This is such a great review video. I can’t actually think of another review video as thorough and logically explained as this one. Absolutely brilliant ❤
Whenever there’s a new mainstream microphone release I always rely on your reviews… thanks for making such detailed one, really helps people decides which one to invest… more power!
Agree, Using it I found it better to turn off the Noise reduction and the low cut. If you Davinci resolve or Adobe suite that is a better place to do noise reduction
I compared my DJI Mic 2 go a calibrated microphone and found a significant high frequency drop-off after 8kHz. It's noticeable in the comparison with the Rode Mic. I made a custom EQ to bring some of the high frequencies back up. The low end also has a good amount of drop-off that can affect some lower vocal notes.
Thanks for this review. I've had such good results for several years from a Track E pocket recorder that I'm tempted to get a second one for backup to replace a DR-10L instead of a 32 bit wireless system. No problems with any drift with the Track E over an hour long recording session where I typically use footage/audio from the last 20 minutes. For shorter sessions, sure, these systems look great. I have to use an external lav mic all the time anyway, so the Track E still seems like the perfect 32 bit option for 70% of my use cases and I still have an original DJI Mic kit for more controlled indoor environments and shorter sessions in quiet environments, where 32 bit float isn't needed. Either of these two 32 bit recording/wireless systems look great for someone who doesn't already have one and who needs internal recording at the transmitter, which I think is a must in an outdoor solo application. I even still use a Tascam DR-10L as a backup to the Track E.
I always really appreciate your videos because you do go into that depth. That makes it much easier to know which one is going to be the better for your scenario. Genuinely having used 32-bit float in loud environments or really loud folk, it is such a nice feature to have. Just being able to save audio in a live event that you get one chance at and then Larry is yelling and there's this distorted audio sucks. I agree the noise reduction had something funny going on but I really liked that the -72 DB room tone. When you're editing a video and stuff just doesn't match up because weird little sounds. It just makes it so much more difficult. Even if they are using filtering a software of some sort, it's fantastic to not have to worry about that. I don't know if I'll get one yet, but knowing that they have this kind of feature filled in such a small usable package at such a reasonable price without having to jump to the pro audio price is nice. Every time one of these big companies makes such good bold moves You see stuff at the $100 range will try and make them as well. So you know that you're going to see some 32-bit float in other products rather than just rather niche which I think is super helpful once you get your mind around 32-bit float. Thanks again for great videos
Finally a thorough no BS review. 90% of other "budget" wireless mic reviews are people who never owned a better mic just reading what's written on the box.
Curtis, did you find anything weird about sound from Rode Wireless Pro up to this point? I've got my kit and the sound from it is weird, like it's almost clipping really, really often and easily. Formally it is not clipping (I can easily tune the volume in any editing software), just sounds like it. It happens when I use the transmitter built-in mic and when I plug the lavalier or Rode VideoMic NTG via 3,5mm as well. It appears either in onboard recording on transmitter and when I record the sound via the receiver on my Sony A7S3. Connecting via USB-C to my PC sounds really similar, too. I'm pretty sure it occurs on both transmitters.
I originally had the Rode, but jumped to the DJI a couple years ago. Very happy overall, using Shure MVL lavs w/no problem. Having seen your AB test with the new V2, staying with original recommendation from you with earlier model. No significant jump in ability for me. Much appreciated!
Looking forward to watching-I’ve been waiting for this comparison! Picked up the Rode when it was released and I love it. But I do know that some folks prefer the DJI’s interface.
Great review and thank you for your time. I really appreciate the threaded inputs and I love the lavs that came with the Rode. Great to know there’s completion both there keeping these companies innovating!
A point of clarification taht I may have misunderstood: at 4:56 you said the DJI can record 32bit and transmit at the same time. Is that true? I thought that was breaking a patent law here in the US. Even the Diety Theos can't do that. Great review!
Thanks for your honest review...specially about the audio drifting! That is a big deal that disappointed me when it happened to me. Wish I had found this video sooner but I will just send them back now. Thanks!
Thank you for your exceptional and thorough , as always , review ..... If i may ask , why is the Hollyland Lark M2 missing from the comparison ? I know it is NOT a 32bit float wireless mic .... but maybe it was a chance to show to the world that 24bit/32bit difference is literally and practically insignificant when audio levels are properly monitored. Especially when there is a brand new mic (1.5months old) in the market , at a fraction (less than half) of the pricing of the competition , which literally blows out of the water (according to multiple reviewers and far too many comparison tests , during the last month) the new wireless versions of DJI/RODE in terms of "good old authentic" AUDIO quality. Again , THANK you for your time and your effort.
Great review as always. It seems we need new versions of each to address some of the larger drawbacks. The DJI is easier to use which is huge but the Rode has more pro features.
Awesome job, Curtis. You are the only one we need to give an opinion on audio. Thanks for the time and effort in making this video and the orange nail polish looks GREAT!!! 😀
Great video, Curtis, as always. I think it's worth mentioning that you need to unscrew the lavalier mic every time you put the Rode mic down in the battery box.
And that DJI's solution to 'locking in' a lavalier mic is to loop the cord through a dedicated channel under the transmitter's clip. It's quicker than a screw thread and works perfectly well so that the only downside to the DJI not having a threaded input is, as mentioned in the video, the potential for incompatibility with some lavs with threaded jack collars.
I was actually speaking more to lack of RF shielding in the DJI transmitter as well as an unknown voltage supplied by the transmitter (my guess would be 2-3V max and many pro lavaliers require 5V).
@@curtisjudd Under no load, using a short nice quality 1m TRS to TRS cable, I measured the Microphone (Transmitter) Voltage output as 2.80v DC between Tip and Sleeve on the DJI Mic 2 kit.
Thanks for the review, great info… I got one unit with my Pocket 3 combo and I’ve just ordered the single mic kit with one mic and the receiver. I’m moving from RØDE Wireless GO 2 for the more flexible connectivity. I have not seen the one hour cutoff effect on my iPhone 15 Pro I reported on your last video so maybe that was an anomaly. Great work again, Greetings from Tenerife
Thanks Curtis, another helpful review. I used the DJI mic a lot and couldn’t decide whether to upgrade but the 32 bit float make the decision in the end. I agree, the branding is so annoying, I end up putting tape on them which doesn’t look great either.
You have the best and most concise reviews of audio and lighting gear! I just bought the DJI Mic 2 and Osmo Pocket 3 with your affiliate link so I hope you get some commission. One suggestion I have is to show a spectrogram for the audio examples. I can hear that the Bluetooth connection to the iPhone cuts off a lot of high frequencies, but someone without good headphones or speakers might not hear the difference. I think the Bluetooth connection must use too much (lossy) digital compression, a lower bandwidth, lower sample rate, or something. Also, in noisy areas it would probably be better to have the mic closer to your mouth or throat, rather than use the noise reduction.
This was so well tested and explained. A HUGE help for me personally as I've been using only wired mics due to lack of trust on wireless mics (at a low price point). I already have a DJI Drone and the RS3 Gimble - both of which are incredible products. The sound isn't perfect but definitely good enough for my needs. Thank you. 😁
Great review, as always. I would recommend enhancing your noise floor tests, though. The process you follow leaves a lot of room for error, as you normalizing to -23lufs doesn’t help the fact that your voice can vary between mics. Perhaps sending a tone or brown noise through a speaker at a volume that matches your speaking volume, then matching both mic input levels based on that controlled level. Then you can turn off the tone and record a true sample of “matched” silence levels. This would reveal a more reliable noise floor comparison.
Hello could you give your advice? I record my own lectures on the camera, around 1hour to 2 hours. I bought both rode pro and DJI mic 2 but I will keep only one. After your video i stay afraid about the audio drifting. I was going to keep the DJI mic but after that I guess i need to go with the rode. I prefer the easy if use on the DJI. But the security on the rode with no audio drifting. Do you think really have áudio drifting on DJI mic and for my case would be a bad ideia? Thankss
@@WillyMouna True, in the internal recording on the transmitter. If you feed the output of the receiver to your camera, there will be NO drift, even after 2 hours. Just avoid the internal transmitter recordings if filming longer videos.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions oh okey i understand now. Thanks for explaining and for your attention. I will use only the camera wireless using the DJI mic receiver.
Oh I’ve been waiting for this 😀 Knew I could rely on you to address the drift issue - that’s why I got rid of my copy of the first version of the DJI mics. Thanks Curtis!
@@curtisjudd On the first version I was getting drift in 5-10 minute takes, which was really frustrating (using a Panasonic S5). Didn't experience the same with the Rode Wireless Go II, but I had battery issues with those 😅 Feels like there's a missing mid-point between the non-user-replaceable battery consumer devices like these and things like the Deity Theos.
Great comprehensive review as always. Thank you. Question regarding sound quality. A lot of reviewers and people commenting are saying how the Rode Wireless Pro sounds fuller and warmer compared to the DJI2. However, as one RUclipsr pointed out, the DJI2 has a Low Cut filter ON by default and most people are not aware of this. Did you turn the filter OFF for your review? Thanks :)
In episodes about the MixPre MixAssist plugin and the Zoom F6 Automix you have showed how helpful those tools are for improving dialogue when a quick turn around is needed. When considering using one of these pro/sumer wireless system I'm curious if two speakers standing near each other (3 to 9 feet) would create an issue with crossover sound from the active speaker into the nearby listener's mic? That would seem to be another advantage for a true pro wireless system like the Diety--that you recently reviewed,--which could record each channel onto separate recorder inputs of a MixPre-MixAssist or Zoom F6/8-Automix. When turn around speed is not urgent, are there some plugins that could be used in the DAW stage to help mix the recorded backup files?
Very good video curtis , i want to ask , is this possible that dji release a frameware update to have a better sound quality like rode ? Is this possible ? I have bought dji mic to beacuase i like it , but rode pro has a better sound quality
Clap while recording. Take the clip into Adobe Audition and highlight the area between the visual and audio clap. Audition show's the time in ms for the highlighted area.
Organized and concise! You've got reviewing nailed. I can't decide between the DJI MIC 2 and the RODE WIRELESS PRO. Which one better serves actor's voices?
Awesome Video! i think i will switch to the dji mic2 from the rode wirelesspro, just because the dji mic was super hassle free for me. everything from the app, to the control on the unit, the size, the weird data storage, just bugs me about the rode. While i wish the dji mic had locking trs and i find it to be ultra weird that the white version has a silver cap i think that will be my go to system for vlogs, or everything where the theos is too big. And i have to add that i really like the thought behind dji products, the ease of use is just amazing!. you want the data from the transmitter, you simply plug it in, on the rode i took forever to find out that you have to put the transmitter back into the dockign station and then you can load off the data... maybe ... other systems have a similar problem when it comes to handling the looking through menus makes me super inpatient on set, or weird combinations of press this for 3 seconds, press these two buttons at the same time etc. that is fine if you use it all day but in my case. I sometimes have no Audiojob for weeks and only film stuff without audio. And then i have to get back to a system that simply needs to work. Sorry for the long comment
DJI's solution to 'locking' a lav mic is a dedicated channel under the transmitter clip through which to loop the cord. It does the job perfectly well and is actually quicker than a thread but, as mentioned, no thread means some lavs with screw collars won't plug in properly.
Very professional video. Rode Wireless Pro now selling for $349.00. It’s like paying $149 for the set if you consider the Rode lav mics alone are almost $100 each. I decided on the Rode Wireless Pro! Love them!
I think only total Newbies in the Video-Market has got no lavalier. All others got theirs since years I suggest So, there is no benefit for most of all with the 2 lavaliers at the Rode system. And timecode? I must laugh. My sync menu in Davinci does it 20 times quicker in comparison when I start syncing the individual tracks based on the timecodes. There are many things at Rode that read well on paper and then turn out to be unsuitable or unnecessary in practice.
@@mathiassiebert1217I don't have any lavaliers. I don't know anyone who just has them lying around either. You must have lots of friends with lavaliers.
Curtis AWESOME video as always....Thank you. Just like to note via a recent firmware update the DJI Osmo Action 4 can also connect to two Mic 2 transmitters similar to the Pocket 3. A very versatile kit.
About the drift, I shoot interviews that often hit the 40-50 minute mark. Is the drift only present if you record to the camera or does it also show up on internal files for the transmitters too?
Curtis, could you give me a brief opinion on the DJI Lavs? The cheap price-point (~$30) gives me great pause, but you obviously have some experience with it in testing. Brilliant review as always BTW
I'm through with these 'creator' wireless mics. I have a couple, but I'm not getting any more. I want to use High-Quality Lav's (at least a COS11) put, preferably a Shure TL48 or one of my countrymen's. Excellent review as always Curtis!
After pairing via bluetooth with my Iphone 14 pro max. does it disconnect whenever the mic or phone's turned off? & would require physically reconnecting or it does it automatically? I'm also planning on using it with the Insta 360, does it do what I just asked? thanks.
@@curtisjudd Thank Curtis but, "reconnect" to the Iphone or to Insta 360? plus, I've binge-watched a ton of these comparisons, can't find a clear winner. What would you pick for recording primarily into the Iphone, this or the Rode Wireless Pro & detailed reasons why you would pick one over the other.
Curtis, can you tell me the difference between the DJI MIC 1 and the DJI MIC 2? Do you find the audio quality better on the new DJI MIC? Does the DJI Mic also have the 32-bit float technology embedded in the DJI Mic internal sensors? Thanks a lot!
Great review as always thanks Curtis. Do you think I would be ok to run these to the RX, with TRS to XLR splitter into a MixPreII to record 2 channels? Would like to be able to record these along with other mics into the MixPreII and keep everything in sync. Seems like it should work with the RX delay on the MixPreII side. Do you know if the TX/RX quality is good enough to still get proper 32bit recording on the MixPre side or is that lost over the TX/RX setup?
Hi Curtis have you tried the Deity Pocket? I watched your review on the v-mic d4 but you used the DJI to make it a wireless setup. Would be interested to know how these compare to the pocket. Thanks
Thanks for a thorough review. Quick question, if you were pairing the DJI mic 2 with the ride wireless pro to give you 4 channels of audio for streaming a panel discussion, would the latency difference between the two systems pose a problem?
Excellent review - Curtis delivers. I don't presently need wireless and will stick with a two- or three-recorder interview setup (Tascam DR-L10 Pro with the excellent supplied lav, iPhone with Shure MV88+, and iPad for backup).
Almost all wireless microphones with built-in recording functionality face this issue. Due to patent restrictions, products sold in the United States cannot simultaneously record and wirelessly transmit. However, in some countries, this limitation does not apply.
Would a stand alone recorder like a Zoom F2BT or Tascam DR-10L Pro capture better sound than these wireless combo units? I've aways kept away from wireless due to a fear of loosing audio. This seems like a hybrid RAW+JPEG solution where you can have both fast turn around and high quality when it's needed.
Is there a way to use DPA 4060 lav mics with the DJI mic 2 transmitter ( I know the voltage supplied by the transmitter is too low ) Is there a way to raise the supplied voltage to the mic ?
@@curtisjudd Thinking that an inline phantom power supply could solve the problem, I ordered an Audix APS-911 with the necessary cables and adapter. Waiting for everything to arrive, for further testing...
Hey Curtis, excellent review but I do have a question. If I’m just recording with my iPhone (15 pro) would you recommend the DJI mic over the Rode simply because it’s much more compatible? Or are there ways to use the Rode mics with my phone without a large, clunky set up?
Yes, it was sent out before they released and it had a pre-production firmware on it. Updating to the production firmware improved the audio quality tremendously.
Thanks Curtis. Great review. Totally agree that both mics are great for what they are, and since i always adjust the sound in post, there is no real difference between them in my usecase. I learned about the issues with rf shielding and lavs a few years ago, with Comica setup. Audio engineers should really test thier setup for interference across all the bands as there is so much wireless gear and phones in many locations, and finding out your recording is distorted in editing is very frustrating. Whether you use dedicated or wireless recorders, any lav is susceptible to environmental inteference (TRS was never designed for shielding), so a backup mic and recorder is worthwhile insurance depending on location. The industry should really develop a new standard minature mic connector given the proliferation of wireless.
What an excellent detailed review Curtis. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my wireless lav kit and wondering how the Rode and DJI compared. Threaded input would be the feature that tips the scale in RODE’s favor for me since I have lost audio due to unsecured lav cables in the past.
Great review. Would you recommend this over the lark max? I'm not sure they are 100 usd better than the lark unless you're heavily invested in the dji ecosystem
@@curtisjudd It was! Great, thanks. I take it that the criteria to choose the dji mic 2 over the lark max would be prioritizing 32 bit float, Bluetooth and lower latency?
Any tips on how to make the DJI Mic 2 transmitter more subtle? As you explained, it's attrocious haha. I saw someone using a sharpie on the logo but am still concerned about the shine.
Does the DJI Mic 2 stand alone mic have all the settings available via the mobile app ? I ordered one a few minute ago and I just cancelled. What can I not do without the receive ?
Great info channel… question- if you’re running Dji mic 2 and rode wireless pro into a zoom f6(3.5/y xlr), will the latency be an issue between the 4 mics?….meaning, should enter that 29ms delay into the f6?
@@curtisjudd ok thank you so much…. And just to be clear , I’m just going to be using these two wireless mics, with no boom mic…. Just checking that I would need to apply this delay still ?
@@curtisjuddthis what I found(copy/pasting it): Hi, all these new digital transmittors have a delay called latency. 15ms for the dji one, 19ms for Roede. The good old UVW dont have it, so I went back to the rear radio mics.
@@rMr.big13 that doesn’t sound like my measurements. My recollection is that the RODE was less than 10ms. You can apply the delay in your recorder or in post. I do it in the recorder so that monitoring is easier.
Why on Earth is there no local mute facility on the DJI Mic 2 transmitter. One can only mute a microphone from the receiver control. Often a contributor wants to have a private conversation or have a restroom break and want to mute their own microphone. One could do it on the original DJI Mic but not on this "improved" DJI Mic 2. A retrograde step that has not been fixed in the latest firmware update 04--03- 08-31 dated 2024--01-31. Does the Rode have a local mute on the transmitter?
I waited for your comparison as you are the only creator who I trust regarding sound. Thank you!
... and Video and lighting...
Terrific video, Curtis!
Thanks Gerald!
@@curtisjudd still the go to guy for quality audio reviews
@@x1928 🙏
Next Studio Tour @curtisjudd 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
This is such a great review video. I can’t actually think of another review video as thorough and logically explained as this one. Absolutely brilliant ❤
Thanks!
Thanks for your always professional reviews that help perfectly at buying decisions 🙏
Thanks and happy recording to you!
Great review, again. Thanks for putting in the work. This channel is my go-to source for anything sound related.
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In advance: thank you for your work! You've helped me so much through my audio journey. 👏 *Much appreciated, Curtis.*
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Whenever there’s a new mainstream microphone release I always rely on your reviews… thanks for making such detailed one, really helps people decides which one to invest… more power!
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Best and most trusted audio tech reviews. Thank you Curtis.
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Great review video ! comprehensive yet easy to follow, even for someone like me who is new to audio recording. Much appreciated, Curtis!
Agree, Using it I found it better to turn off the Noise reduction and the low cut. If you Davinci resolve or Adobe suite that is a better place to do noise reduction
I compared my DJI Mic 2 go a calibrated microphone and found a significant high frequency drop-off after 8kHz. It's noticeable in the comparison with the Rode Mic. I made a custom EQ to bring some of the high frequencies back up. The low end also has a good amount of drop-off that can affect some lower vocal notes.
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But did a firmware update fix your bad audio quality or did DJI replace the unit?
Exactly. There seems to be no mention of it.
This is the same unit which arrived with pre-production firmware. Updating to the production firmware fixed the issue.
Ah! OK, thanks for the update, Curtis.@@curtisjudd
@@curtisjudd now with the new DJI Sony MI-Shoe adapter it seems like the perfect set.
@@WupperVideo It may be perfect for your needs, yes.
Thanks for this review. I've had such good results for several years from a Track E pocket recorder that I'm tempted to get a second one for backup to replace a DR-10L instead of a 32 bit wireless system. No problems with any drift with the Track E over an hour long recording session where I typically use footage/audio from the last 20 minutes. For shorter sessions, sure, these systems look great. I have to use an external lav mic all the time anyway, so the Track E still seems like the perfect 32 bit option for 70% of my use cases and I still have an original DJI Mic kit for more controlled indoor environments and shorter sessions in quiet environments, where 32 bit float isn't needed. Either of these two 32 bit recording/wireless systems look great for someone who doesn't already have one and who needs internal recording at the transmitter, which I think is a must in an outdoor solo application. I even still use a Tascam DR-10L as a backup to the Track E.
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Comprehensive review with excellent comparitive audio samples. These wireless setups have come a long way. Thanks Curtis.
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Hey Curtis, thanks for a great review, i have watched 10 videos and yours was the best, information that the others didnt have. Larry
I always really appreciate your videos because you do go into that depth. That makes it much easier to know which one is going to be the better for your scenario.
Genuinely having used 32-bit float in loud environments or really loud folk, it is such a nice feature to have. Just being able to save audio in a live event that you get one chance at and then Larry is yelling and there's this distorted audio sucks. I agree the noise reduction had something funny going on but I really liked that the -72 DB room tone. When you're editing a video and stuff just doesn't match up because weird little sounds. It just makes it so much more difficult. Even if they are using filtering a software of some sort, it's fantastic to not have to worry about that.
I don't know if I'll get one yet, but knowing that they have this kind of feature filled in such a small usable package at such a reasonable price without having to jump to the pro audio price is nice.
Every time one of these big companies makes such good bold moves You see stuff at the $100 range will try and make them as well. So you know that you're going to see some 32-bit float in other products rather than just rather niche which I think is super helpful once you get your mind around 32-bit float. Thanks again for great videos
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Excellent review sir, as always, highly appreciated! Kudos!
Thanks!
Finally a thorough no BS review. 90% of other "budget" wireless mic reviews are people who never owned a better mic just reading what's written on the box.
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Curtis, did you find anything weird about sound from Rode Wireless Pro up to this point? I've got my kit and the sound from it is weird, like it's almost clipping really, really often and easily. Formally it is not clipping (I can easily tune the volume in any editing software), just sounds like it. It happens when I use the transmitter built-in mic and when I plug the lavalier or Rode VideoMic NTG via 3,5mm as well. It appears either in onboard recording on transmitter and when I record the sound via the receiver on my Sony A7S3. Connecting via USB-C to my PC sounds really similar, too. I'm pretty sure it occurs on both transmitters.
Not that I've noticed. Might be best to work with RODE Support. Best wishes!
I originally had the Rode, but jumped to the DJI a couple years ago. Very happy overall, using Shure MVL lavs w/no problem. Having seen your AB test with the new V2, staying with original recommendation from you with earlier model. No significant jump in ability for me. Much appreciated!
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Excellent review, thank you
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9:31 what would be an optimal RMS max when recording? anything higher than -65dB? Thanks 🙏🏼
For me, I like to see noise floors sitting at -60 dB RMS max or quieter.
@@curtisjudd so quieter would be a more negative number correct? Like -68 or -70
@@Mr.C0ffee Correct, -68 dB is lower amplitude or quieter than -60 dB.
@@curtisjudd Thank you 🙏
Looking forward to watching-I’ve been waiting for this comparison! Picked up the Rode when it was released and I love it. But I do know that some folks prefer the DJI’s interface.
Great review and thank you for your time. I really appreciate the threaded inputs and I love the lavs that came with the Rode. Great to know there’s completion both there keeping these companies innovating!
👍 happy recording!
A point of clarification taht I may have misunderstood: at 4:56 you said the DJI can record 32bit and transmit at the same time. Is that true? I thought that was breaking a patent law here in the US. Even the Diety Theos can't do that. Great review!
Yes, true. I believe they get around it by NOT using removable memory cards.
@@curtisjudd very interesting.
Thanks for your honest review...specially about the audio drifting! That is a big deal that disappointed me when it happened to me. Wish I had found this video sooner but I will just send them back now. Thanks!
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Thank you for your exceptional and thorough , as always , review .....
If i may ask , why is the Hollyland Lark M2 missing from the comparison ?
I know it is NOT a 32bit float wireless mic .... but maybe it was a chance to show to the world that 24bit/32bit difference is literally and practically insignificant
when audio levels are properly monitored.
Especially when there is a brand new mic (1.5months old) in the market , at a fraction (less than half) of the pricing of the competition ,
which literally blows out of the water (according to multiple reviewers and far too many comparison tests , during the last month) the new wireless versions of DJI/RODE
in terms of "good old authentic" AUDIO quality.
Again , THANK you for your time and your effort.
There are hundreds of options in 2024 so I had to limit the scope of the video.
Great review as always. It seems we need new versions of each to address some of the larger drawbacks. The DJI is easier to use which is huge but the Rode has more pro features.
RODE is also being sued over the more pro features so hopefully they get through that issue.
@@curtisjuddwhy isn't DJI being sued as well? DJI mics can record and transmit as well.
@@Cam-u1v Not sure - I haven't followed closely. A guess: The DJI Mic 2 does not also support timecode.
Awesome job, Curtis. You are the only one we need to give an opinion on audio. Thanks for the time and effort in making this video and the orange nail polish looks GREAT!!! 😀
Haha! Thanks!
Thank you for this detailed video! We are considering purchasing either one of the two and your video has given me a perspective. Well done!
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Great video, Curtis, as always. I think it's worth mentioning that you need to unscrew the lavalier mic every time you put the Rode mic down in the battery box.
And that DJI's solution to 'locking in' a lavalier mic is to loop the cord through a dedicated channel under the transmitter's clip. It's quicker than a screw thread and works perfectly well so that the only downside to the DJI not having a threaded input is, as mentioned in the video, the potential for incompatibility with some lavs with threaded jack collars.
Thanks for calling this out.
I was actually speaking more to lack of RF shielding in the DJI transmitter as well as an unknown voltage supplied by the transmitter (my guess would be 2-3V max and many pro lavaliers require 5V).
@@curtisjudd Under no load, using a short nice quality 1m TRS to TRS cable, I measured the Microphone (Transmitter) Voltage output as 2.80v DC between Tip and Sleeve on the DJI Mic 2 kit.
@@hamradioop5777 Thanks for that!
Thanks for the review, great info… I got one unit with my Pocket 3 combo and I’ve just ordered the single mic kit with one mic and the receiver. I’m moving from RØDE Wireless GO 2 for the more flexible connectivity. I have not seen the one hour cutoff effect on my iPhone 15 Pro I reported on your last video so maybe that was an anomaly. Great work again, Greetings from Tenerife
Congrats and happy recording!
Thanks Curtis, another helpful review. I used the DJI mic a lot and couldn’t decide whether to upgrade but the 32 bit float make the decision in the end. I agree, the branding is so annoying, I end up putting tape on them which doesn’t look great either.
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You have the best and most concise reviews of audio and lighting gear! I just bought the DJI Mic 2 and Osmo Pocket 3 with your affiliate link so I hope you get some commission.
One suggestion I have is to show a spectrogram for the audio examples. I can hear that the Bluetooth connection to the iPhone cuts off a lot of high frequencies, but someone without good headphones or speakers might not hear the difference. I think the Bluetooth connection must use too much (lossy) digital compression, a lower bandwidth, lower sample rate, or something.
Also, in noisy areas it would probably be better to have the mic closer to your mouth or throat, rather than use the noise reduction.
Thanks for the suggestion. 👍
This was so well tested and explained. A HUGE help for me personally as I've been using only wired mics due to lack of trust on wireless mics (at a low price point). I already have a DJI Drone and the RS3 Gimble - both of which are incredible products. The sound isn't perfect but definitely good enough for my needs. Thank you. 😁
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Great review, as always. I would recommend enhancing your noise floor tests, though. The process you follow leaves a lot of room for error, as you normalizing to -23lufs doesn’t help the fact that your voice can vary between mics. Perhaps sending a tone or brown noise through a speaker at a volume that matches your speaking volume, then matching both mic input levels based on that controlled level. Then you can turn off the tone and record a true sample of “matched” silence levels. This would reveal a more reliable noise floor comparison.
Thanks.
The one and only comparison and review I care about. Thank you.
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Hello could you give your advice? I record my own lectures on the camera, around 1hour to 2 hours. I bought both rode pro and DJI mic 2 but I will keep only one. After your video i stay afraid about the audio drifting. I was going to keep the DJI mic but after that I guess i need to go with the rode. I prefer the easy if use on the DJI. But the security on the rode with no audio drifting.
Do you think really have áudio drifting on DJI mic and for my case would be a bad ideia? Thankss
Drift and latency are not the same thing. I would go with the DJI if it is working for you and you prefer it.
@@curtisjudd yes but you said there is some drift in the DJI mic after 30 minutes right? I record sometimes 2 hours
@@WillyMouna True, in the internal recording on the transmitter. If you feed the output of the receiver to your camera, there will be NO drift, even after 2 hours. Just avoid the internal transmitter recordings if filming longer videos.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions oh okey i understand now. Thanks for explaining and for your attention. I will use only the camera wireless using the DJI mic receiver.
Thank you for great reviewa. Is it possible to record with a stereo mic to the DJI receiver?
I believe the transmitters are only mono if that's what you mean.
This is the Best Review video with some usefull Information beside all the Standard stuf i can read in the manual. Thx
Oh I’ve been waiting for this 😀 Knew I could rely on you to address the drift issue - that’s why I got rid of my copy of the first version of the DJI mics. Thanks Curtis!
👍 note that the camera contributes to drift as well.
@@curtisjudd On the first version I was getting drift in 5-10 minute takes, which was really frustrating (using a Panasonic S5). Didn't experience the same with the Rode Wireless Go II, but I had battery issues with those 😅
Feels like there's a missing mid-point between the non-user-replaceable battery consumer devices like these and things like the Deity Theos.
@@robert_maywow. That’s fast drift!
Super helpful review Curtis!
Thanks Paul.
Curtis: Did DJI send you an updated firmware to fix the issues you discovered a couple of weeks ago?
Yes, that solved the absolutely awful audio quality.
@@curtisjudd Please can you say what firmware version(s) you were using on the DJI Mic 2 during this video?
@@hamradioop5777 v04.02.01.13
If you record with the noise cancellation on, can you remove it in post?
no, it is baked in.
Agreed, no. Once it is on, it is on in there internal recording or to the camera or phone.
Great comprehensive review as always. Thank you. Question regarding sound quality. A lot of reviewers and people commenting are saying how the Rode Wireless Pro sounds fuller and warmer compared to the DJI2. However, as one RUclipsr pointed out, the DJI2 has a Low Cut filter ON by default and most people are not aware of this. Did you turn the filter OFF for your review? Thanks :)
He did turn it off! He mentioned it in another comment :)
In episodes about the MixPre MixAssist plugin and the Zoom F6 Automix you have showed how helpful those tools are for improving dialogue when a quick turn around is needed. When considering using one of these pro/sumer wireless system I'm curious if two speakers standing near each other (3 to 9 feet) would create an issue with crossover sound from the active speaker into the nearby listener's mic?
That would seem to be another advantage for a true pro wireless system like the Diety--that you recently reviewed,--which could record each channel onto separate recorder inputs of a MixPre-MixAssist or Zoom F6/8-Automix.
When turn around speed is not urgent, are there some plugins that could be used in the DAW stage to help mix the recorded backup files?
You can use a 3.5mm to dual XLR adapter to achieve the same thing. Or, on the MixPre, use the 3.5mm mic input.
There’s WT Automixer and Auphonic.
Thank you Curtis for your thoughtful and thorough review.
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Is there any latency on the transmitters, what would be your suggestion for rumming live feeds into a soundboard using similar mics?
Yes, we covered latency in the video. Use a 3.5mm to dual XLR adapter for a sound board.
Hey! Which one would you choose to use as a mic for an online and live teacher?
Shure MoveMic: ruclips.net/video/ruRHrIGvHXU/видео.htmlfeature=shared
Very good video curtis , i want to ask , is this possible that dji release a frameware update to have a better sound quality like rode ? Is this possible ?
I have bought dji mic to beacuase i like it , but rode pro has a better sound quality
Great video, Curtis! Your videos are always so helpful! Where do you get your white sound blankets from?
Great review! I’m curious how to determine audio latency for some audio equipment I have. What was your process ?
Clap while recording. Take the clip into Adobe Audition and highlight the area between the visual and audio clap. Audition show's the time in ms for the highlighted area.
Organized and concise! You've got reviewing nailed. I can't decide between the DJI MIC 2 and the RODE WIRELESS PRO. Which one better serves actor's voices?
Audio quality wise, most people prefer the sound of the RODE Wireless PRO.
That's a big help. Many thanks. @@curtisjudd
gonna comment shortly rn thank you for this one! it really really helps me stay up to date with audio and lighting
You bet!
Awesome Video! i think i will switch to the dji mic2 from the rode wirelesspro, just because the dji mic was super hassle free for me. everything from the app, to the control on the unit, the size, the weird data storage, just bugs me about the rode. While i wish the dji mic had locking trs and i find it to be ultra weird that the white version has a silver cap i think that will be my go to system for vlogs, or everything where the theos is too big. And i have to add that i really like the thought behind dji products, the ease of use is just amazing!. you want the data from the transmitter, you simply plug it in, on the rode i took forever to find out that you have to put the transmitter back into the dockign station and then you can load off the data... maybe ... other systems have a similar problem when it comes to handling the looking through menus makes me super inpatient on set, or weird combinations of press this for 3 seconds, press these two buttons at the same time etc. that is fine if you use it all day but in my case. I sometimes have no Audiojob for weeks and only film stuff without audio. And then i have to get back to a system that simply needs to work. Sorry for the long comment
DJI's solution to 'locking' a lav mic is a dedicated channel under the transmitter clip through which to loop the cord. It does the job perfectly well and is actually quicker than a thread but, as mentioned, no thread means some lavs with screw collars won't plug in properly.
If you switch, I hope it works well for you.
@@curtisjudd thanks a lot :) i hope so too ^^
Does the Sanken Cos 11 work on the DJI mic’s? I guess that may seem odd to add that mic to this system but it’s cheaper than having 2 systems🤷🏻♂️
It works, but I'd be careful because the Sanken is spec'd for 5V and the DJI Mic supplies a bit less than that (closer to 2 or 3V if memory serves.)
Very professional video. Rode Wireless Pro now selling for $349.00. It’s like paying $149 for the set if you consider the Rode lav mics alone are almost $100 each. I decided on the Rode Wireless Pro! Love them!
I think only total Newbies in the Video-Market has got no lavalier. All others got theirs since years I suggest So, there is no benefit for most of all with the 2 lavaliers at the Rode system. And timecode? I must laugh. My sync menu in Davinci does it 20 times quicker in comparison when I start syncing the individual tracks based on the timecodes. There are many things at Rode that read well on paper and then turn out to be unsuitable or unnecessary in practice.
@@mathiassiebert1217I don't have any lavaliers. I don't know anyone who just has them lying around either. You must have lots of friends with lavaliers.
@@Cam-u1v I talked about professionals, not about amateurs.
How do you like your Panasonic s5ii when cutting with canon c70 ? When matching those 2 cameras do u record Vlog and clog ?
We’re using a GH5 for b-roll and C70 for main cam. They’re good enough for RUclips videos.
Curtis AWESOME video as always....Thank you. Just like to note via a recent firmware update the DJI Osmo Action 4 can also connect to two Mic 2 transmitters similar to the Pocket 3. A very versatile kit.
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About the drift, I shoot interviews that often hit the 40-50 minute mark. Is the drift only present if you record to the camera or does it also show up on internal files for the transmitters too?
Just for more clarification: if I slate and in post sync the transmitters files to my video, will the drift still occur?
The drift will be in the internal recording
Curtis, could you give me a brief opinion on the DJI Lavs? The cheap price-point (~$30) gives me great pause, but you obviously have some experience with it in testing. Brilliant review as always BTW
They improve the sound quality SLIGHTLY.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for your input - perhaps i'll try my own lavs with them first before paying the little bit extra!
I'm through with these 'creator' wireless mics. I have a couple, but I'm not getting any more. I want to use High-Quality Lav's (at least a COS11) put, preferably a Shure TL48 or one of my countrymen's. Excellent review as always Curtis!
Thanks Matt!
After pairing via bluetooth with my Iphone 14 pro max. does it disconnect whenever the mic or phone's turned off? & would require physically reconnecting or it does it automatically? I'm also planning on using it with the Insta 360, does it do what I just asked? thanks.
They have to reconnect but not re-pair.
@@curtisjudd Thank Curtis but, "reconnect" to the Iphone or to Insta 360? plus, I've binge-watched a ton of these comparisons, can't find a clear winner. What would you pick for recording primarily into the Iphone, this or the Rode Wireless Pro & detailed reasons why you would pick one over the other.
Curtis, can you tell me the difference between the DJI MIC 1 and the DJI MIC 2? Do you find the audio quality better on the new DJI MIC? Does the DJI Mic also have the 32-bit float technology embedded in the DJI Mic internal sensors? Thanks a lot!
The DJI Mic 2 sounds a little better to me. The original DJI Mic does NOT have 32-bit float recording.
@@curtisjudd thanks Curtis. I rally appreciated your input. I just order one
Great review as always thanks Curtis. Do you think I would be ok to run these to the RX, with TRS to XLR splitter into a MixPreII to record 2 channels? Would like to be able to record these along with other mics into the MixPreII and keep everything in sync. Seems like it should work with the RX delay on the MixPreII side. Do you know if the TX/RX quality is good enough to still get proper 32bit recording on the MixPre side or is that lost over the TX/RX setup?
Yes, adapters will get the sound into the MixPre. 32-bit float is lost because the receiver converts the audio back to analogue.
I hope the charging box is more reliable.
I'm so tired of taking out the mic or receiver and finding out that it didn't charge 🤦
So far so good. We'll see in time...
Hi Curtis have you tried the Deity Pocket? I watched your review on the v-mic d4 but you used the DJI to make it a wireless setup. Would be interested to know how these compare to the pocket. Thanks
I haven’t, unfortunately.
Brilliant as always Curtis !! Not sure if I like your colour choice for nail paint...😉
Hopefully we can still be friends.
Thanks for a thorough review. Quick question, if you were pairing the DJI mic 2 with the ride wireless pro to give you 4 channels of audio for streaming a panel discussion, would the latency difference between the two systems pose a problem?
Probably not, but I’ve found using 4 channels of any of these systems in the same space to be a good bit less reliable with more dropouts.
Thanks Curtis. Yes I hear you re dropouts. What I’ve found is that having the receivers 1.5-2m apart is more stable when it comes to this.
Just curious, why didn't you say the iphone wireless/bluetooth was not usable .
Excellent review - Curtis delivers. I don't presently need wireless and will stick with a two- or three-recorder interview setup (Tascam DR-L10 Pro with the excellent supplied lav, iPhone with Shure MV88+, and iPad for backup).
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The review everyone is waiting for!!!!!
Hope it was helpful!
Almost all wireless microphones with built-in recording functionality face this issue. Due to patent restrictions, products sold in the United States cannot simultaneously record and wirelessly transmit. However, in some countries, this limitation does not apply.
It works if you transmit to the receiver, just not when transmitting directly to phone with Bluetooth.
Incredible review! What lavalier would you recommend with the DJI 2 that doesn’t compromise the audio quality?
The DJI Lavalier. The inputs don’t provide enough voltage for high end lavaliers.
@@curtisjudd Does the inputs of Rode Wireless Pro provide enough voltage for high end lav mics?
@@StringerBell I don't know. Best to contact RODE support. Their specification sheet doesn't say.
Would a stand alone recorder like a Zoom F2BT or Tascam DR-10L Pro capture better sound than these wireless combo units? I've aways kept away from wireless due to a fear of loosing audio. This seems like a hybrid RAW+JPEG solution where you can have both fast turn around and high quality when it's needed.
Not necessarily and that’s the idea - best of both worlds.
Now that the wireless adapter is available, what are your thoughts on the audio quality as opposed to the cable interface?
Haven’t tried it yet, but hopefully it is better.
Thanks. Would love to have you check out the Hollyland Lark M2.
Me too
Is there a way to use DPA 4060 lav mics with the DJI mic 2 transmitter ( I know the voltage supplied by the transmitter is too low )
Is there a way to raise the supplied voltage to the mic ?
I don’t know of an off-the-shelf product to do that.
@@curtisjudd Thinking that an inline phantom power supply could solve the problem, I ordered an Audix APS-911 with the necessary cables and adapter. Waiting for everything to arrive, for further testing...
@@mikewassel5683cool. Doesn’t that add quit a bit of extra stuff? Interested to hear how it works.
orange nails are a very nice touch; excellent presentation, thank you, Sir...
Thanks, glad you like the nails!
an acknowledgment to the other parties that create a sum experience more than the individual parts...@@curtisjudd
Hey Curtis, excellent review but I do have a question. If I’m just recording with my iPhone (15 pro) would you recommend the DJI mic over the Rode simply because it’s much more compatible? Or are there ways to use the Rode mics with my phone without a large, clunky set up?
They both work with iPhone. But if you want a smaller receiver and you like the sound of the DJI Mic, then DJI is probably a good choice for you. 👍
@@curtisjuddThank you! I think I’ll go with the Rode Wireless Pro then
Did DJI explain why the first set you had sounded so bad? We sent ours back and ordered the Rode.
Yes, it was sent out before they released and it had a pre-production firmware on it. Updating to the production firmware improved the audio quality tremendously.
Thanks Curtis. Great review.
Totally agree that both mics are great for what they are, and since i always adjust the sound in post, there is no real difference between them in my usecase.
I learned about the issues with rf shielding and lavs a few years ago, with Comica setup. Audio engineers should really test thier setup for interference across all the bands as there is so much wireless gear and phones in many locations, and finding out your recording is distorted in editing is very frustrating. Whether you use dedicated or wireless recorders, any lav is susceptible to environmental inteference (TRS was never designed for shielding), so a backup mic and recorder is worthwhile insurance depending on location. The industry should really develop a new standard minature mic connector given the proliferation of wireless.
The pro systems have all moved to other connectors. Sadly, they’re mostly different from each other as well.
Great video Curtis. Can I connect the transmitters to an external mixer (833) without any issues?
Yes
@@curtisjudd Many thanks.
What an excellent detailed review Curtis. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my wireless lav kit and wondering how the Rode and DJI compared. Threaded input would be the feature that tips the scale in RODE’s favor for me since I have lost audio due to unsecured lav cables in the past.
Yes, that’s an important one. 👍
Great review. Would you recommend this over the lark max? I'm not sure they are 100 usd better than the lark unless you're heavily invested in the dji ecosystem
I would not recommend the DJI over the Lark Max on the basis of audio quality, if that’s your main question?
@@curtisjudd It was! Great, thanks. I take it that the criteria to choose the dji mic 2 over the lark max would be prioritizing 32 bit float, Bluetooth and lower latency?
@@AINEET yes.
Any tips on how to make the DJI Mic 2 transmitter more subtle? As you explained, it's attrocious haha. I saw someone using a sharpie on the logo but am still concerned about the shine.
Black gaffer’s tape
Excellent, as always. Would you by any chance know if the DPA lavalier microphone 4060 works with DNJ Mic 2?
I don't know, unfortunately.
Would my Voice Technologies VT500 lav mics be sufficiently RF shielded to work with the DJI Mic 2 transmitters?
Should be but I haven’t tested…
Does the DJI Mic 2 stand alone mic have all the settings available via the mobile app ? I ordered one a few minute ago and I just cancelled. What can I not do without the receive ?
Is the firmware posted on the dji site on January 31 different from the production firmware you are talking about?
Yes, they added the ability to lock the noise reduction button.
Great info channel… question- if you’re running Dji mic 2 and rode wireless pro into a zoom f6(3.5/y xlr), will the latency be an issue between the 4 mics?….meaning, should enter that 29ms delay into the f6?
They will be out of phase, yes. 29ms for the DJI and 6ms or whatever it was we measured for the RODE.
Double check those numbers, it’s been a while since I measured those.
@@curtisjudd ok thank you so much…. And just to be clear , I’m just going to be using these two wireless mics, with no boom mic…. Just checking that I would need to apply this delay still ?
@@curtisjuddthis what I found(copy/pasting it):
Hi, all these new digital transmittors have a delay called latency. 15ms for the dji one, 19ms for Roede.
The good old UVW dont have it, so I went back to the rear radio mics.
@@rMr.big13 that doesn’t sound like my measurements. My recollection is that the RODE was less than 10ms.
You can apply the delay in your recorder or in post. I do it in the recorder so that monitoring is easier.
No test with the Rode lav mic?
Because RODE is better
The fact that the rode sounds better with just the transmitter vs the DJI with Lav should be enough. No need to kick DJI while it's down.
You are the BEST ! Respect from Hungary
Question! I use an iPhone and want to use the DJI Mic with THREE mics - is there a possible setup? Like the 2 transmitters and a Lav somehow? Thanks
Not that I know of.
How thick are walls in your house and is it hollow wood house american style, or proper concrete house?
Wood frame, with concrete stem walls in the basement where I started the test.
One big con is non-locking 3.5mm connectors on the transmitters. I find lavs pull out accidentally very easily.
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Great video Curtis but.................are you going to review the new Zoom H Essential series soon? Can't wait for your take on them.
I have an H4n Essential on preorder. 👍
Great review as always!
Thanks James.
Is there anyway to trigger the 32bit recording w camera shutter or record start/stop on any device?Thanks
Not that we found
can you connect more than 2 transimitter recorders to one receiver? or you have to get another receiver to connect to 3rd and 4th transmitters?
Each receiver works with up to 2 transmitters so you’d need an additional receiver.
@@curtisjudd Thank you!!
Why on Earth is there no local mute facility on the DJI Mic 2 transmitter. One can only mute a microphone from the receiver control. Often a contributor wants to have a private conversation or have a restroom break and want to mute their own microphone. One could do it on the original DJI Mic but not on this "improved" DJI Mic 2. A retrograde step that has not been fixed in the latest firmware update 04--03- 08-31 dated 2024--01-31. Does the Rode have a local mute on the transmitter?