Does DJI have any idea how long before it releases its sound expansion plate, im enjoying using the camera but will be much better with the ability to add proffesional mics hopefully with better pre amps as the sound at the moment is unusable.

Get a battery-powered shotgun mic with an XLR to 35mm cable.
Then switch the "35mm Line In" on the L and R inputs respectively.

Ford4D Posted at 2022-12-19 10:53
Get a battery-powered shotgun mic with an XLR to 35mm cable.
Then switch the "35mm Line In" on the L and R inputs respectively.

The problem with this is if I want two audio sources I'm SOL. Only having one 3.5mm jack is extremely limiting. An expansion plate makes my life easier. No doubt.

drip_alex Posted at 1-13 21:44
The problem with this is if I want two audio sources I'm SOL. Only having one 3.5mm jack is extremely limiting. An expansion plate makes my life easier. No doubt.

You're actually not out of luck! There's a working solution. Get a cable that feeds the stereo signal going into the 3.5mm jack from two completely distinct left and right jacks.

Manufacturers make tons of cables that can accomplished this. Attached is an example of just a few different kinds.


You can even make your own! Ask any audio engineer or sound tech friends you have, we're the types that will chef up a custom cable for exactly what you need (for example, XLR for left channel and 1/4 inch for right channel).

Also: I don't know why somebody downvoted my other reply, I was literally just being helpful. Don't take it out on me that the XLR expansion plate isn't released yet. I'm not DJI. I don't work for them. I don't control when it comes out.

I'm just offering some solutions that we creators can use RIGHT NOW in the meantime. Until the plate comes out.

I decided to use an external audio recorder with a line out to the 4D's mic input. The Tascam one I chose is capable of handling 4 x XLR/TRS and two 3.5mm and has the option to record 32-bit floating point bit depth audio to a microSD card. So if the audio via the camera's pre-amp isn't good enough it can serve as a guide for the Tascam's audio to replace it. In the photo, I have 2 DJI Mic receivers feeding the audio from up to 4 lav mics into two of the Tascam's channels. Alternatively or sometimes additionally I use a Rode NTG4+ shotgun mic either connected directly via XLR to the Tascam or wirelessly via an XLR to 3.5mm adapter into a  DJI Mic transmitter. This may sound and probably looks cumbersome but I have a feeling I will continue to use the recorder even when I get the expansion plate just because 32-bit float is so forgiving.

Ford4D Posted at 2022-12-19 10:53
Get a battery-powered shotgun mic with an XLR to 35mm cable.
Then switch the "35mm Line In" on the L and R inputs respectively.

Tried this but need to push the camera gains to +20. Super large noise floor

I wonder if the xlr inputs in the expansion plate will help with this or not?

Just got the expansion plate but cannot get a good level without distortion from Sennheiser AVX wireless system.  Also XLR1 is coming in as XLR2.  Am I missing an update or something here?

Cody