This small and simple USB microphone does not offer many features, allowing you to focus on what matters most. The sound quality is not studio quality, but many Twitch streamers, podcasters, Zoom professors and others will find the Seiren Mini perfectly fine. However, if you are bothered by the clicking sound of the keyboard or the microphone being too far away from your face, this may not be for you.
The Seiren Mini has a sleek and subtle design, with a pill-shaped housing and a cord hidden flush with the back of the microphone. It is light enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but does not feel delicate or fragile. It is such a small, lightweight microphone that it can be placed on a desk without getting in the way, or taken on the go.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]The Siren Mini has only one polar pattern, the supercardioid. This means that the sound field picked up is very directional. This pattern is narrow in front of the capsule and narrow behind it, but eliminates noise from the sides. This highly directional pick-up pattern is supposed to counter the ‘distant sound’ that occurs when the microphone stand is too short. Unfortunately, with this type of polar pattern, the keyboard sound is almost as loud as your voice.
Compared to the Blue Snowball Ice signal, the Seiren Mini signal sounds much tighter and closer. In fact, when listening at a distance, the Seiren Mini has a slightly closer signal with less ambient noise, whereas the Snowball Ice has a bit more room sound and a more natural, unprocessed feel. The Snowball Ice sounds slightly brighter and crisper in the ideal placement, while the Seiren Mini has a richer presence in the lower midrange, taking advantage of the proximity effect, while still having enough presence in the mid and high frequencies to avoid a muddy sound.
The audio performance is equal to or better than other products in the same price range. In other words, if you’re trying to choose between this product and, say, the Blue Snowball iCE, the Razer should win you some cash. However, if you don’t want to replace a microphone in a year that doesn’t have a mute button, gain control or headphone input, it might be worth saving your money without this starter mic.