Why the wireless mic I recommend to content creators is made by a drone company

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Big upgrade on the previous-generation hardware
• 32-bit float makes recording tricky situations a lot easier
• Battery life has been significantly improved.

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DJI isn’t just the best civilian drone maker; it also makes some of the best cameras and microphones available for creatives. The company has just unveiled its third-generation microphones, packed with advanced features that make capturing audio a snap, even under tricky conditions. 

Also: I tried DJI’s first 360-degree camera, and its recording capabilities blows out the competition

The DJI Mic 3 is the latest upgrade to the company’s popular line of microphones for YouTubers, live streamers,  documentary filmmakers and other creatives. These microphones pack some serious recording wizardry into a tiny package that’s perfect for both beginners and pros wanting crystal-clear audio. 

The basic layout remains the same. As with Mic and Mic 2, you get two microphones (which DJI calls transmitters) and a receiver, and everything packs into a box that stores and charges the mics and receiver. 

However, Mic 3 delivers a lot of improvements under the hood. Physically, the mics are a lot more compact, and the clips are held in place magnetically, allowing them to be oriented in four different ways. The clips can also be removed altogether, and magnets used to attach the mics to clothing. 

The magnetic clips are a neat feature.

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Because that connection between the microphones and receiver is paramount, DJI has boosted the range at which the units can communicate to up to 400 meters, and added robust interference resistance by switching to dual-band wireless connectivity.

Also: New photographer? Here’s the camera I recommend (and no, it’s not a Sony)

Battery performance has also been increased. A fully charged Mic 3 microphone lasts up to eight hours, while the receiver can run for up to 10 hours. The charging case holds enough power for 2.4 full charges, enabling an incredible 28 hours of runtime. Once the batteries get low, a five-minute quick charge is all it takes to power the DJI Mic 3 setup for two hours, while a 50-minute charge brings everything to 100%.

The interface and controls are straightforward and easy to use, even in a hurry.

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The receiver’s settings are controlled via the touchscreen, a click wheel, and a small button. It’s all rather straightforward and easy. 

There are also a bunch of connection methods, both wired and wireless. The DJI Mic 3 system can pair with the Osmo 360, Osmo Action 5 Pro, Osmo Action 4, or Osmo Pocket 3 without a receiver, simplifying the setup. 

Also: I tested DJI’s latest flagship drone, and it’s straight from the future (with one caveat)

For your other gear, the Mic 3 receiver has a locking 3.5mm TRS output port, a 3.5mm TRRS monitoring port (for connecting headphones to the receiver to keep an ear on the audio coming in), and a USB-C port. The setup can also connect to smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth without a receiver.

The receiver is tiny but still manages to have a  3.5mm TRS output port and a 3.5mm TRRS monitoring port.

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But it’s the audio that matters the most. Here, DJI has added a number of improvements. The Mic 3 system uses adaptive gain control and 32-bit float, which prevents audio clipping as the environment changes from whisper quiet to shouting loud, dynamically balancing the audio. In fact, the receiver stores both the standard 24-bit and enhanced 32-bit float audio, allowing the best possible flexibility when it comes to post-production.

All the audio is time-coded at a precision where the deviation is less than one frame per 24 hours, which is another feature that streamlines and speeds up the editing process.  

The mics – which DJI call transmitters – are tiny but have what it takes to capture audio even under difficult conditions.

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Speaking of storage, the receiver has 32GB of built-in storage.

There is one limitation that may put off purists who hate to see a mic in the shot: You cannot use a lavalier mic with the system. Most will not care about this, but I know some filmmakers will. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’ve been testing the DJI Mic 3 package for a few weeks now, and it’s a great setup. It’s very easy to use — especially if you pair it with an Osmo camera — and the capture quality is excellent without requiring much fiddling with settings.

The DJI Mic 3 kit includes two mics and a receiver and is priced at $329. There’s also an option to buy one mic and a receiver for $219, and mics can be purchased separately for $99.