Normally high-flying company DJI is bringing its technology closer to earth with a super-nifty pair of microphones. DJI Mic packs five hours of recording mojo into a tiny package in a form factor we usually see for wireless earbuds. Two microphones and a receiver disappear into a nifty charging case when not in use for a great on-the-go recording solution.
DJI Mic claims to deliver “crystal clear audio at long distances” with an impressive 5.5 hours of battery life, which extends to 15 hours if you can find time for charging breaks where the units live in the charging case between shots schedule. I’ve done countless on-site recordings and impromptu video conferencing over the years, and I can’t tell you how long I’ve craved this very solution. Haven’t had a chance to test it myself yet, but if it lives up to the hype I imagine DJI will be selling these kits by the ship.
The complete system consists of two microphone transmitters, a receiver and a pocket-sized charging case that easily fits in your pocket or pocket. It works with smartphones, cameras and action cams that support a line input. The system is paired at the factory, so all you have to do is fish the various components out of the charging case and everything is paired and ready to go. The mics have a clip and magnetic disc, and the receiver has a small touchscreen that gives you information on volume settings, channel selection, and the other settings you’d expect.
The transmitters themselves weigh 30 grams – heavy for a lava microphone but light for a transmitter. It might be a little too chunky in practice to stick on a lapel, but if you’re wearing a reasonably sturdy jacket or sweater it should stay in place nicely.
The real magic that DJI adds here doesn’t rely on crappy wireless technology — through its drone tech, the company has learned a thing or two about long-range, real-time transmission technology, and DJI claims a 250-meter (800-foot) range for its microphones. That’s longer than most wireless mics, and since most instances where you’ll use a lava mic will be less than 30 feet, it gives you plenty of latitude.
I’m not gonna lie, the video nerd in me is getting silly excited about this. The form factor has snazzy wireless earbuds all over it. Photo credit: DJI
Another nice feature is that each of the mics has 8GB of onboard storage and a USB-C socket to copy locally recorded audio from the transmitters. Boom, separate audio files to simplify your audio editing. The files are 48kHz 24-bit WAV files for maximum audio quality.
The receiver supports Lightning, USB-C and 3.5mm jacks so you can plug and record to your heart’s content.
The kit went on sale today at a price of $329. It’s not pocket money, but based on the specs alone, I’d expect the company to see these flying off the shelves. If the reviews live up to their promise, they might have a serious winner on their hands.
