DJI is still there Known for its drones, that hasn’t stopped the company from expanding into other interesting areas, be it action cameras or laser-firing robots. The company’s latest foray away from drones is a wireless microphone system, dubbed the DJI Mic.
If DJI’s Action camera started out as a GoPro clone, the new microphone is a clone of the Rode Wireless Go. Just as the Action cam outperformed the GoPro in several ways, DJI has managed to offer a compelling alternative to what many consider an industry-leading wireless microphone.
The DJI Mic is a clever system that’s portable, easy to use, and offers great sound for the price. Outside of a studio environment, it won’t be the best sounding, but when the receiver is mounted on the camera’s hot shoe, it’s perfect for podcast interviews, live recordings, and vlogging.
microphone in box
Photo: DJI
DJI’s microphone system consists of two transmission units and a receiver. The transmitter has a power and record button on the side, and a 3.5mm microphone jack and a built-in microphone on the top. They have both clips for attaching clothes and very powerful magnets for attaching any metal. It’s a strong enough magnet that DJI recommends keeping it away from devices with SSDs and RAM.
The front of the receiver has a touchscreen for controlling settings, with the power button and USB-C port on one side, and the headphone jack and 3.5mm line-out jack on the other. This means you can monitor your recordings and stream them to any camera that can accept audio input.
All packed into a handy little carrying case that holds the microphone unit, receiver, Lightning adapter, and USB-C adapter. In addition to keeping everything in the bag tidy, the case doubles as a charging unit for all three items. The case can then be placed in a small bag along with the two windshields provided for the microphone and a few wires. The whole package is about twice the size of a deck of cards, which is pretty neat.
I bring this up because we use Rode wireless mics for all of our video work at WIRED, and while Rodes are just as small, they don’t have a convenient carrying case and are, frankly, cumbersome to handle. They always fall out of their Velcro carry bags and disappear into the dark corners of my bag. Not so with the DJI Mic, which is always nicely stored in its box and ready to use.
easy, everywhere
Aside from the clever case, there’s plenty here to rival Rode’s popular wireless microphone systems. Where DJI leads compared to the Rode is wireless range. DJI claims 250 meters. I found this to be fairly accurate as long as line of sight is available. I’m having a hard time thinking of common recording scenarios where this would be helpful. If so, you have it with DJI.
The launcher is heavier than I’d like, but the clip holds up well if you have a proper collared shirt. T-shirts were more challenging, but I did persevere. The included windshields work well, and while they still sound good on a windy day at the beach with a lot of wind, these windshields keep the breeze from interfering with your audio under normal conditions.
