ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Huge improve on the previous-generation {hardware}
- 32-bit float makes recording difficult conditions lots simpler
- Battery life has been considerably improved.
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DJI is not simply the perfect civilian drone maker; it additionally makes a few of the greatest cameras and microphones obtainable for creatives. The corporate has simply unveiled its third-generation microphones, filled with superior options that make capturing audio a snap, even beneath difficult situations.
Additionally: I attempted DJI’s first 360-degree digicam, and its recording capabilities blows out the competitors
The DJI Mic 3 is the newest improve to the corporate’s standard line of microphones for YouTubers, stay streamers, documentary filmmakers and different creatives. These microphones pack some critical recording wizardry right into a tiny package deal that is good for each newbies and execs wanting crystal-clear audio.
The essential format stays the identical. As with Mic and Mic 2, you get two microphones (which DJI calls transmitters) and a receiver, and all the things packs right into a field that shops and expenses the mics and receiver.
Nevertheless, Mic 3 delivers quite a lot of enhancements beneath the hood. Bodily, the mics are much more compact, and the clips are held in place magnetically, permitting them to be oriented in 4 alternative ways. The clips will also be eliminated altogether, and magnets used to connect the mics to clothes.
The magnetic clips are a neat characteristic.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
As a result of that connection between the microphones and receiver is paramount, DJI has boosted the vary at which the items can talk to as much as 400 meters, and added strong interference resistance by switching to dual-band wi-fi connectivity.
Additionally: New photographer? Here is the digicam I like to recommend (and no, it is not a Sony)
Battery efficiency has additionally been elevated. A totally charged Mic 3 microphone lasts as much as eight hours, whereas the receiver can run for as much as 10 hours. The charging case holds sufficient energy for two.4 full expenses, enabling an unimaginable 28 hours of runtime. As soon as the batteries get low, a five-minute fast cost is all it takes to energy the DJI Mic 3 setup for 2 hours, whereas a 50-minute cost brings all the things to 100%.
The interface and controls are easy and straightforward to make use of, even in a rush.
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The receiver’s settings are managed by way of the touchscreen, a click on wheel, and a small button. It is all fairly easy and straightforward.
There are additionally a bunch of connection strategies, each wired and wi-fi. The DJI Mic 3 system can pair with the Osmo 360, Osmo Motion 5 Professional, Osmo Motion 4, or Osmo Pocket 3 with no receiver, simplifying the setup.
Additionally: I examined DJI’s newest flagship drone, and it is straight from the longer term (with one caveat)
On your different 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 maintain an ear on the audio coming in), and a USB-C port. The setup also can hook up with smartphones and tablets by way of Bluetooth with no receiver.
The receiver is tiny however nonetheless manages to have a 3.5mm TRS output port and a 3.5mm TRRS monitoring port.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
But it surely’s the audio that issues essentially the most. Right here, DJI has added quite a few enhancements. The Mic 3 system makes use of adaptive acquire management and 32-bit float, which prevents audio clipping because the atmosphere adjustments from whisper quiet to shouting loud, dynamically balancing the audio. Actually, the receiver shops each the usual 24-bit and enhanced 32-bit float audio, permitting the very best flexibility relating to post-production.
All of the audio is time-coded at a precision the place the deviation is lower than one body per 24 hours, which is one other characteristic that streamlines and quickens the enhancing course of.
The mics – which DJI name transmitters – are tiny however have what it takes to seize audio even beneath troublesome situations.
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Talking of storage, the receiver has 32GB of built-in storage.
There may be one limitation that will delay purists who hate to see a mic within the shot: You can not use a lavalier mic with the system. Most is not going to care about this, however I do know some filmmakers will.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I have been testing the DJI Mic 3 package deal for a couple of weeks now, and it is an awesome setup. It’s extremely simple to make use of — particularly in case you pair it with an Osmo digicam — and the seize high quality is great with out requiring a lot fidgeting with settings.
The DJI Mic 3 equipment consists of two mics and a receiver and is priced at $329. There’s additionally an choice to purchase one mic and a receiver for $219, and mics could be bought individually for $99.
