Maybe many people don't think about it, but when you watch a YouTube video or even on TikTok and Instagram Reels, the final quality of the product doesn't only depend on the camera or optics used but, often, the key to producing a video of quality lies right in the microphone. Not for nothing, that of wireless microphones for cameras and smartphones is one of the fastest growing markets in Italy too, and not only in terms of sales volume but also in the number of devices that the market makes available: we have seen this with the Hollyland Lark C1 (here the review), but also with many other models available mostly on Amazon.
But in technology, there are moments in which when a particular product arrives on the market with intelligent and quality features and solutions, it is as if it indirectly eliminates the competition: this is the case of DJI Mini, the wireless microphones for smartphones and cameras which thanks to cutting-edge technical features and solutions to say the least poco ingenious, when compared with the other solutions on the market they seem to come from the future.
DJI Mic Review: Wireless microphones for smartphones and cameras are brilliant
Design and materials
And this “brilliance” of the DJI Mini it can be found as soon as you unpack the product, take it out of the box and hold the charging case, which includes the two microphones and the receiver, as well as the USB-C and Lightning adapters and a sort of spring support, with which can also be fixed on the cameras. It is a decidedly well-made case, which not only allows you to transport your devices in total safety but which, thanks to the integrated battery, is able to recharge them when you are not using them.
On the front it is equipped with 4 LEDs that show the residual charge level of the integrated battery (which is 2600 mAh) while the USB-C input has been positioned on the back with which it can be recharged. It is a beautiful "massive" case, which however has a price to pay: the weight. Because if you add up the 162 grams of the case, the 30 grams of each of the two transmitters and the 25 grams of the receiver (as well as the adapters) you get about 250 grams of total weight, with a considerable size.
Furthermore, given the build quality of the charging case, I would have liked to see that DJI had found a solution with which to also make it possible to transport the audio cable to connect the receiver to the cameras or the windproof covers that come out in the package. It is true however, that at this point the carrying and charging case of the DJI Mini it would be huge.
The receiver is equipped with a very compact OLED touch display which, when the charging case is opened, shows the battery level in all three components of the kit, and which is able to connect simultaneously to both wireless microphones . Furthermore, both the receiver and the two microphones are equipped with a USB-C input which is used for recharging and data transfer (which we will talk about shortly) but that's not all: a monitor output is also integrated into the receiver to check the audio quality and the presence of interference, while a 3.5mm jack input is integrated on the microphones with which you can connect lavaliers with cable. In short, nothing is missing.
Furthermore, the two microphones have a lock button, a recording start and stop button, luminous indicators, a spring clip to attach them to shirts and shirts and an ingenious magnet that allows you to attach the microphones to practically any type of garment. even where with the clip you have difficulty.
Technical features
DJI Mini they work by exploiting a 1 Mb/s and 2 Mb/s GFSK transmission on the 2400-2483.5 MHz band which, on paper, allow audio to be transmitted (and also recorded) up to 250 meters. However, in our tests, we were hardly able to go beyond 100 meters away but, don't worry, it is a transmission range that is more than sufficient for the vast majority of uses that can be done with microphones. Furthermore, an 8 GB internal memory has been integrated into each of the transmitters with which a backup audio can be recorded: it is a very useful thing, which often you won't need but in particular conditions (such as a very crowded fair in which many people use i DJI Mini) could save your job.
The microphones are capsule type with omnidirectional socket. They can be used without Low Cut with a frequency response from 50Hz to 20kHz, or with Low Cut active: in this case they have a frequency response from 150Hz to 20kHz (cutting the lower frequencies). The maximum sound pressure level is 114dB SPL, the maximum input level is -17dBV, the equivalent noise is 23dBA, and the monitor interface output power is maximum 22mW at 1kHz, 32Ω.
How to connect wireless microphones to your smartphone or camera
If you are not an expert on these particular devices, you are surely wondering how to connect the wireless microphone for Android and iPhone and no, know that it does not happen via Bluetooth. The operating system of DJI Mini it was designed to be as simple as possible, unfortunately the company hasn't thought of a dedicated application with which to perhaps update the firmware and change the receiver settings, but it's one of those shortcomings that not everyone would feel.
All you have to do is simply connect the receiver to your smartphone and wear the transmitter (or transmitters, since two can be used at the same time), and you're done. In a few seconds everything will synchronize and you can proceed to record the video. And it's just as simple when you want to use i DJI Mini with traditional cameras: just connect the cable that comes in the package to the input of the mirrorless or reflex and you're done.
The only thing to do at the first connection is to make some tests in order to set the gain to the correct value for the device to which they are connected and that's it. Everything is managed via the small touch screen integrated in the receiver, on which it will also be possible to control the volume of each of the connected microphones in real time.
How they work and audio quality
The switching on of the receiver and microphones and the relative connection is instantaneous and occurs as soon as the components are removed from the charging case. From the receiver it is also possible to choose whether to record a mono or stereophonic signal and in mono mode it is possible to choose whether to automatically activate the backup recording on both microphones.
I used i DJI Mini practically throughout Mobile World Congress 2023, in different scenarios and with different levels of background noise and, believe me, I have decided that I will never use any microphone other than these again. In principle, my experience was totally using a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (here the review) and never had to worry about a thing.
Whether there was background noise, or it was a quiet environment, the audio quality I got was always nothing short of poco excellent especially if you have a little foresight: if you are in a very noisy environment (such as that of a fair, for example) it is important to bring the microphone as close as possible to your mouth, in order to give priority to your speech without having to to any filters during assembly, vice versa but in silent environments it can also be used at a greater distance.
The only limitation is the use in Mono with iPhones, but it is always possible to record a clip locally on each of the microphones and then edit the two channels during production.
Selling price and conclusions
The official selling price of the DJI Mini is 329,00 euros. And even if for someone it might seem a disproportionate figure, I am convinced that all the experts in the sector will agree with me when I say that no matter how much damage, they also cost poco. DJI Mini it's perhaps the only product I've tried lately that seems to have been really designed by a team of people who have done our job, who really lack for nothing: it's almost as if it were a 101% professional product, but sold at a consumer price.
They can record backup tracks, the audio quality is excellent as well as transmission to the receiver, they are practically universal (they work on Android, iPhone and cameras) and they also have a very important monitor output. The recording is crystal clear and in all my days at the show I have never had any interference issues.
The only small drawback are perhaps the too small keys on the microphones, but given their size I think the brand could not have done otherwise.
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