The DJI Mic Mini is possibly the most affordable and flexible high quality wireless mic system we've seen. Simon Wyndham takes a deep dive into its capabilities in our comprehensive review.
When RØDE released its Wireless Go mic system in 2019, it's fair to say that it changed the game for wireless audio entirely. No longer did creators have to put up with dodgy Blutooth quality audio in order to record sound without a cable, or be required to buy a license to be able to use a traditional and expensive UHF/VHF system.
Later, RØDE would release an improved version of its system, but alongside it DJI had been busy working on its own. The first DJI Mic system came out of the gates strongly, and the company further improved things with the Mic 2. The latter having an advantage over RØDE's mics if you were using a compatible DJI camera, due to the way a Mic 2 microphone transmitter could connect without requiring an external receiver.
Now, DJI has released the DJI Mic Mini, which at half the price of the Mic 2 would appear to make it an incredibly tempting proposition for those on very tight budgets. But, is there a catch? Are there any compromises on quality compared to the Mic 2?
The first thing that strikes you about the Mic Mini is that the build quality is every bit as good as you'd expect from DJI. The charging case is a nicely designed, high-quality-feeling product. Open it up and you're greeted by the sight of LED lights as the mic systems and receiver power up automatically, waiting eagerly to connect to their parent cameras.
The microphone transmitters are considerably smaller than the Mic 2 and rivals. Although these types of microphones have won plaudits for their quality and price, the boxy nature of them can put some people off them. However, the same accusation can't be levelled as much at the Mic Mini. It isn't as inconspicuous as a lavalier mic, but considering it does dual purpose as a microphone and a transmitter complete with battery, they're tiny.
Each microphone comes with a magnetic 'button' attached. You can mount the mics either by using the built in clip, or magnetically by placing the button inside your clothing and then the microphone attaches to the outside. DJI also makes a neck pendant for the mics as well, as an alternative.
One feature that the Mic Mini case has that the Mic 2 doesn't is the ability to house the microphones with the fluffy wind filters still attached. This is something that could cause frustration with the Mic 2 case, but not here.
Each microphone has a stated battery life of 11.5 hours, and by using the charging case this can be extended out to 48 hours. It's possible to charge one of the microphones to eek out an hour's use from only five minutes of charging.
Just like the Mic 2, the Mic Mini features noise cancellation/reduction, although the Mic Mini steps things up a bit with two levels of it. "Basic" will filter out quiet background noise and room reflections, while "Strong" will filter out loud background sounds such as traffic. These settings can be accessed directly from devices like the Osmo Pocket 3 and Action 4 and 5.
Unfortunately, if you connect the receiver directly to a smartphone or to a camera, the noise reduction defaults to "Strong" without the ability to change it to the lower tier. Although it can be switched off altogether. No matter what device you have the Mic Mini attached to, simply short pressing the power button will toggle the noise reduction on and off. The on-device indicator light for the noise reduction is easier to see than the Mic 2 due to the Mic Mini having a dedicated light for it.
In use, the noise reduction seems to work very well. Outside in a loud environment, the "Strong" setting filtered out the majority of the traffic noise I was in. Due to frequency crossover, it did affect the quality of my voice somewhat, but the adverse affects of it were minimal. Although you might be able to get better results by recording with the noise reduction turned off and processing it in post, if you need a quick result or you're live streaming the onboard noise reduction could be a powerful tool.
Pairing the Mic Mini is extremely fast. Simply press the link button and go into pairing mode on your chosen device and things get sorted out within seconds. Just as with the Mic 2, you can use the Mic Mini with the Pocket 3, Action 4 and Action 5 Pro without needing the additional receiver. On these devices, the Mic Mini will still need to be paired initially, but from then on they will automatically connect whenever they are both powered up.
Distance-wise, DJI claims that in perfect conditions the mic can transmit for 400 metres. Real world experience will vary. Although the system has advanced anti-interference technology, it's doubtful that it will be capable of such distances through a complex series of walls in a highly busy environment such as London. I haven't yet tested the system out in such conditions, but most real world use cases aren't going to be in those types of scenarios. For ultimate reliability and distance, a well setup UHF/VHF radio mic will always trump a 2.4GHz digital system.
One question that will be on the lips of Mic 2 owners is whether they can buy a Mic Mini transmitter and use it with their existing receiver. Short answer, no. The Mic Mini and Mic 2 systems are not compatible with each other. I'm not sure why, given that they both use the same transmission protocol, and I think DJI might have missed a trick by not allowing it.
That said, if you own a compatible DJI camera, it makes no odds. If you wanted a smaller and lighter mic and you already had a Mic 2 transmitter, you could purchase separate Mic Mini transmitter for £49. It is possible to connect a Mic Mini on one channel and a Mic 2 on a different stereo channel to a single Pocket 3 or Osmo Action 4/5 camera, however. So, in that regard, the Mic Mini can be used in conjunction with a Mic 2.
Okay, so from everything I've said, you might be left thinking that the Mic Mini is better in some respects than the Mic 2. In some ways, such as its size it is. After all, if you mount a Mic 2 to a thin T-shirt, it can make the clothing sag in a way that the Mic Mini doesn't. But, that's only if you use the Mic 2 in its standard form. In order to meet the lower price targets, the Mic Mini lacks quite a few features that are found on the Mic 2.
To begin with, the Mic Mini doesn't feature any sort of onboard backup recording like the Mic 2. Not only does it lack the onboard storage, this also means that you can't use it to record sound independently of a camera device. This could become quite important if you're going to use the Mic Mini in an environment where the signal might be compromised. Generally I have found the mics very reliable, but the onboard backup on the Mic 2 does give some piece of mind, despite some of the issues I've had synching sound up from it.
The Mic Mini also lacks a 3.5mm jack, so you can't use it with a much tinier lavalier mic. So, although the Mic Mini itself is much smaller than the Mic 2, the Mic 2 can be made even more inconspicuous by using it in conjunction with a lavalier.
At $169 / £145 for two transmitters, a receiver, and a charging case, the Mic Mini represents simply astounding value for money. If you only need one mic and a transmitter you can be up and running for just $89 / £79. If are are going to Vlog using your iPhone with a Lightning port, you can get a package of one transmitter, a receiver and Lightning adaptor for $108 / £98.
Although there are other similar budget systems available such as the Hollyland Lark M1 Solo, the Smallrig Forevala W60, and the new RØDE Wireless Micro, they are either larger than the Mic Mini, have less battery runtime, and in most cases can only manage half of the claimed transmission distance or much less. Additionally, none of them can connect wirelessly at 24-bit 48Khz fidelity to a DJI camera device without plugging a receiver into the USB port.
All of this makes the Mic Mini the most budget-conscious way of getting extremely high quality wireless audio possible, and also the most flexible given the purchasing choices on offer. Whilst it does lack some of the more sophisticated features of the Mic 2, it's impossible to argue with the price, and I can see the Mic Mini becoming a fast seller. My only real gripe with it is the lack of an upgrade path due to the incompatibility with the Mic 2 system.
The DJI Mic Mini is available now.
Are you planning on getting a DJI Mic Mini, or do you already own a Mic 2? Let us know your thoughts on these devices below.