We Review the DJI Mic: The Best Portable Microphone for Your Video, Music, and Podcasts

Sound is a critical aspect of content creation in today’s world. Whether it’s for a YouTube channel, Twitch streaming, interviews, or podcasting, your voice will reflect who you are, and where you are recording can also have a profound effect on the audio. Viewers are used to loose camera work videos, but if the audio is bad, then most of the time, viewers give up. So, we tested out the new DJI Mic to see if does indeed produces great sound quality.

One of the newest options on the market is the DJI Mic, a versatile microphone that connects to all your devices, making it compatible with mainstream smartphones, cameras, and tablets. It is a wireless microphone that is compatible with most devices that have Bluetooth connectivity, and it enables users to record vocals from up to 250 m from the receiver. 

Features

So, what does the website say about what the mics can do?

• Dual-channel recording
• 250 m wireless transmission
• Up to 14 hours of onboard memory
• Wide compatibility
• Up to 15 hours battery life
• Portable and compact
• Built-in touchscreen
• Charging case
• Secondary audio safety track

Sounds great, if you'll forgive the pun, and it is great, simple as that. The dual-channel recording allows for flexibility in post when combining the two channels. The onboard memory of 14 hours for each transmitter is there in case of any audio drop or loss. During my time with the mic, I never encountered any of this. If on longer recording days, all components charge via the case, so you won't be worried about the loss of charge with any of them. The secondary audio safety track recording at -6 dB means you are protected against loss of sound via clipping or distortion. Again, during my time with the mic, I never needed to utilize this, but it's there if needed.

Charging Case

I have to say the charging case is a very useful feature that honestly saves so much time and cabling when charging. Neatly packaged in the case are the two transmitters and the receiver; both of the transmitters automatically pair with your device as soon as they are taken out of the case, with each transmitter providing around 5.5 hours of recording and the receiver 5 hours. Plus, you can get up to 15 hours in total depending on your setup and the case being fully charged. 

It's solid, and you know your mics, receivers, and adapters are snug and safe inside. The charging case is nothing new, but when it comes from DJI, you know that the quality is there and everything has been thought about, including the size. It's quite compact at 102 mm x 41 mm x 60 mm and weighing in at only 261 g with everything inside.

The Transmitters and Receiver

Both transmitters reflect the build quality of the case in that they feel solid. They are light in weight but solid in build, so if you happen to drop one, unless from a great height, I think you'll be safe. Each transmitter comes with power, record, and link buttons plus USB-C for downloading. On the top is a 3.5mm mic input plus the onboard mic. You can record in mono, stereo, and mono-s, which is the -6 dB safety track feature. Each transmitter features a clip design that makes it easy to mount on any piece of clothing, plus it also has a magnetic option. These magnets are very strong. There is also a distinguishable vibration when powering the transmitters on or off and a bright green indicator to let you know they're powered on.

The receiver has a touch-responsive and bright OLED display screen, featuring audio out and headphone jacks on one side with power and USB-C on the other. The menu is easy to navigate, and you can set your levels for the receiver gain and headphone volume. There is also a firmware version menu for both the transmitters and receiver, so you can presume that there will be future firmware updates from DJI. At the rear, you have the connector points for downloading via the two supplied adapters for Lightning and USB-C. Each adapter connects at the same point, and this feature is cleverly utilized for attaching to the camera.

The kit also comes with two deadcat windshields for reducing wind noise, which with a quarter-turn lock into place. Hallelujah, no more losing them when out on-location. I've given up replacing mine on my current setup.

Sound Quality

This is what it all comes down to, so did it deliver? I'm not a sound technician, but I do use wireless recording devices when doing videos, and even I know when the audio is bad or not even worth trying to edit due to wind noise or rustling clothes. DJI claims up to 250 m wireless transmission in an unobstructed outdoor environment, so I put that claim to the test, and it delivered at 248.25 m.

You can see by the diagram and images below the test area I used. It was quite windy on the day, so as I walked into the wind, there was an odd crackle as the wind moved my jacket. On the return walk, the audio was clear and never dropped; it even picked up the grass I was walking through at some points.

This is an unobstructed and clear view between the transmitter and receiver, but remember, you have two transmitters, so you could easily attach one to your back pocket and use both for recording and run a lavalier mic to the front just as a backup, which I did for this test.

I did walk onto the beach, and it broke up due to the obstruction of the trees, but once on the beach, it picked the audio back up. You can watch and listen to the recorded audio from this test below:

For myself, I'll don't think I'll ever need that type of distance, but it's there if required. Plus, as I usually do the videos alone, I would not be keen on leaving my camera so far away.

The mics also performed great at various other recording locations with no loss of audio or issues when using them. I recorded everything at a gain of +1 just to be on the safe side, then once in Premiere Pro, I added the audio filter I normally use. I had to pull back the dynamics of this audio filter slightly as the sound was crystal clear. This audio filter was created for another wireless system, so I'll have to create a new one for these mics.

As a standalone recording device, it worked great. One press of the record button, which was followed by a small vibration to let me know it was recording, and I was ready to do some notes or voice-over work. A red indicator light was also illuminated while recording. Connected to my phone via USB and using Filmic Pro, again, no issues, I simply had to confirm in the app that I was using an external mic. These mics are also a good choice if you're looking for a wireless solution in an interview-style scenario. They're clear, crisp, and the audio is pretty spot on.

What I Liked

I recorded quite a few things when trying out the mic, from inside to outdoor scenarios. The windshields performed great at cutting down the wind noise, and they never worked themselves loose. I also attached a third-party lavalier mic, and everything worked as expected with no deterioration in sound. The lavalier also had a windshield attached. Since they charge on the go inside the case, there was no need to worry about recharging when out on longer days. The vibration feature when recording or powering on is very useful.

The backup storage and the secondary audio safety feature could be very useful in certain circumstances. I've lost audio in the past due to wind noise even with the windshield on, so perhaps this will mean no more disappointing days of recording.

What I Didn't Like

Well, it's not what I didn't like, it's more consideration from a new content creator's point of view. Should they spend the extra $50 when their nearest competitor has been manufacturing and selling similar systems since 2019? In my opinion, the answer is yes, as the extra investment is worth it, as discussed below.

Versatility

An important point I'd like you to note is that this kit could be a one-stop shop for creators. By that, I mean the DJI Mic can record on the go when making content, then act as a standalone recording device for voiceover work. Attach them to boom poles for wireless recording, and use them for interview-type scenarios. Did I mention the transmitter gains can be independently set for each of them? No, they are not going to replace higher-end shotgun mics, but if you are looking for something within a budget with consistently high audio quality, then these could be exactly what you are looking for.

Conclusion

All in all, this is a quality product that gives you access to incredible sound, underlining what DJI does best: creating innovative and exceptional products. I wholeheartedly recommend this microphone to anyone in need of a high-quality product. DJI hasn’t compromised on the quality of its design, and it shows through in the final product. It leaves me without any issues or concerns. The only thing left for you to decide is if $329 is worth it for your show, podcast, or whatever purpose you have in mind. You can preorder yours here.