There are a thousand and one different wireless microphone options on the market, and these two options from Godox aim to cater to a range of users. But since the brand is better known for lighting gear, are they any good?
When one thinks of the brand Godox, lighting immediately comes to mind. However, they have certainly expanded their product range to other related accessories, and wireless microphones are now one of the many different products they offer. It seems that, with the hopes of diversifying their offerings and making more affordable tools for videographers and content creators, they’ve come up with multiple variants for different kinds of users. Let’s take a look at two of them: the Godox Magic XT1 and the Godox Cube SC.
The Godox Magic XT1
The absolute first impression that most people will probably have when they see this microphone out of the box is that it looks so much like a flash trigger. With the two small rectangular transmitters magnetically attached and charging at the bottom of the receiver, enveloped by a metal latch that mounts onto the camera’s hot shoe, the mic’s shape and form really do resemble that of a flash trigger.
Each receiver is a little short of two inches long, with a single button and an omnidirectional microphone on top. The back has a built-in magnet that easily attaches to the supplied magnetic plates for positioning the microphone anywhere on the user’s clothing. These magnetic plates also conveniently fit between the receiver and the transmitters when not in use.
The receiver doubles as the charging case when not in use and has a built-in battery that lasts up to 16 hours on a single charge. This also supplies the 8-hour battery life of each of the receivers. When charged together through the single USB-C port, the entire kit can be charged within two hours. The receiver has a single power button on one side, accompanied by the 3.5 mm output port and a 3.5 mm headphone monitoring port. On the other side is a USB-C port, accompanied by two directional buttons to navigate the mic’s controls.
The Godox Magic XT1 delivers 48 kHz/24-bit audio with an SNR of 70 dB. This translates into 10 levels of volume input that can be further aided by noise reduction with the press of a single button on the transmitters. While maintaining line of sight, the wireless microphones can transmit sound without any perceivable delay from up to 200 m away from the receiver.
User Experience and Sound Quality
The Godox Magic XT1 is a quick and easy-to-use wireless mic option for creators who use mirrorless cameras and even DSLR cameras with microphone ports. Beyond resembling a flash trigger, the set of transmitters and the receiver are individually and collectively compact and easy to carry. The kit also comes with a complete set of accessories, cables, wind screens, and even extra magnetic plates.
As a disclaimer, my opinion on the sound quality from the Godox Magic XT1 is purely subjective and observational. Comparing how the raw audio sounds with my voice, I noticed that the higher frequencies have some room to improve in providing crisp detail, while the middle frequencies could be improved to give the sound more body. When the noise reduction feature is in use, these discrepancies are further amplified, giving a very thin and almost metallic sound. The NR button activates or deactivates the noise reduction, and there are no different levels for it, which means that, by default, it is maximally reducing certain frequencies, causing the sound to lose detail.
The Godox Cube SC
In contrast, the Godox Cube SC is a microphone designed specifically for creators who use their phones and other portable devices with USB-C connectivity. This offers a simple plug-and-play user experience with automatic pairing and a quick setup process. The Cube SC records 48 kHz/24-bit audio with a dynamic range of 86 dB and 75 dB SNR. It transmits up to a distance of 300 m within line of sight but only has a single (mono) channel for input.
The 3.46 x 1.4 x 1.22-inch charging case weighs just 49 grams and conveniently holds both transmitters and the included receiver, which comes in either USB-C or Lightning options. It, of course, has a single USB-C charging port that supplies both the 850 mAh battery of the charging case and the individual batteries of the transmitters.
Each transmitter is a mere 1 x 1-inch rounded square and weighs just 7 grams. It comes with just a single button, an indicator light, and a magnetic mounting plate. The transmitters have a battery life of up to 10 hours and are supplemented by the additional 30 hours offered by the charging case. The receiver, however, comes as a 1.6 x 1-inch dongle that does not have its own built-in battery but instead draws power from the devices it is connected to.
User Experience Sound Quality
The Godox Cube SC is strikingly simple to use and can be an affordable option for casual or beginning creators who are only using their phones to produce content. Alternatively, since the microphone connects via USB-C, it is also compatible with the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, which a lot of content creators consider a convenient camera. While it barely has any adjustment options and sensitivity levels, it is sufficient for most devices that have automatic gain control, such as smartphone cameras.
Overall, the Godox Cube SC kit delivers a balanced sound profile in terms of high and low frequencies. Personally, I find it adequate for my voice but believe it could be improved by adjustments to the middle frequencies. However, for a wireless microphone such as this, the clarity of the sound is almost secondary to the convenience offered by the microphone’s simplicity. Either way, it can be beneficial for casual content creators and smartphone users alike.
What I Liked
- Compact wireless microphones with dual transmitters
- Easy to carry and easy to set up
- Complete kits with accessories
What Can Be Improved
- Noise reduction does not have any level options
- Sound profile can be improved in terms of tuning
