Anyone who has shot video outside can attest that getting decent audio is a huge challenge. Every passing car and gust of wind can ruin whatever you’re trying to record. That's what makes portable clip mics like the new DJI Mic 2 so appealing. The previous wireless mic solution from DJI was already one of the most convenient ways to record audio on the go, and the latest version improves on it in almost every way.
The DJI Mic 2 is a small transmitter and recorder roughly half the size of a Tic Tac container. It’s not quite small enough to hide, the way a lavalier mic you may have spied on a TV interview guest's lapel would be, but it’s also stylish enough that it can be visible on camera without feeling like it doesn’t belong. While the previous model came only in black, the DJI Mic 2 comes in either a translucent black shell or a minimalist white.
The transmitter is only half of the equation, though. The full DJI Mic 2 kit ($350) comes with a receiver and a sturdy charging case. Additional transmitters cost $100, and while you can technically use them on their own, you won’t be able to change a number of settings without the receiver. This is important, because some of those settings are the best new features of the Mic 2.
Portable Convenience
One of the biggest changes DJI implemented in the new generation is support for 32-bit float audio, which is a huge benefit when you’re shooting in environments where you can’t always control audio levels. In short, 32-bit float audio can record a much wider range of audio values, which means you can adjust gain levels in post and avoid those pesky times when someone speaks a little too loudly and the audio clips.
This isn’t the cure-all for level setting that it’s often claimed to be, but it’s a helpful tool to have, and the portable DJI Mic 2 is exactly the kind of device you’d need it on. The transmitter has a small button with a red circle on its side. Press this once and, boom, you’re recording. It’s the kind of workflow that’s excellent for on-the-spot interviews or run-and-gun shoots where stopping to adjust levels isn’t in the cards.
To add to the convenience, the clip on the previous DJI Mic has been improved. There's still a spring-loaded clip that you can attach to a shirt or coat, but while I was testing this mic, I hardly ever used it. Instead, the DJI Mic 2 has a powerful, square magnet that snaps onto the back of the mic. This lets you place it anywhere on your subject’s clothes, including the middle of a shirt, or closer to their collar for better sound.