After making a cameo on the Osmo Pocket 3 camera, DJI's Mic 2 wireless microphone system has officially arrived with some interesting improvements over its popular predecessor. It can now connect directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth while offering improved internal recording quality, ai noise reduction, a larger touch screen, easier control, and more.
The transmitters come in gray with a new transparent design and DJI also introduced a white color option. They're a little smaller than before, but largely resemble their predecessors with a clip, magnetic mount, and 3.5mm microphone input. The power and link buttons are now on the same side and are round instead of oblong, with the record button and USB-C input on the other side.
In a welcome change, DJI moved the power LED to the sides, rather than near the front like before, where it would appear annoyingly on the camera. However, the DJI logo is front and center, so you'll still need a piece of black tape to cover it.
The receiver has changed substantially, with a larger 1.1-inch touchscreen and a new wheel for easier adjustments. DJI has also made it simple to connect the transmitter directly to your phone using the included USB-C and Lightning adapters.
A big advantage of the Mic 2 over other kits like the Rode wireless Go 2 is the charging case that is sold with the two-transmitter kit. It now supports up to 18 hours of use on a charge, up from 15 previously, and the transmitters have been upgraded from 5.5 to six hours.
Topping the list of new features is direct Bluetooth connection support, which lets you pair a microphone transmitter to your phone (or DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 and Action Cam 4) without the need for a receiver. This will allow creators on a budget to purchase a transmitter microphone alone for $99, or add DJI's Lavalier microphone for an additional $35.
Pairing a phone is relatively easy: Press and hold the record button for three seconds to put it in Bluetooth mode, then press and hold the pair button for two seconds. From there, your phone should detect the transmitter. It worked great with my Pixel 7a, even though it's not on the approved list, and I was able to start recording videos with much better audio quality, to say the least.
There are a couple of caveats: the ai noise cancellation feature doesn't work when connected to a smartphone, and you can only use one transmitter at a time. However, if you have the transmitter/receiver combo, you can also get audio by connecting the receiver directly to your phone as before.
Speaking of which, the Mic 2 has a couple of audio quality improvements. promise "Brighter, more natural-sounding voices" for interviews or stand-up work where it is mainly used. And while the original DJI Mic supported internal recording as a backup of camera files, it now captures it at a higher 32-bit floating quality, allowing you to maximize gain without fear of distortion. It also supports a higher acoustic overload point (AOP), up to 120 dB from 114 dB, meaning you'll see less distortion at higher audio levels.
The other quality trick is ai noise cancellation, which allows the Mic 2 to reduce ambient noise so that voices stand out better. DJI promises that it works in "complex and noisy environments, such as streets and restaurants."
A full review is to come, but I tested the Mic 2 in a variety of situations, including inside a car, riding a bike, and in howling wind. He worked well in almost all of those situations, with all annoying noises blocked out of the car and bike jacks, leaving only pleasant ambient sound. However, it was unable to block a 30-40 MPH straight wind on a sand dune, even with the included wind shield installed. However, it still worked well enough to take the photo, which was impressive.
Key features carried over from the latest model include the option of a safety track recorded at a lower level of -6 dB (in case you accidentally blow up the levels), a range of 820 feet with the transmitter/receiver combo (524 feet in EU), magnetic clips and a sleeve for each transmitter. For the receiver, DJI has also included preset gains for different cameras so it works relatively well out of the box. It doesn't include all recent cameras, so hopefully firmware updates will fix that issue.
With new options, notably smartphone Bluetooth connectivity and Osmo Pocket 3/Action 4 compatibility, the Mic 2 is likely to strike a chord with creators again. It's now available for $349 with two transmitters, a receiver, and charging case, $219 for a transmitter and receiver, and $99 for individual transmitters. You can also purchase the charging case separately for $69.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/djis-mic-2-now-records-high-quality-audio-to-your-smartphone-via-bluetooth-130018964.html?src=rss
