Wireless microphones have become smaller and more portable. Recently, both DJI and Rode released compact versions of their wireless microphone systems, designed specifically for creating videos with your phone. The Verge’s Andru Marino tested these new mics alongside several other wireless options to determine which is best suited for your video production needs.
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TechTranscript
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.