DJI Mic – A super flexible wireless microphone with an AirPods-like charging case

What sets the DJI Mic apart from popular competitors like Rode's Wireless Go II is that DJI includes a convenient AirPods-style charging case for charging both the transmitter and receiver. Not only does this make charging easier, it also helps keep up with all the components in one place.

Thanks to its 8GB of internal storage, the transmitter can operate as a standalone recorder - just clip it to your collar and press the record button. But the DJI Mic can also connect to mirrorless cameras, Android devices, iOS devices, and even be used as a wireless microphone for your Mac. Watch our DJI microphone hands-on video to learn more.

Of course, DJI isn’t the first company to develop a compact wireless microphone solution, as companies like Rode have established and popular products in this space. A quick search on Amazon will even show other companies, like budget-enthusiast favorite Hollyland, with wireless microphone solutions and AirPods-like charging cases. But DJI has put build quality, form factor, wireless range, and ease of use all into the same package, and the result is a pretty compelling wireless microphone system, although it's not without some shortcomings.

Specifications and accessories

• 2 transmitters weighing 30 grams
• Receiver with touch screen interface
• Charging box
• 250m transmission range
• Omnidirectional polar mode
• Dual channel recording (via two transmitters)
• Up to 14 hours storage time
• 5.5 hours battery life per transmitter
• 5 hours battery life on receiver
• 15 hours combined battery life (when using charging case)
• 2 x clip Magnet
• 2 windshields
• USB-C and Lightning adapter
• 3.5mm TRS cable and 3.5mm port
• 3.5mm headphone monitor port
• Hot Shoe Adapter
• USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
• Carrying Bag
• $329

Unboxing AND DESIGN

Inside the DJI microphone box, you'll find an accessory bag that contains a windshield, carrying bag, cables, and more. Underneath the accessory pack is the star of the show – the DJI microphone charging case.

The charging case will immediately remind you of the AirPods Wireless Charging Case, although it is significantly larger and heavier. On the front of the case, you'll find four small LED lights to illustrate remaining charging case battery life, while a USB-C port is on the rear for charging. DJI reports that it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to charge the case from 0 to 100 percent, which I found to be accurate during my testing.

The charging case is mostly made of plastic, but in typical DJI fashion, it feels solid. The rear of the case has a metal hinge that gives the lid a satisfying click when closed.

Inside the charging case, you'll find the receiver, a pair of transmitters, a hot shoe adapter, and Lightning and USB-C phone adapters. The charging case uses pogo pins to charge the transmitter and receiver, each drawn from the case's internal battery to charge while in storage.

When you remove the receiver and transmitter from the charging case, the devices automatically power on, pair, and are ready to use right out of the box. Each transmitter provides up to 5.5 hours of operating time per charge, while the receiver has 5 hours of operating time. The great thing about this setup is that, similar to AirPods, the charging case can be used to charge all three devices without having to be connected to a wall outlet.

#The transmitter and receiver can be fully charged simultaneously via the charging case up to 1.8 times per device Charging from 0% to 100% takes over an hour. Overall, this gives users up to 15 hours of recording time. DJI also includes USB-C ports on all devices, providing separate charging capabilities separate from the charging case.

As someone who has owned multiple wireless audio systems over the years, from Sennheiser's camera-centric AVX system to more portable options like Rode's Wireless Go II, I take DJI's approach very seriously. The charging case keeps everything neatly organized in one place and, more importantly, helps ensure your microphone is charged and ready to use when you need it most.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to DJI microphones. Each transmitter has a built-in microphone and can be operated individually if desired. Audio can be recorded to 8GB of onboard storage for up to 14 hours. To access your recordings, simply connect the transmitter to your Mac or iOS device, no other apps required.

Each transmitter has a built-in clip for attaching to clothing, or you can use the included clip magnet to place on thin clothing. If you'd rather use a traditional lavalier style for a more low-profile look, the built-in 3.5mm TRS port can easily accommodate an external microphone.

One of the biggest differences between the DJI Mic's transmitter and the one on the popular Rode Wireless Go II system is the build quality and size. The DJI Mic is almost half the size of the Rode transmitter, making it less noticeable. It also feels more premium, as it weighs about the same as the 30-gram Rode mic and has a denser, higher-quality build.

Each transmitter has a power source, link, and a dedicated record button. A pair of status LEDs indicate when the device is powered on, paired, and recording, while a set of pogo pins on the bottom of the device facilitate charging when placed in the charging case.

In addition to the transmitter's standalone functionality, you get even more flexibility when paired with a wireless receiver. The receiver can be connected directly to the camera's microphone input for dual-channel wireless recording from both transmitters to the camera. It can also connect to an iPhone or iPad, Mac or Android device via included Lightning or USB-C connectivity options.

#The receiver includes a high-quality touch screen that can be used to configure transmitter settings without having to interact with Computer or application interaction. The touchscreen interface is very small and responsive, and the gestures used to navigate around the interface are largely intuitive.

In addition to viewing and adjusting gain levels, battery life, recording status, and wireless signal strength, the touchscreen interface can be used to mute the transmitter's microphone, start or stop recording, and operate in stereo, mono, or -6db safe Switch between audio tracks, adjust headphone volume, and more.

Using DJI Microphones on iPhone and iPad

Today’s iPhone cameras are great for shooting video, and feature fast, stable sensors, high frame rate options, and ProRes capabilities on some models. Apple has even included a new movie mode for native rack focus functionality that you can change in post. For users who require more functionality, powerful third-party applications such as Filmic Pro and post-processing tools such as LumaFusion are available. Needless to say, iOS is proving to be a powerful creative ecosystem.

But one area that greatly benefits from third-party hardware is sound. The iPhone's built-in microphone is actually pretty good, but like almost any camera, you can capture better sound with a dedicated microphone.

For iPhone users, the DJI Mic comes with a Lightning adapter that connects directly to the bottom of the receiver using the expansion port. The receiver can then be connected to an iPhone, providing users with a higher quality wireless microphone.

You can use the DJI Mic with the stock camera app or select it as an input option for Filmic Pro. Other apps, such as Ferrite for podcasts or LumaFusion for voiceovers, also benefit from improved audio quality.

#As expected, the DJI Mic really excels at recording audio from a distance. DJI says it can record audio up to 250m, although I wasn't able to test it to that extreme. I didn't get out a tape measure to calculate my distance, but I was able to get what I estimated to be a few hundred feet away from the receiver, and it picked up the audio without any loss. Granted, I tested the mic in a sparse forest with no people or buildings, but the DJI mic performed admirably in my unscientific testing.

By the way, DJI includes a pair of windshields that you’ll definitely want to use when shooting outdoors in windy weather. I made a rookie mistake and forgot to bring a windshield, so it absorbed a bit of wind noise during my testing. Be sure to watch the video embedded above to hear it in action.

SOUND QUALITY

Most dedicated microphones will let you sound better than your iPhone's built-in microphone. A wireless setup gives you the added advantage of capturing great-sounding audio even if your subjects are far apart.

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