Verdict
It ’s not just the petite size of it and lightweight pattern of the Mic Mini that impress – its low-cost price and great sound quality do too . It feel like DJI has n’t cut too many corners in its pursuit of a punk , smaller alternative to the full - sizing Mic and Mic 2 , and for most aspiring subject creators , podcasters and vloggers , the Mic Mini is more than subject of levelling up their part transcription biz .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The DJI Mic and its successor theDJI Mic 2are hugely pop wireless lavalier microphones . They ’re particularly beloved by content Lord looking for a stocky , lightweight and largely cable system - free audio solution for vlogs , consultation and voiceover recordings .
You ’ll doubtless have see these little grey rectangles append to the lapel , t - shirt and crownwork of YouTubers and TikTok creators but , when it comes to the latest modelling in the series , you might have to look a piece more cautiously . That ’s because the fresh DJI Mic Mini is absolutely tiny .
At roughly half the size of it and weight of the DJI Mic and Mic 2 , this thing use up something that was already wonderfully summary and cause it even more so . It also squeezes down the price considerably , with a 2 Lone-Star State + 1 RX + Charging Case packet costing £ 149 / € 169 and a 1 TX + 1 RX parcel be £ 79 / € 89 .
So how does the Mic Mini shape up against its with child brethren ? I put it through its paces indoors , alfresco and in a variety of challenge situation to find out if size really does matter .
Design and Build
The big lot with the Mic Mini is its size and it ’s strong to downplay how minor and light this matter is . At just 10 g , the TX ( transmitter ) whole is 60 % light than the DJI Mic 2 ’s tantamount and it ’s physically half the size too . This makes it even easier to impound to clothes discreetly and I could n’t even experience the TX when I was wear down one on my jumper . I suppose the low size might ensue in some people get hold attachment a act fiddly , but once it ’s on your clothes ( either using the build - in clipping or clamp on using a magnet ) it ’s passably safe .
The TX and RX ( receiver ) whole are both solidly built from punishing plastic and feel full-bodied enough for frequent usance despite their lightweight builds . The RX ( which is also lightweight at around 18 chiliad ) is much simpler than the DJI Mic 2 ’s equivalent . It has no touch video display , but there is a nicely tactile dial for correct mic gain and clearly marked buttons for mightiness and coupling . It also has a clip on the bottom for attach it to clothing that double as a slide - in mount for hot and cold shoe on digital cameras ; I was able to fix the RX to my Panasonic Lumix GH6 promptly and securely during testing .
The TX units do n’t sport any forcible connexion at all ( just buttons for power and conjugation ) , while the RX features a 3.5 mm yield for photographic camera mic socket , a USB - C port for connecting to computers and cameras and a removable male USB - C chew that allows it to link up flush to a smartphone , tablet or laptop data processor . This can be substitute by an optional Lighting plug for iPhone and iPad attachment and , while I was initially bother that DJI had n’t included this as standard ( as it did with the Mic 2 ) , I do sympathise the decisiveness giving Apple ’s phasing out of the association .
If you buy the package with two TX unit of measurement , you also get the turn on case to accommodate and reload everything , plus a cushy carrying pouch that hold the case plus extra cables and windscreens . One endearing touching about the Mini ’s charging lawsuit is that it go forth enough room for mics with windscreens attach to fit deep down – something that was n’t potential with the Mic and Mic 2 cases .
Features
When using the TX with the RX , wireless audio range is up to 400 m – at least theoretically and in idealistic experimental condition . In actual , literal - universe manipulation , obstacles like walls , floors and source of electrical interference incline to get in the means and audio quality can get if you do n’t avoid them . That said , in my tests it maintained a white signal through three floors of the marvellous , erstwhile townhouse in which I hold out ; yes , it ’s hardly lab - quality examination , but I found these to be quite impressive resultant role .
The other wireless transcription method acting is to use a direct Bluetooth connexion between the TX and a compatible gadget . The useable range take a lot shorter here and sound lineament is n’t as high , but it can be a conveniently mere setup in sure site as it lets you omit the RX unit completely .
I used direct Bluetooth transcription with an iPhone 13 and a MacBook Air and found that both worked pretty well , but it ’s much more impressive with DJI ’s Osmo cameras . With the Osmo Action 5 Pro , for illustration , the Mic Mini pairs from within the camera ’s carte , which also have you adjust profit , noise cancellation and other stage setting . It also gives you a real - meter view of the addition stratum on the Action 5 Pro ’s CRT screen , secure you could supervise audio recording while filming videos .
shelling lifespan is splendid here , specially when using the charge case . The TX unit ’s battery life is around 11.5 hours and the RX ’s is around 10.5 hours , but the charge type let these to be topped up on the go ; when charging two TX and one RX , a fully charged compositor’s case can charge the mic components about 3.5 prison term over . That equal a full battery spirit for the intact setup of almost 50 hours . These are according to DJI ’s figure , of trend , so some caution around them is required , but I never came nigh to depleting the battery on any of the components during my testing period , which endure several sidereal day . That ’s significantly longer than you ’d get from the DJI Mic 2 and Mic ingredient .
Audio Performance
The Mic Mini offer three main ways of transcription : mono , stereoscopic picture and mono ( with a Safety Track ) . The former only requires a single TX unit , while the latter two modality use two . For stereo recording , each TX put down one communication channel , while Safety Track recording immortalize the same audio with each TX , but with one transcription using a depleted increase ( -6dB ) ; this quieter track works as a back - up , operable if the main recording clips out with an circumstantially brassy sound .
Audio tone is loosely splendid with voices coming through with pleasing free weight and clarity . 24 - bit digital sound is considered ‘ hi - res ’ by today ’s standards and , if you ’re pee-pee podcasts , YouTube videos or similar social sensitive content , interviewing people or even having Teams or Zooms meetings , it ’s certainly more than nippy enough . The mic ’s omnidirectional pick - up also make well ; its wide traffic pattern mean there ’s no pauperism to talk ‘ into ’ the TX to get a vindicated recording .
When using a lineal Bluetooth connection , the character is slimly less impressive but still decent . On the Osmo Action 5 Pro , sound recording gets commemorate in 48kHz/16 - bit , which is around the same quality as a CD , but when using third - party products the recording caliber drops much low , to the point where I would n’t consider using it for a telecasting or podcast unless it was an parking brake .
Unlike the Mic 2 , there ’s no option to put down in the 32 - fleck ice-cream soda data formatting with the Mic Mini . I do n’t think that ’s a immense stack , in person – this is a more low-cost alternative to the Mic 2 and as such is never going to extend the same level of spec or carrying into action .
The Mic Mini come with two - tier noise cancelling technology ( it can also be turned off completely ) , and while I would n’t call it the most effective ANC I ’ve encountered , it definitely sour .
In my tests , I get hold that it did a fantastical job of reducing the tawdry hum of a dehumidifier running in my role , while wave crash on a beach seem to come through virtually untouched . So , I ’d say it ’s at its safe at notice and removing drone - type sound like fans , dealings racket and the low reverb of background voices . It leaves the clarity of the speaker or speakers ’ voices nice and clear , thankfully , although some electronic distortion seems to pussyfoot in at the gamy setting . The cartridge holder - on windscreens , meanwhile , do a whole business of reduce the breeze ’s buffeting during outdoor recording sessions .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
At less than half the price of a DJI Mic 2 while provide solid all - round performance , the DJI Mic Mini represents splendid value for money . And it ’s space - saving , too .
The Mini understandably cuts out feature film in its quest to stay small and cheap . Pricier models offer good connectivity , 32 - morsel ice-cream float and other advantage .
Final Thoughts
I was expecting the Mic Mini to make gravid sacrifice in its pursuit of being small but that ’s not really the example . Sure , it miss 32 - bit float recording and there are some areas where the Mic 2 makes more sense , but for anyone who does n’t demand the top storey of carrying out , there ’s cargo to appreciate .
The Mic Mini is tiny and lightweight , but its all - round audio quality , fantastic battery life history and simple , user - friendly design make it ideal for anybody who wants better voice transcription in their video recording , podcasts or interview .
Trusted Score
How we test
During each microphone review , we conduct a serial of recording test that let in taste audio during idealistic options , with desktop racket applied and in an outdoor setting ( where possible ) , to give you the safe mind of how each machine performs in real - world use .
FAQs
The Mic Mini is very lightweight at just 10 g.
The Mic Mini is an omnidirectional mic .
