Gear setup — caveman edition

Step-by-step, no jargon. Pick a section, work through it once, you're done. Each section is independent — you can do them in any order.

How to use this page. Each piece of gear has its own section: what's in the box → how to charge it → how to turn it on → how to pair it to your phone → how to test it → how to put it away. Don't try to do all four in one sitting. Pick one, get it working, then come back for the next.

If you get stuck anywhere, drop a note in #amy-workbench — describe what you tried and what's happening. I'll unstick you.

Pick one to start with:
  1. DJI Mic 2 — the wireless clip-on mic (use this when you're talking on camera)
  2. Shure MV7+ — the studio microphone (use this for voiceover recordings)
  3. DJI Osmo Mobile 6 — the gimbal (use this when walking and filming)

If you've never done any of this before: start with the DJI Mic 2. It's the one you'll use most, and the setup is the most forgiving.

1 — DJI Mic 2 (the wireless clip-on mic)

What it does: Two tiny microphones that clip to your collar, and a small receiver that plugs into your phone. When you talk, your voice goes wirelessly to the receiver, which sends clean audio to your phone's video recording. Way better than the phone's built-in mic — especially outdoors or near traffic.

What's in the box

First-time setup (~10 min)

Step 1 — Charge everything for 30 min before first use. Open the case. Put both transmitters in the case (they snap in magnetically — let them pull themselves in). Put the receiver in the case. Plug the case into a USB-C wall charger using the cable. The case has tiny LEDs on the front that pulse while charging and stay solid when full. Wait ~30 min minimum.
Step 2 — Connect the receiver to your phone. Take the receiver out of the case. Find the right cable for your phone: Plug one end of the cable into the receiver, the other end into your phone.
Step 3 — Wake up a transmitter. Pop one transmitter out of the case. It auto-powers on when removed. The receiver should automatically pair to it — you'll see a green dot or signal bar appear on the receiver's tiny screen within ~5 seconds. (If it doesn't pair after 30s, put the transmitter back in the case, take it out again, and the case will force a pairing.)
Step 4 — Clip the transmitter to your collar. Use the built-in clip on the back of the transmitter. Clip it on a shirt collar or lapel, 4-6 inches below your chin. The little holes on the transmitter are the microphone — point those AT your mouth, not away from it.
Step 5 — Test it. Open your phone's Camera app, switch to Video mode. Record 10 seconds of yourself talking normally. Stop, play it back. You should hear yourself clearly — no hiss, no muffling. If the audio sounds tinny or robotic, the receiver isn't seated fully — unplug and re-plug it.
Outdoor use: always slip the furry windshield over the transmitter before going outside. Even a light breeze sounds like a hurricane on a lavalier mic without one. The windshield is shaped to slide on with a slight stretch.
Battery life: the transmitters last about 5 hours on a charge. The receiver lasts about 5 hours too. The case can recharge them ~2 full times before the case itself needs a wall charge. So a fully charged case = roughly a full day of shooting.

Put away routine (do this every time)

  1. Pop the transmitter(s) off your collar.
  2. Place them back into the case — they magnetically snap into place.
  3. Unplug the receiver from your phone. Place it in the case.
  4. Close the case. (Charging begins automatically when the case is closed and has power left.)
  5. If the case's outside LED was orange when you closed it, plug it into a wall charger overnight.

2 — Shure MV7+ (the studio microphone)

What it does: Big professional microphone you talk into for voiceover recordings (the kind where there's no camera, just your voice over reel footage). Plugs into a computer or phone via USB. Produces broadcast-quality audio when you're 4-6 inches from it.

What's in the box

First-time setup (~20 min — the boom arm takes the longest)

A — Mount the boom arm

Pick a desk or table where you'll record. The boom arm clamps to the edge with a C-clamp (looks like a big metal screw vise). The clamp needs an edge that's not too thick — works on most desks but won't work on countertops or thick butcher block.
Tighten the clamp until the arm doesn't wobble. Hand-tight is usually enough; don't crank it so hard you crack the desk.
Attach the mic to the arm. The arm has a screw stud at the end. The mic has a matching threaded hole on its bottom. Screw the mic onto the arm by twisting the mic itself (clockwise from above). Use the adapter from the box if the threads don't match (Shure uses 5/8", boom arms sometimes use 3/8" — the adapter steps it down or up).
Position the mic. Adjust the arm so the mic is at mouth height when you're sitting, 4-6 inches from where your mouth will be. The mic's head should point AT your mouth, slightly off-axis (point it 15° to one side — this reduces "p-pop" sounds).

B — Plug it in

Plug the USB-C cable into the bottom of the mic.
The other end of the cable goes into your computer (Mac/PC laptop) OR into your phone via a USB adapter.
For computer (Mac/PC): the mic shows up in your sound settings as "Shure MV7+." Pick it as the input.
For phone: the mic shows up as an external mic to any recording app. Most reliable on iPhone is the Voice Memos app — it'll automatically use the mic when it's connected.

C — Test it

Open Voice Memos (phone) or QuickTime Player → File → New Audio Recording (Mac). Record 10 seconds saying "testing one two three, this is Amy testing the microphone, can you hear me clearly."
Play it back at normal volume. You should hear yourself sounding rich and clear — like a radio host. If you hear a faint hiss or your voice sounds far away, you're too far from the mic. Try again 4 inches away.
Where to record: a small carpeted room (your bedroom is usually best) sounds way better than a kitchen or office. Hard floors + bare walls bounce sound and make recordings echoey. If you have to record in a non-ideal room, hang a blanket on the wall behind the mic — kills echo dramatically.
Distance + plosives: stay 4-6 inches from the mic. Closer = boomier voice. Farther = thinner + roomier sound. For words with hard P/B sounds ("Brevard," "beach," "buy"), the puff of air can hit the mic and make a "pop" — point the mic 15° off-axis from your mouth to avoid this.
Common first-time issue: "the mic isn't being detected." 90% of the time this is the USB cable not fully seated. Push the cable in firmly on both ends, wait 5 sec, check again. If still nothing, try a different USB port. If still nothing, restart the computer or phone (sometimes the OS gets confused on first plug-in).

Put away routine

  1. The mic can stay on the boom arm permanently — leave it set up at your desk. Just unplug the USB cable when you're not using it.
  2. If you need to put the boom arm + mic away: loosen the desk clamp, fold the arm flat against itself, store in a closet.
  3. Coil the USB cable loosely (don't kink it sharp) and tuck it with the mic.

3 — DJI Osmo Mobile 6 (the gimbal)

What it does: A motorized arm that holds your phone and automatically counteracts your hand-shake. The result: walking shots that look smooth and cinematic, instead of jittery and amateur. Two motors keep your phone level even when you're walking, panning, or moving fast.

What's in the box

First-time setup (~15 min)

A — Charge it first

Plug the gimbal in for ~1 hour before first use. The charging port is on the side of the handle. LED on the front flashes while charging, solid green when full.

B — Install the DJI Mimo app on your phone

App Store / Play Store → search "DJI Mimo" → install. This is the companion app that controls the gimbal's modes (tracking, panorama, slow-motion, etc.).
Open the app. Allow Bluetooth permissions when it asks.

C — Attach the magnet clamp to your phone

Take the small black magnet clamp out of the box. It looks like a flat plate with a small hinged grip.
Position the clamp on the back of your phone — center it horizontally so the phone balances when held sideways. The clamp grips the phone like a paperclip on either side.
The clamp can stay attached to your phone permanently — it's flat enough that you can still put your phone in a pocket. Or you can take it off after each shoot. Your choice.

D — Unfold and power on the gimbal

Take the gimbal out of the pouch. It's folded — gently unfold it into an L-shape until the joints click into position.
Press the power button (round button on the handle, has a power icon). The gimbal's motors will engage with a small whir — the arm balances itself.

E — Mount your phone

Snap your phone (with the magnet clamp already on it) onto the gimbal's mount. The magnets pull the phone into the right position automatically — you'll feel the click.
The gimbal auto-balances in 2-3 seconds. Phone holds steady even when you tilt the gimbal.

F — Pair to the DJI Mimo app

Open DJI Mimo on your phone.
The app sees the gimbal automatically via Bluetooth — tap "Connect" when prompted. First time only — after this, they'll auto-pair.
The app's camera view appears. Now use the app to record video instead of the regular Camera app — the app gives you gimbal-specific features (tracking, slow-mo, panoramas).

G — Test it

Stand up, hold the gimbal handle, take a few slow steps while the camera records. The footage should look impossibly smooth.
Try the joystick on the handle — push left/right/up/down to pan the camera without moving your body. This is how you do those "camera floating around a subject" shots.
The trigger button: the little button on the front of the handle (under your index finger) does two things — hold it to lock the gimbal in its current direction (the gimbal stops auto-correcting until you release); double-tap to recenter the camera straight forward.
Best gimbal shots: slow walks (heel-to-toe stride), gentle pans (turn your body slowly, don't twist the gimbal), and "reveal" shots (start pointed at the ground, slowly tilt up to reveal a vista). Avoid fast running unless you've practiced.

Put away routine

  1. Take your phone off the gimbal (or leave it on — your call).
  2. Press and hold the power button for 2 seconds to turn the gimbal off.
  3. Gently fold the gimbal back into its compact L-shape. Don't force the joints.
  4. Slide it into the storage pouch.
  5. If the gimbal's LED was orange-flashing when you turned it off, plug it in to charge.

Common issues + fixes

"My phone doesn't see the DJI Mic 2 / DJI Mimo / Shure MV7+"

"My audio sounds quiet or far-away"

"My footage is shaky even with the gimbal"

Compiled 2026-05-16. Update this doc as we learn which gear quirks come up most. Iterate based on the actual first-shoot experience.