the Comica CVM WS60 is also an advantage. The receiver can be easily mounted directly to the camera or to a small tripod if you choose to use a separate audio recorder.
Comica claims the range of this combo to be 60 meters in open space and 30 meters in areas with obstacles. That equates to about 198 and 98 feet respectively. I took the WS60 outside and in a clear area got good coverage to just over 200 feet before an occasional drop out occurred.
Two important switch options on the receiver are easy to overlook but are quite important.
Device Flexibilty
One is the camera/ smartphone switch. This allows you to use only one cable when connecting to various devices without worrying about the type plug the device is expecting. For example, Smartphones expect a TRRS plug and recorders and cameras normally expect a TRS plug. This switch will ensure that the right signals are presented at the right place on the plug electrically.
The other switch is the stereo/mono switch. This switch together with the smartphone camera switch ensures that the camera or recorder gets the right signal in terms of mono or stereo. My DSLR camera expects a mono input while my Handycam expects a stereo input. You’ll need to make sure you understand what inputs your device expects.
Testing
My tests with my Galaxy S8, two Sony Handycams, a Nikon DSLR and a TASCAM digital audio recorder all produced good quality audio in either the mono or stereo settings or both. With stereo selected, some devices separated the mics into right and left channels. I found distracting for interview settings but you might have a creative effect that could use such separation. On the mono setting inputs from both mics were clear even when used in close proximity to each other.
Overall, at this price point and with this form factor and flexibility, the Comica WS 60 Combo with two microphones is a good buy. Sound quality is good and the small form factor allows you to use the WS 60 in a variety of circumstances and settings with a variety of recording devices and cameras.
If your typical production includes more than one speaker and quality dialog audio is important, this wireless mic combo is definitely worth your consideration.
Please note that the CVM WS60 was provided to me for review.
The video review and tutorial takes a comprehensive look at the Comica CVM WS60 with sample audio taken from a Galaxy S8, two different Sony Handycams, a Nikon D5300 DSLR and a TASCAM DR-60 Mk II digital audio recorder.
