It’s been rumored for the past few weeks and now it’s finally here: the smallest wireless lapel mics in DJI’s lineup. Called the DJI Mic Mini, the new recording device puts size at a premium, coming in at significantly smaller dimensions than the outfit’s previous releases.
How “mini” is it? Well, it is significantly smaller compared to DJI’s Mic 2 and Mic Pro. However, it is still quite bigger compared to other smaller lapel mics like the BOYA Mini, which is just absolutely minuscule. However, this arguably brings the better feature set, which should be worth the extra size for most content creators.
The DJI Mic Mini is, basically, a smaller version of the DJI Mic Mini, reprising many of the same features, albeit in a smaller package. Do note, it doesn’t have all the functionalities of the bigger model. Specifically, it doesn’t have the 32-bit float recording, backup recording, and wired mic input available in the larger system. If you can live without those, then this just might be a better option, since it delivers all the other capabilities of previous DJI mics, all while coming in at around half the weight of the DJI Mic 2, so your collar won’t be drooping once you clip this in place.
So what features does it have? Like other wireless lapel mics, it comes with two transmitters, one receiver, and a charging case for holding them all in. It measures 1.05 x 1.03 x 0.6 inches and weighs just 10 grams, so you should be able to fit the darn thing on your thumb, which should make it pretty discreet when worn onscreen using either the clip or the magnetic attachment. The transmitters pair with the receiver automatically as soon as they’re turned on, requiring you to simply adjust the levels using the dial on the side to get started.
The DJI Mic Mini has omnidirectional mics that, the outfit claims, can deliver detail-rich sound, with two levels of noise cancellation allowing it to pick up clean audio with minimal ambient noise. They also included wind screens for cutting down noise passively, although they do make the mics more conspicuous, which sort of defeats the whole point of getting a miniature-sized mic. You can activate automatic limiting to prevent audio clipping by having it lower the volume immediately if the sound input is too high, as well as five-level gain adjustment that you can manually control on the fly. It supports both single- and dual-channel recording, too, with the latter offering the option to output separately or on a single track.
While there’s no backup recording on the transmitters, you can record a backup track on the companion app, which is saves at 6dB lower to protect against potential clipping and distortion. Other features include the ability for the transmitters to connect via Bluetooth directly (no need for the receiver) to smartphones and DJI Osmo devices, 11.5 hours of battery life (with an additional 3.6 times charge available from the charging case), and a 400-meter transmission range (when using the receiver).
The DJI Mic Mini is available now, priced at $169.
