Introduction
The DJI Mic 2 is a pocket-sized and incredibly versatile audio solution that promises to deliver professional-grade sound quality, intelligent noise cancellation, and seamless connectivity, making it an attractive choice for content creators, vloggers, and podcasters alike. In this review, we’ll check out its features, performance, and overall value proposition.
What’s in the Box
The DJI Mic 2 comes in a sleek, compact packaging that includes:
- 1 Receiver
- 2 Transmitters (Shadow Black)
- 1 Charging Case
- 1 Camera Audio Cable (3.5mm TRS)
- 1 USB-C to USB-C Cable
- 1 Lightning to USB-C Cable
- 1 Carrying Bag
- 1 Windscreen (Pair)
- User Manuals
DJI Mic 2 vs. DJI Mic
| Feature | DJI Mic 2 | DJI Mic |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling | Intelligent noise cancelling | No active noise cancelling |
| Internal Recording | 14 hours, supports 32-bit float internal recording | 14 hours |
| Total Operating Time | 18 hours | 15 hours |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Both Lightning and USB-C connections support digital audio and playback without unplugging the receiver; supports direct Bluetooth connection | Lightning (analog) or USB-C (digital audio supports Stereo) adapter |
| Camera Connectivity | 3.5mm TRS cable (supports auto power-on/off sync with camera) | 3.5mm TRS cable |
| Computer Connectivity | USB-C | USB-C |
| Interface | 1.1-inch touchscreen + dial | 0.95-inch touchscreen |
| Compatible Accessories | DJI Lavalier Mic | DJI Lavalier Mic |
Design and Build Quality
DJI has embraced a minimalist design philosophy with the Mic 2, with a sleek and lightweight construction that exudes a premium look and feel.
The charging case, crafted from premium metal, not only serves as a convenient storage solution but also adds an air of sophistication to the overall package.
It charges via USB -C and has lights to indicate the amount of charge remaining.
The transmitters come in two color options – Shadow Black and Pearl White (sold separately) – catering to different aesthetic preferences. The addition of a locking latch on the charging case provides a secure and reliable way to prevent accidental drops, ensuring peace of mind during use.
There’s also a magnet which you can use to secure the mic in places other than the collar of your shirt.
While I don’t think that they’re built to withstand high drops, I accidentally dropped mine and it survived without a scratch. Just something to note.
You can get the DJI Mic 2 in a single RX + TX package or the one we have, with two transmitters, which is useful for podcasts, interviews, or feature videos with two speakers.
Speaking of which, there’s an LED indictor for pairing and recording, a 3.5mm jack for connecting a Lav Mic, a pairing button, a power button which also doubles a switch to enable or disable the intelligent noise cancelling, a record button, and a USB-C port mainly for transferring your recordings to your PC or Mac.
It also sends haptic feedback for certain actions such as when it’s powered on/off, when recording, when enabling or disabling the Intelligent Noise Cancelling, and when muting or unmuting.
The receiver has a user-friendly interface that combines a 1.1-inch OLED touchscreen and a precision dial. The touchscreen displays vital information such as real-time recording volume, battery levels, charging status, wireless signal strength, gain, and channels. Swiping up or down allows access to the settings page, providing a seamless navigation experience.
The precision dial adds a tactile element to the interface, enabling swift adjustments to settings like gain and volume.
Connectivity and Compatibility
One of the standout features of the DJI Mic 2 is its extensive compatibility options. It comes with both USB-C and Lightning adapters, allowing for a hassle-free setup with a wide range of devices, including cameras, smartphones, computers, and tablets.
Notably, you can directly pair the DJI Mic 2 with your Android or iPhone, allowing you to use it with third-party video recording software. However, it’s important to note that when connected via Bluetooth, you won’t be able to utilize the intelligent noise cancellation feature or perform internal recordings on the transmitter itself.
Thankfully, you can connect the receiver directly to a USB-C/lightning port using the supplied adapters
Unfortunately, I don’t have an iPhone to test it, but according to a colleague who has one, the DJI Mic 2 can also be connected to an iPhone via Bluetooth, though you’ll need to install an app that allows you to switch the mic input, such as the Blackmagic Camera App.
The receiver effortlessly connects to your camera via the 3.5mm TRS cable and synchronizes its power state with the camera (via a setting in the receiver) for a seamless and synchronized audio recording experience. Additionally, the receiver features built-in presets tailored to specific camera models, allowing for one-tap configuration and superior audio quality.
Sound Quality
The DJI Mic 2 shines in the area of sound quality, offering a range of features and capabilities that cater to various recording scenarios. It’s optimized for capturing clear and balanced vocals, making it an excellent choice for vlogs, interviews, and multi-person recordings.
For situations when there’s a lot of noise, you can enable intelligent noise cancelling, to effectively reduce environmental noise, ensuring clean and uninterrupted recordings even in urban areas or crowded rooms.
When the intelligent noise cancelling is enabled, background noise is significantly reduced, allowing the primary audio source (e.g., voice) to stand out with greater clarity. It does, however, slightly affect the overall quality of the recording.
DJI Mic 2 supports 32-bit float internal recording for a high dynamic range, capturing every nuance of a voice, from whispers to booming decibel levels, giving you a certain level of flexibility in post-production. The included windscreen effectively reduces wind noise in windy or fast-moving scenarios, ensuring clear and crisp audio capture.
Sample Recording Comparisons
Low Cut Filter On vs. Off: Enabling the low-cut filter helps eliminate low-frequency rumble and background noise, resulting in a more focused and polished audio recording.
Sound-wise, the DJI Mic 2 performs admirably when worn on a shirt or held close to the mouth, capturing clear and detailed audio. However, as the distance increases, the audio quality may slightly diminish.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Recording: In an indoor environment with minimal soundproofing, the Mic 2 effectively captures audio while minimizing ambient noise. Outdoor recordings may introduce more background noise, but the intelligent noise cancelling feature helps mitigate this issue.
Here’s an actual reel with audio recorded using the DJI Mic 2. No EQ applied.
Extra Features
Safety Track Recording: The DJI Mic 2 offers a safety track feature that records a second audio track at -6dB alongside the main track, safeguarding against unexpected audio level spikes in highly complex audio environments.
Dual-Channel Recording: With stereo mode, the Mic 2 can capture audio from two sources simultaneously, either independently or combined into a single track, simplifying multi-source recording and enhancing post-production efficiency.
Battery Life
The DJI Mic 2 offers impressive battery life. Each transmitter and receiver offering 6 hours of uptime. When used with the charging case, the total operating time extends to an incredible 18 hours, making it an ideal choice for extended recording sessions, livestreams, and video production demands.
The ability to charge on the fly without having to plug in any cable is also a great addition. In a recent trip to Taiwan to cover an event, I used the DJI Mic 2 for several audio recordings for reels, and I’ve never ran into any issue with battery life.
DJI Mic 2 – Verdict
The DJI Mic 2 is a remarkable audio solution that combines professional-grade sound quality, intelligent features, and seamless connectivity into a compact and user-friendly package. Whether you’re a content creator, vlogger, or podcaster, this device offers a versatile and reliable audio recording experience.
Its intelligent noise cancelling capabilities, 32-bit float internal recording, and effective wind noise reduction ensure that your audio captures are crystal-clear and free from distracting background noise. In addition, its sleek design, intuitive interface, and extensive compatibility further enhances the overall user experience.
While the DJI Mic 2 excels in many areas, it’s important to note that some features, such as intelligent noise cancelling and internal recording, are not available when directly connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth. You can, however, connect the receiver to your smartphone to circumvent these limitations.
While the out-of-the-box audio quality is definitely usable, I would highly suggest applying EQ to further improve the sound.
The DJI Mic 2 (2 TX + 1 RX) is priced at PHP 19,000.
Watch our Video Review
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
