The DJI Mic is a wireless solution for vloggers and content producers ($329). Two excellent microphones, a receiver, a charging case, and all the necessary adapters and cables for attaching to your camera, computer, and phone are all included in the bundle. The system is simple to use. The recordings sound straightforward, but certain design decisions—like the complex Record or Link buttons on the transmitters—are confusing.
Additionally, the system is only capable of mono recording when used with an iPhone’s Lightning adaptor, as opposed to stereo through a USB-C or 3.5mm connection.
Although they may buy a lot less, built-in storage is typically absent from wireless mics. With space for up to 14 hours of audio for each microphone/transmitter, the DJI Mic does. This makes it perfect for on-location recording, and vox pops. It’s also helpful if you want to move around as your podcast. Each transmitter can last up to 5.5 hours. The receiver lasts for up to 5 hours and the charging case for up to 15 hours. Each transmitter is 30g in weight.
What you will see here?
Price and Release date
The DJI Mic costs $329 US or £289 UK. The initial launch date of October 2021 was postponed until March 2022, and like other electronics companies, DJI is still experiencing supply issues.
Design
The $329/£289 set seems to have thought of everything. A pair of wireless microphones, a tiny wireless receiver, adapters for putting the receiver into either an iPhone or an Android phone that supports USB-C, strong magnets to allow you to clip the microphones to your shirt, and a DSLR hot-shoe adapter for the receiver are all contained inside the small 4-in. by 2-in. x 1.5-in. case, which is charging all elements and is itself recharged via USB-C cable.
The receiver even includes an LCD touchscreen display that provides you access to several settings and displays audio pickup in bright color from both microphones and their charge state and level. The absence of a DJI Mic app is one thing that shocked us a little.
By the way, magnets play a significant role in this little system. The case’s magnets keep the parts in place when not in use. Each magnetized mic clip comes with a little magnetic square that initially hangs on the back (sure, you can just clip them to the top of your shirt color, but more on that later).
Similarly, it is tough to remove the adapters due to the magnet holding them in place.
Usage
The receiver allows you to select a language and set the date and time when you first take it out of the charging case. Swipe up on the screen after this to reach the recording button, the battery level, and the mute feature. Swipe down to open the settings menu, change the receiver gain, choose the headphone volume, or switch between mono or stereo recording modes.
You may link devices, activate or deactivate vibration notifications, toggle a low-cut filter, and modify the gain level. You can adjust the screen brightness via the settings menu.
When swiftly tapped, the power button serves as a screen lock. But one wishes the transmitters also had this function to prevent anyone from unknowingly hitting the Record button. According to DJI representatives, a lock feature will be included in a future firmware update. It’s a rather substantial drawback right now.
The 14 hours of built-in storage provided by each transmitter serves as a backup for your camera, computer, and phone recordings. However, you may also record directly to the transmitters in a 48kHz, 24-bit mono WAV file without any extra equipment.
Just remember that the transmitters chop audio into 30-minute pieces if you record for an extended time, which might not be optimal for many purposes. The DJI representatives verified that the splices between segments are, in any event, smooth. To guard against plosives or unanticipated signal peaks, the microphones additionally record a safety track at -6dB.
How to set up?
When you open the DJI Mic package, it almost feels like a gift received. Inside, you’ll find the DJI Mic Receiver, two DJI Mic transmitters, a charger, a 3.5mm TRS audio cable, a USB-C adapter, a Lightning phone adapter, 2 different furry mic windscreens, two clip magnets, a carrying pouch, a hot shoe adapter, and a charging cable.
The USB-C and Lightning adapters slip cleanly into the bottom of the receiver, which is extremely clean. However, the receiver will block the second USB port on your laptop if, like your reviewer’s, you have two USB ports next to each other.
The mics include easy-to-use, if close-by, button controls for connecting and recording. You can use their USB-C connectors to connect them straight to a computer or phone to transmit recordings. Simply attach the included USB adapter to the receiver and plug it in to utilize the mics as wireless mics for an app like Logic Pro. It appears right away in the macOS Finder as both a mass device and an audio input.
The straightforward and efficient touchscreen on the receiver lets you see your mic levels, change the strength on each transmitter, enable or deactivate low cut, and change audio parameters, including whether the recording is mono.
Sound Quality
The DJI Mic may be used in four different ways: as a tiny hand-held microphone, as a camera attachment, as a room microphone placed close to the subject, or as a clip-on lavalier microphone that fastens with its clip or magnets. Speaking straight into the DJI Mic produces clear and rich sounds, but doing so while wearing a lavalier microphone is significantly less stunning. If you already own a high-quality lavalier, you may put it into the 3.5mm TRS-in port at the top of the transmitter.
It sounded fantastic and far better than you’d expect from such a little microphone; when clipped on, it became substantially boxier-sounding and middy with a noticeable drop-off in the higher frequencies.
Battery life
The DJI Mic’s receiver and transmitter have a 5.5-hour battery life rating. Before needing to charge the device, you may easily use it for five hours or more. Let’s just say that the additional ten hours of battery life with the charging case will allow you to use the DJI mic all day.
Nobody converses for ten hours nonstop. Hence the device can provide a reliable seventeen hours of recording. With those little top-ups throughout the day, the power of life shouldn’t ever be an issue. The transmitters and receiver will be placed in the case as you move from one location to another between takes.
The Rode Wireless Go II system features a well-known third-party charging case. However, the charging case is a game-changer and its one clear advantage.
Does the DJI mic work with iPhone?
Users of iPhones may attach the DJI Mic’s Lightning adapter straight to the bottom of the receiver using that device’s expansion connector. The iPhone may then be connected to the receiver, giving consumers access to a better wireless microphone.
Does a good microphone make a difference?
Typically, the range increases with microphone quality. However, it’s crucial to remember that the human ear can only hear between 20Hz and 20kHz for individuals contemplating less expensive audio solutions.
Are pricey microphones worth the cost?
To get a good sound from a mix, less costly microphones frequently sound excellent on certain things but wrong on others, necessitating a lot of EQ. They are frequently poorly made, which shortens their useful life and makes it challenging to repair them when they break.
Conclusion
The DJI Mic is a great option for an all-in-one twin mic system because it comes with two excellent wireless mics, plenty of storage, and a tonne of adapters. If you’re looking for a complete twin mic system you can throw in your bag or pocket and connect to just about anything, this is a great choice.
While it does sound excellent when used as a portable mic, it sounds considerably less spectacular when clipped to clothes or used to record a room. You’ll need to play with your audio’s EQ to lessen the boxiness. The DJI and Rode Wireless Go 2 packages should be compared closely to see which best suits your needs. The specs and pricing are comparable to the Rode Wireless Go 2.
