This $14 DJI accessory is a vlogging and action cam essential

Recently, I stumbled across a cheap accessory for DJI‘s wireless microphones, and I was shocked that more people didn’t know about it. It costs just $14 / £14, and it’s no exaggeration to say that it has completely changed my workflow.

It’s called the DJI Mic Series Mobile Receiver, and it’s designed to make DJI microphones much easier to use with your smartphone. It’s a decent pitch, but DJI mics already work with smartphones, so why has this accessory got me so jazzed up?

best wireless mics, including the DJI Mic 2 or Mic 3 – you can either pair it over Bluetooth, or use the on-camera receiver connected to the phone’s USB port.

Bluetooth connectivity is convenient, but trust me the quality is awful. Honestly, it sounds so bad that you’d be better off using your phone’s built-in microphone most of the time. Using the receiver (pictured below), produces the high quality audio you’d hope for, but the form factor is far from ideal.

DJI Mic 2 receiver attached to the Vivo X300 Pro

The standard DJI Mic 2 receiver attached to the Vivo X300 Pro (Image credit: Future)

The wireless receivers that come included with the DJI Mic 2, Mic 3, and Mini are all designed with mirrorless cameras in mind, not phones. This means they have a cold-shoe connection and a relatively bulky housing. They do work with smartphones, thanks to clip-in USB adapters, but they stick out in a weird way, and I’m always scared of accidentally knocking the receiver out of place or, worse still, damaging the USB connector.

There are other issues, too, like the fact that you can’t charge your phone while the receiver is attached, as there’s no pass-through power. To make things worse, you actually have to remember to charge the receiver before shooting – which is something that has caught me out more than once.

How the Mobile Receiver works

The Mobile Receiver fixes all of these issues and adds a few more perks besides. It’s a tiny device that’s less than 9mm thick, about the same width as most flagship phones. It sticks out from the USB-C port on the base of your phone by about a centimetre, and it weighs almost nothing. You’ll never have to worry about knocking this one loose.

In addition, it’s powered by the phone itself, so there’s no charging to worry about. It also features a USB-C port with pass-through power, so you can keep your phone topped up during longer shoots. Honestly, these features alone are enough to make this an essential purchase for anyone who regularly shoots video with a phone, but it gets better.

Osmo Pocket 3, I can record audio with both simultaneously, but with my mirrorless camera and phone, I have to choose one or the other, as they come with different receivers.

However, the Mobile Receiver allows me to pair both mic at the same time, just like I do with the Pocket 3 – it’s so handy.

DJI Action 2 action camera quite often. The problem is that it came out before DJI’s wireless mics, and therefore lacks compatibility with any of them.

Thankfully, plugging in the mobile receiver just works; no setup needed. I’m sure it’ll be a similar situation with Insta360 cameras and GoPros, too. It’s another reason that the tiny form factor is crucial. Sure, you could use the full-size receiver, but that’ll look crazy hanging off the side of an action camera. This is so small that it should hide between the stitch lines on a 360 camera.

DJI Mic Series Mobile Receiver with Mic 2 and Mic Mini

(Image credit: Future)

How to use the Mobile Receiver

If you’re an astute observer, you may have noticed that there’s no screen on the Mobile Receiver. So, how do you change settings? Thankfully, that’s something that DJI has taken into account.

There’s a three-position slider on the base of the unit, which lets you change the level of noise-cancellation, and there’s also a physical pairing button, but otherwise, everything is handled by the DJI Mimo app on your phone.

The Mobile Receiver pairs up just like a DJI camera would, and within the app, you can access all the same in-depth settings that are found in the standard receiver’s menu. There are all the basics, like gain adjustment, stereo mode, and low-cut options. As well as more niche features, like the ability to turn off the LED indicators.

DJI Mic Series Mobile Receiver settings menu — The settings menu is accessed via the DJI Mimo app on your phone (Image credit: Future)

the original DJI Mic), and if you ever shoot with your phone, I think the DJI Mic Series Mobile Receiver is a must-buy. For just $14 / £14, this little accessory has completely changed my shooting process. It adds so much versatility for such a low price that I think it’s a no-brainer.

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