At NAB 2026 in Las Vegas, Lectrosonics was showing its new lightweight S1 Shotgun Microphone, which is designed for high-end sound capture applications such as location sound and studio production for film & TV, sports broadcasting, and news coverage.
The new S1 microphone features a precision true condenser capsule with RF biasing, which is said to offer resilience and resistance to humidity when used in harsh environments. This is coupled with a precision line tube that offers a tight, consistent polar pattern with claimed excellent, uniform off-axis rejection, coupled with low coloration.
The microphone itself is 8.4 inches (215mm) long, and is precision-manufactured in aircraft-grade aluminium to give strength coupled with a total weight of just 2.7oz (78g). With a diameter of 0.75 inches (19mm), it is fully compatible with a wide range of suspensions and other microphone mounting options. This combination of strength and light weight makes the S1 perfect for booming, even on extended boom poles.
The innovative new line tube has full radial symmetry, meaning the S1 microphone performs consistently regardless of the vertical orientation. With superior off-axis rejection and a consistent polar pattern across the frequency range with minimal lobing, the S1 excels in difficult situations, in both indoor and outdoor environments.
The RF bias design gives an intrinsic immunity to moisture and other environmental factors, making it the preferred design for location recording microphones by leading sound mixers.
The S1 has a broadly flat frequency response profile with a slight lift in the upper frequencies to deliver unparalleled clarity for dialogue capture. The advanced electronic design offers a low self-noise of just 10dBA, with a maximum SPL handling of 130dB SPL.
“The new S1 shotgun mic is one of the first examples of a collaboration between different parts of the Freedman Group. The vast RØDE acoustics and microphone capsule engineering expertise was met with the Lectrosonics knowledge of our professional customer base in film and TV production – we brought the best of both worlds together for the development of this high-performance professional microphone.”
Karl Winkler, EVP of product design and distribution for Lectrosonics
The S1 is ideal for battery-powered mobile rigs, as its electronics draw less than 2mA from standard 48V phantom power.
Pricing & Availability
The S1 is finished with an attractive and hardwearing blue anodized coating and is assembled in the USA at the Lectrosonics HQ in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The new S1 will be available in the second half of 2026, with an expected price of $1,639 USD.
