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YanboWu
8490
Collaborations
Jun 1, 2017
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vanmmyers
143
Jun 1, 2017
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YanboWuEither the speaker suddenly developed a minor speech impediment or the mini mic is much better. Can't wait
YanboWu
8490
Collaborations
Jun 1, 2017
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vanmmyersHope I didn't develop a minor speech impediment! I tried to keep it at about the same tone for both recordings :)
Maverick842
51
Jun 2, 2017
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YanboWuYou should attach both mics to either side of your headset and record with both at the same time. That way, both mics will record the same exact thing and it'll truly be an apples-to-apples comparison.
YanboWu
8490
Collaborations
Jun 2, 2017
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Maverick842Only downside is I'll have to use separate inputs into the PC - but I can definitely do a test like that and see how it turns out.
MusicIsGreat
205
Jun 2, 2017
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YanboWuIf the function of the mic is to provide clear instructions while gaming then Minimic is a better choice however I would be worried if the higher hissing sound would get in the way of voice commands and/or listening enjoyment.
You should do mic recordings while gaming since that's its purpose, that would be a better test case.
As far as fasteners is concerned, I have used 3M products to backs of portable DAC/amps and the only criticism I have; it's extremely sticky so fastens well but could be an issue on a nice pair of headphones, it'll rip the paint off or other materials if you try to take it off. Maybe the 3M version you have does not do that. The other issue is the durability of those crampons, over time the plastic becomes brittle and you start shedding more of those. It's not certain this is the best fastening solution but what else have you got?
The detachable cable is a good idea but the bulk of the connectors is not, it would be nicer if you had a lighter lockable way to attach both wires.
You should do mic recordings while gaming since that's its purpose, that would be a better test case.
As far as fasteners is concerned, I have used 3M products to backs of portable DAC/amps and the only criticism I have; it's extremely sticky so fastens well but could be an issue on a nice pair of headphones, it'll rip the paint off or other materials if you try to take it off. Maybe the 3M version you have does not do that. The other issue is the durability of those crampons, over time the plastic becomes brittle and you start shedding more of those. It's not certain this is the best fastening solution but what else have you got?
The detachable cable is a good idea but the bulk of the connectors is not, it would be nicer if you had a lighter lockable way to attach both wires.
ImTooBrokeForThis
6
Jun 2, 2017
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ClifakIf the microphone is plugged directly into the motherboard port, it'll create a hiss because of the extra electrical "noise."
Plugging it into a usb amp or even the front panel of the PC case would get rid of it. Maybe the speaker (YanboWu) had it plugged into the motherboard, and that's why it's hissing?
MartinRodriguez
11
Jun 2, 2017
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YanboWuMaybe include some small plastic clips so that the mic cable play nicely with the headphone cable
Clifak
47
Jun 2, 2017
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ImTooBrokeForThisDefinitely, but since they made a direct comparison I thought I should mention it. One is noticeably worse than the other which could also be other factors.
ImTooBrokeForThis
6
Jun 2, 2017
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ClifakAhh, gotcha. For a fair comparison there shouldn't have been any changes in any kind of gain/amp settings when swapping out microphones, so they shouldn't be affected by other factors. I definitely agree with you in that it could be, but still definitely shouldn't. Unless it could come down to actual microphone capsule quality?
dqniel
125
Jun 7, 2017
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ImTooBrokeForThisGenerally there is MORE, rather than less, feedback when plugging into the front panel. The cables that run from the front panel to the motherboard pin-outs are generally unshielded and pretty long, so they pick up a lot of EMI as they run through the case.
ImTooBrokeForThis
6
Jun 7, 2017
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dqnielTrue there definitely could be more feedback, I guess it depends on how the front panel cables are routed through the case. I would expect there to be more at the back though, because all the connections and contacts are basically left open, plus with all the other cables that are plugged in right next to it I would expect that to create a lot more noise. You're not wrong though, if the front IO cables were routed alongside say a power cable, that would definitely create a lot of noise interference.
dqniel
125
Jun 7, 2017
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ImTooBrokeForThisYes, it depends on the setup and if you have bothered to invest in shielding. From what I understand, some copper film/tape wrapped around the cables leading to the front panel audio can greatly improve the background noise issues that a lot of people get with integrated audio.
ImTooBrokeForThis
6
Jun 7, 2017
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dqnielOr just electrical/insulating tape...? I personally wouldn't use copper.
dqniel
125
Jun 7, 2017
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ImTooBrokeForThisThat wouldn't do any good. You need a conductor to shield EMI and/or RFI. Braided and/or foil copper going to a grounded pin (pin 2 of the HD Audio pin-out) on the motherboard would work best. Most (maybe all?) case manufacturers don't bother to do this, so it would be a DIY project for audio enthusiasts that want to use the front panel audio on their computer case.
I thought about doing it, but then I decided I'd rather spend my money rather than my time on an external USB digital audio interface that is properly built and grounded. That way, my microphone and headphones are both plugged into something with minimal EMI and also don't have a ground loop issue.
I thought about doing it, but then I decided I'd rather spend my money rather than my time on an external USB digital audio interface that is properly built and grounded. That way, my microphone and headphones are both plugged into something with minimal EMI and also don't have a ground loop issue.
MartinRodriguez
11
Jun 7, 2017
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DanielsonI feel like that would be annoying to remove. For example, if you constantly remove the headset. You would need to remove the clip and then get both the headphone and mic cable out of the way. Clipping it to the already existing headphone cable would make things easier. Unless of course, you have a wireless headset. Then the clips ability to clip to a shirt would come in handy o.o
packetbadger
0
Jun 8, 2017
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YanboWuIf you really wanted people to share this, set the sales goals as earlier ship dates and watch everybody spam their friends :)
CheapBastard
116
Jun 8, 2017
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YanboWuFor a better audio test of the mics, just get a small 4-channel audio board and plug both in at the same time, then get a VO artist to run through a 30-second script while varying background noises. You can keep the duration short so the quality can go to Soundcloud in high resolution and play back quickly. The compression artifacts in the Twitch recording give a false impression of both the dynamics and frequency response, and the Modmic 4 comparison is way too noisy - it's hiding the plosives.
Cakirrama
272
Jun 11, 2017
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YanboWuWhy are the recording tests conducted with such a long distance, when these should be tested at close-range to the mouth, like in any real world scenario?
jinjitsuu
0
Jun 19, 2017
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YanboWuits says 10 days left on my screen. if the 10 days past i wont find this mic for sell again?
ivraatiems
12
Jun 28, 2017
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YanboWuCan someone from Massdrop explain the late September shipping date? I am strongly considering this but ~3 months is a long time.
YanboWu
8490
Collaborations
Jun 28, 2017
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ivraatiemsManufacturing takes a bit of time - especially for brand new products. Combine that with the usual shipping times from overseas and QC at our warehouse when they arrive - September suddenly isn't so far away.
Mysteriousperson
4
Jul 3, 2017
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GloongeI'm using the ATH M50x and I aswell hear the same amount of hissing from each microphone. After back to back listening, I even heard the ModMic as having a slightly "louder" hissing.
Abacrombie
4
Jul 6, 2017
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YanboWuSince they are both mono you could seperate them on left and right channel with an adapter.
erickong
7412
Aug 18, 2017
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YanboWuReally sad I didn't jump on this drop. I know they haven't shipped yet but will the Minimic be like the K7XX and have a 24 hour drop cycle?
YanboWu
8490
Collaborations
Sep 19, 2017
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erickongHopefully! Really hope people like these as much as we do.
Grendel
131
Sep 27, 2017
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YanboWuGot the MD shipping notification on the 19th, today the tracking status changed from " The tracking number may be incorrect or the status update is not yet available " to "The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on September 26, 2017 to expect your package for mailing." Really, WTF ??? Shipping something isn't rocket science, why is it that MD screws shipping up every way possible ?
aliquis
3
Dec 3, 2017
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ClifakModMic spec show much higher sensitivity so .. :). That's totally expected.
Use minimic and get lower signal -> increase gain -> get more noise. That's how it works.
The minimic support a wider frequency range though, even more so against the modmic uni-directional.
I know some said something about like peaks / what I understood as more uneven recording levels over frequencies with the minimic too and the character of the sound is definitely different but I thought the minimic sounded better.
For those who want the bassy mellow radio-voice the modmic 5 and stuff like the AT2035 may be better. But stuff like those large diaphragm microphones exist for that. For communication I thought the more upfront/clearer sound-style of the minimic sounded better.
aliquis
3
Dec 3, 2017
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siluahIt's because of both.
If you use a less sensitive microphone you of course need more gain to get it up to the sound level you want. The more gain the more noise.
So having a less sensitive microphone will result in more noise in the end.
As for your result though having microphone input recording hardware with a lower noise floor of course also will result in less noise. Your noise is also increased with the gain but it may start at a lower level and hence be less noticeable. It would be even less noticeable on an even more sensitive microphone though.
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Thanks for your interest in this product! Many of us at Massdrop are audiophiles who game. Speaking from experience, it feels pretty silly to invest in a great headphone system and use a gaming headset out of the necessity to communicate.
In recent years, a couple companies have delivered solutions to this problem but in our experience, testing, and discussion analysis, we found major drawbacks in every solution. Mic quality sounded like a phone conversation, so passable, but it could be better. The positioning solutions aren’t as flexible as they could be. The booms are made of materials that are too stiff to smoothly adjust while attached. These are all small details that together make a big difference in the quality of your experience.
When we embarked on the Minimic project last fall, the community mandate was clear: Create an affordable microphone solution that addressed the problems of fidelity, usability, and durability. After months of iteration, we arrived at the Minimic. Here are some of the features we’re most excited about:
Fidelity For the microphone capsule, we tested several and went with the one we felt provided the best mixture of quality and isolation. Here are two recordings we did, one is the Minimic, one is the Modmic 4, take a listen and tell us what you think:
Minimic: https://soundcloud.com/user-982825557/massdrop-mini-mic-sound-test ModMic 4: https://soundcloud.com/user-982825557/comparable-mic
Additionally, it’s worth noting that both these recordings were taken with music playing at moderate volume on speakers about 10ft from the microphone, both capsules isolated the noise well.
Usability Instead of using a plastic housing over a metal frame for the boom arm, we went with an aluminum solution with no plastic sheath. Putting a plastic housing around a metal frame, (in our testing) meant the metal frame had to be more stiff to account for the plastic flexing back to its initial shape. You want a stiff boom arm so the microphone stays in the position you set, but if it’s too stiff, you won’t be able to adjust it while attached to your headset. It’s a question of the fastener strength vs the stiffness of the boom vs the necessary stiffness of the boom to keep the microphone optimally positioned. By skipping the plastic housing and utilizing an aluminum frame, we’ve struck the optimal balance of stiffness to maintain the desired position, while allowing for adjustment without breaking the attachment to the headset.
The fastening mechanism is another critical point to discuss around usability. We wanted a solution that would hold the mic firmly in place, but still allow for a variety of mounting positions and flexibility of angle once attached. After reviewing magnetic solutions, and traditional velcro solutions, we found a great product by 3M called “Dual Lock”. It’s a special kind of velcro that uses hard plastic stems on both sides, here’s a close up picture of the material: http://i.imgur.com/EXuqCLL.jpg
The Dual Lock solution allowed for the right amount of grip to keep the microphone attached, while also allowing for full 360° rotation of the attachment point. Instead of having to attach your headset at one angle, or choose from one or two provided by the attachment system, this Dual Lock solution provides unlimited positioning options. In our testing, we found that after prolonged aggressive adjustment (rubbing the two pieces together very quickly with significant force) one or two of the plastic stems came off the edges (1-2 stems of the ~85 on each contact point) so we’re including several extra contact patches with each Minimic.
Durability To increase the longevity of the product, we opted for a removable cable solution. Not only does this mean you can replace the cable if it breaks, it also allows you to use after market cables to reach the length or termination style that works best for you.
Overall, we’re really excited about this product. We feel that we’ve answered the community’s mandate for an affordable microphone solution and we can’t wait to get these out into the world.
Finally, we’re going to record some additional microphone comparisons today and tomorrow in an effort to show how the capsule performs at different distances. If you have strong feelings about what we should saying during these tests, or if you have specific test requests, post them here and we’ll incorporate what we can.