00:00Today, DJI announced the Mic Mini, an updated, more compact version of its wireless microphone
00:09system.
00:10This model is similar to its previous DJI Mic 2.
00:13It comes with a charging case, two transmitters, and a receiver for $169, but it's a little
00:19smaller in size.
00:21Rode, another audio company making consumer-grade wireless mics, also just came out with its
00:26more compact version, the Wireless Micro, which includes a smaller clamshell case and
00:32a receiver made for popping right into your phone for $149.
00:37These mics are probably on a lot of creators' wishlists, so let's see which ones are worth
00:40spending your money on.
00:44All right, this is the DJI Mic Mini.
00:52You can see it's got this little wind cover on it.
00:55You can put on and take off.
00:57You can also turn on noise reduction by just pressing the button here, the power button,
01:03which now should reduce noise a little bit.
01:07See how well that works.
01:08Here's how the Rode Wireless Micro sounds.
01:11This one doesn't have any noise reduction features.
01:14The audio goes right into your phone, so we have my phone going with this camera.
01:20There is the wind covers you can put on and take off.
01:23Big logo right here, too.
01:25Cover that up with tape.
01:26Now let's listen to some other microphones to give this all some context.
01:29Very cheap version, probably the cheapest one you can get.
01:32I've seen this on TikTok Shop for like $5.
01:35Hooks up right into my phone here.
01:38That's all I have to say.
01:39You know by just listening.
01:40This is the Shure Move Mic.
01:42Comes in a little charging case as well.
01:44The receiver is separate, plugs into a camera.
01:48Here's how that sounds.
01:49This is the DJI Mic 2.
01:50You can see it's flopping around a little bit.
01:53It's a little heavier, not as discreet as the new ones.
01:57This is the Rode Wireless Go 2.
01:59The wind is picking up a bit, but it doesn't seem to affect it too much.
02:03This thing doesn't have any magnets on the back, so you kind of have to clip it on like
02:07this, which is a big reason why I like the small ones, because this is just, this looks
02:12silly.
02:13This is the Sennheiser Profile Wireless.
02:15It's a new wireless microphone system from Sennheiser.
02:18I really was excited to try this one.
02:20It has a carrying case where you can put in the transmitters and the receiver, and
02:23then use it as a handheld microphone, which is pretty neat.
02:27And now you've got the DJI mic here, now you've got the Rode here, DJI, Rode.
02:35So you might have been listening to that and thinking these all kind of sound the same.
02:38I thought that as well, except for the TikTok mic of course.
02:42But if you listen to these inside, you can hear a difference in frequency response.
02:46Right now I'm recording with the Rode Wireless Micro.
02:50And then now I'm recording with the DJI Mic Mini.
02:53If you've got sharp ears, or if you're listening with headphones, you might notice that the
02:56DJI mic sounds a little more well-rounded.
02:59It's crisp, but not too bright, and there's a bit of low end in there.
03:03Rode's is a flatter frequency response, which is not bad, but I think going straight into
03:07the TikTok app, for example, you might enjoy the sound from DJI's mic more.
03:13But overall, nothing to be concerned about here.
03:17Now let's chat a bit about using these in a practical production.
03:22What I really like about Rode's Wireless Micro is that the case is a lot easier to put in
03:26your pocket.
03:27Talk to anyone making video, they want the lightest gear without sacrificing quality.
03:32Being able to put this in my pocket with my keys and my phone and going out in the field
03:36feels like I have another notch on my utility belt.
03:39It's potentially something I just always have with me.
03:42It doesn't feel much different than carrying my AirPods around.
03:44The DJI Mic Mini's case is certainly compact, but a lot rougher to keep in my front pocket.
03:50However, I feel less stressed about dropping this case compared to Rode's version.
03:54It still has this locking mechanism that other DJI models have, and it seems to protect the
03:59mics well.
04:00Rode feels like if I dropped it the wrong way, the mics might pop out of the case, much
04:04like my AirPods.
04:05Both are chargeable via USB-C. Rode promises 21 hours of battery life with the charging
04:10case or 7 hours with the mic alone.
04:13DJI promises 10.5 hours for the receiver and 11.5 hours for the transmitter, with 48 hours
04:19of operation using the charging case.
04:22There's no screens on either of these models to monitor audio levels, which you do find
04:25in the past versions from Rode and DJI, but you sacrifice that by having cheaper, smaller
04:30equipment.
04:32These are both set up to be an all-in-one wireless audio system for your phone.
04:36And that's where we get into the technical differences.
04:39The Rode Wireless Micro is for your phone exclusively.
04:44These seem like a direct competitor to those wireless microphones sold on the TikTok shop,
04:48so if you're only going to shoot on your phone, this is a nifty gadget.
04:52DJI's Mic Mini is a lot more flexible.
04:55Not only can you plug this into your phone, it has a 3.5mm TRS output to plug directly
05:00into a camera or other audio recorder, like the previous models.
05:04You can also adjust the gain with the 5-level adjustable knob.
05:08Rode's Micro model has a gain feature that you can only adjust within the Rode Capture
05:12app.
05:13So look out for that.
05:14DJI's receiver functions are a big plus for me personally.
05:19My workflow changes whether we're making something for TikTok very quickly or a bigger production
05:24for YouTube.
05:25I like having something with enough flexibility in my gear bag, as production can change throughout
05:30the day.
05:31The Mic Mini will also work with other DJI products as well.
05:34You can connect this to the Osmo Action 5 Pro, the Action 4, or the Pocket 3.
05:41You can also pair these via Bluetooth to your phone in the DJI Fly app to record audio while
05:45flying the NEO.
05:47As for Rode, typically with their products, they work great with each other.
05:52But this one, like I said, only works with your phone.
05:56Something else to note is that neither of these have the ability to plug in an external
05:59lavalier like their higher-end counterparts do.
06:02So when you use these systems, those little bricks are what you're going to see on camera.
06:07Definitely more discreet than before, but you still get those logos sticking out.
06:11What I loved about the DJI Mic 2 and the Rode Wireless Pro is the trusty backup recording
06:16feature that will store the audio recordings with onboard storage.
06:20This has saved me a couple times when I'm out in the field.
06:23Once you have that backup feature, you kind of don't want to use anything that doesn't
06:27have it.
06:28The Mic Mini offers a safety track feature, but only if you use the DJI Mimo app.
06:34So if you made it this far into the video, you want to know which one to get.
06:38Well actually, if you didn't skip around, you probably already know which one is best
06:41for you.
06:43For $149, Rode's Wireless Micro is a reliable, good-sounding microphone for making video
06:49on your phone.
06:51Everything else below that price is going to be super cheap, or unreliable, or not as
06:56compact.
06:57But if you're looking to make stuff on a vlogging camera, or anything above a phone,
07:01you're going to have to turn to Rode's other bulkier, sometimes more expensive, but still
07:06great, wireless microphone systems like the Wireless Pro, the Wireless Go 2, or the Wireless
07:11Mi.
07:12Or choose the DJI Mic Mini.
07:14For only $20 more, you get added flexibility with other cameras, it's better battery life,
07:20that noise reduction feature, and if you want one microphone transmitter instead of two,
07:24you can get that from DJI for $89.
07:27That's a great sell to me.
07:29I'm a big fan of the higher-end DJI Mic 2 and the Rode Wireless Pro because of that
07:34backup recording feature and being able to plug in an external lavalier.
07:38Professionally, I want to stick with those.
07:41But if these are the two you're torn between, or what's in your budget, I'd go with the
07:45DJI Mic Mini.
07:47Boom.
07:49Thought I wasn't going to pick one.
07:54Thought I was going to cop out.
07:55Nope.
07:56I picked one.
07:57Oh, mic drop.
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