Content creators keen on improving their sound may not have to carry much to do so, as DJI shrinks the mic to be properly mini.
Everything is getting smaller, from phones and computers to microphones. Yes, the humble microphone is getting smaller, as manufacturers work out what to do to cut back on size.
You only have to glance at the sizeable microphones we use for podcasting and the equally sizeable mic stands attached to them to see how much smaller they could get, and that appears to be what DJI, maker of drones, has done.
Its latest mic isn’t necessarily for a drone, but it could probably work with a drone controller, or at the very least some of the small cameras built onto a gimbal the company makes. And if you don’t have a gimbal, the DJI Mic Mini definitely has phones, cameras, and laptops in mind, as DJI looks to the content creator with a tiny mic.
DJI’s Mic Mini is the second revision of a microphone made for content creators we’ve seen this year following Sennheiser’s recent take on the category, though there’s Mic Mini aims to be different by being truly compact.
Specifically, the Mini Mic is one of the smallest microphones you’ll see this year, boasting wireless transmission technology and a portable microphone in a tiny square weighing 10 grams.
It’s less than half the weight of the DJI Mic 2, and uses noise cancelling technology to help cut through the noise to focus on a voice, with a windscreen for the Mic Mini going further.
The microphone includes automatic limiting to deal with any excess loudness, while the receiver also include a gain controller, so you can change things yourself.
And depending on how many microphones you have, it can be used in different ways.
For instance, one Mic Mini can be used for omnidirectional recording to capture sound from all around, while two can be used to specifically focus on two sources. There’s support for both mono and stereo recording, and DJI also has an app called “MIMO” that provides a safety track recorded at 6dB lower to deal with any potential loudness or audio fails.
It can also directly connect to phones via Bluetooth, though there’s a Mic Mini transmitter that can be plugged into phones, cameras, and computers, and comes with the necessary docking connector DJI uses on its Osmo gimbals and DJI drones.
“Content creators can count on capturing remarkably dynamic, crystal-clear sound, no matter the environment, and will enjoy the wearability and utility of DJI Mic Mini,” said Paul Pan, Senior Product Line Manager for DJI.
“DJI Mic Mini packs unbelievable sound into an incredibly compact, extremely light package, bringing the high quality audio expected from DJI in a mini microphone at a modest price of $245,” he said.
The battery aims to be solid, too, boasting as much as 48 hours of use, with the $245 Mic Mini options arriving with a charging case. That variation comes with two microphones, the receiver, and the charging case, while a model without the charging case and only one microphone will retail for half, costing $125 in Australia.
Extra microphones can be found for $69, while the charging case costs $89, with USB-C and a special charging dock made for the tiny size mic will charge it up at other times.
Australians can find the Mic Mini in stores shortly, where it’s likely to barely be felt, its ten gram weight likely weighing less than the packaging it comes in.
