Does the DJI Mini 3 record audio? Why your videos have no sound

No. The DJI Mini 3 doesn't record audio. It has no microphone, and DJI's specifications list no audio format for its MP4 video files. If your Mini 3 videos have no sound, nothing is wrong with the drone; that's how it works. To get sound, add music or a voice-over when you edit, or record audio on the ground with a separate device and sync it later.

Mini 3 and sound — DJI's Mini 3 specs list no microphone or audio format. Its MP4 files are video only, which is normal for camera drones.

Why camera drones don't record sound

Even if a drone had a microphone, it would mostly capture propeller and motor noise from a few inches away. That's why DJI's camera drones, the Mini 3 included, record silent video. The sound you hear in drone videos online was added in editing.

"Mini 3 video no sound": quick checks

If you expected sound because a clip played with audio somewhere:

Phone screen recordings can pick up the phone's own audio, but that isn't the drone's recording.
Videos edited in DJI Fly or another app may have music added by the template.
The original file from the drone's microSD card will always be silent.

There's no setting to turn on and nothing to fix.

How to add sound to Mini 3 footage

1. Music in DJI Fly. DJI Fly includes an editor that can add music to clips and QuickShots on your phone. See how to edit in the DJI Fly app.

2. Music in a desktop editor. Import the clips into an editor such as DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut or CapCut and add licensed music. For platforms like YouTube and Instagram, use music you have rights to. See how to edit drone footage.

3. Voice-over. Record narration afterward with a phone or a wireless mic. A clip-on mic like the DJI Mic Mini gives far cleaner voice than a phone's built-in mic.

4. Real ambient sound. Record the scene on the ground while you fly: waves, wind, a crowd, a waterfall. Start the recorder before takeoff, clap once in view of the drone's camera to make a sync point, then line the two up in your editor.

5. Sound effects. Many editors include free effects libraries. A soft wind bed under aerial footage sounds natural.

Recording a person talking with a drone shot

For a vlog-style intro with the drone filming you:

Clip a wireless mic to yourself and record to your phone or a camera.
Have someone fly the Mini 3, or use a QuickShot like Dronie or Circle.
Sync your audio to the drone video in editing.

Keep the drone a sensible distance away, both for safety and because the prop noise will otherwise end up on your mic. See best wireless mic.

Settings that matter more than sound

Since the Mini 3 is video only, focus on the picture: 4K/30 for the best dynamic range with HDR, 2.7K or 1080p at 60 fps for smoother motion, and ND filters in bright light. See Mini 3 best settings and Mini 3 ND filters.

Want a camera that records great sound too? Look at our Osmo cameras and microphones. For aerial shots, the DJI Mini 3 is still excellent value.