The Godox XT1 is affordable, tiny, and… transformable!

2.4GHz wireless microphone systems are the industry standard for many creators. There are quite a lot of systems out there, so it’s refreshing to see a new unit entering the market with a unique design and an unbeatable form factor. I am talking about the Godox XT1. You can find it for $109 in B&H, and if you dig around you may even find it for even less.

The Godox XT1 wireless microphone system

The Godox XT1 system, like many other dual-mic 2.4GHz systems, is geared (primarily) towards content creators. Because of this, the system is designed to work well not just with your camera but also with your phone or PC. You can connect the XT1 to a camera using a TRS to TRS (or TRS to USB-C) cable to connect it to your phone. In either case, the XT1 will give you a much better recording experience than the built-in mic. (If you’re using an older iPhone and you’re still stuck with Lightning cables, don’t worry; you can get a 3.5mm TRS to Lightning adapter with the XT1) . In terms of batteries, the XT1 uses internal batteries for both the transmitters and receiver, and those can last up to about eight hours of usage (with intermittent charging), which should be more than enough for most projects.

I’m glad to say the XT1 doesn’t disappoint in audio quality either. You can hear the audio throughout the video above to see what I mean. The audio sounds very balanced to me and is miles better than anything you would get from your camera’s native microphone. Especially if you need to record away from the camera. In our testing, the signal remained strong up to around 50m when we had a line of sight. It’s less than the advertised 200m range, but it’s still plenty for most applications and very impressive for the size of the unit. (I will admit that it was under my shirt, so that may take away from the range).

Godox Magic XT1 unique form factor

The Godox XT1 is absolutely tiny. It has two mics smaller than grapes, and a receiver unit similar in size to the wireless receivers from RODE.

When you’re done recording, you can use the receiver’s “transformation” feature to dock the tiny mics. So, once you figure out a good place in your bag to store the audio cables, you don’t really need to store the Godox XT1 in its own case. As a bonus, this also means you can charge the entire set by just charging the receiver.

Godox Magic XT1 Mounting options 

You can clip the mics of the XT1 like you would in any other system, but there is a different option with the XT1. Godox includes a couple of magnets with the XT1, which allow you to connect the transmitters to clothes easily. Put the small mic and magnet on two sides of the fabric, and the magnet will hold the light microphone with ease. In fact, because the mic is so light, you can also mount it upside down, and the magnet still holds the weight. You can use this to hide the mic under a hat (for example) instead of wearing it on your shirt.

We used the magnets for something else, too. Utilizing the small size of the mics, we taped one of the magnets on our talent’s hand and attached the mic on top. This gave us a pretty convenient setup for ASMR recording as we filmed an ASMR coffee video.

Features and controls 

Most of the control for this kit is done on a touch screen on the receiver. You slide and tap for selection and operation, and you slide up to go back. It is quite convenient, but if you are like me and prefer physical buttons, you can control the mic using the two analog buttons on the side, together with the on/off switch. 

The monitor also provides a ton of useful info: signal levels, battery levels, and audio gain. Now, it’s not real-time monitoring, but it will let you know if you clipped. Navigating through the menus on the monitor also reveals a few useful features.

Via the menu, you can activate DNR (dynamic noise reduction), a low-cut filter (a filter that helps you block background “humm” from your audio recordings), and mixing controls. The latter is especially interesting as you don’t see it much on affordable mics. This feature allows you to select between three modes: mono, where both mics are mixed together; stereo, where each mic gets a channel; and safely, which mixes both mics and also records a safety channel at -6 DB. If you are only using a single mi for vlogging, this would be the mode for you.

What’s in the box

The Godox XT1 comes with the following:

• The receiver and two transmitters
• A soft storage box
• Two clips
• Four magnets
• Three cables: TRS to TRS, TRS to USB-C, charging cable.
• An (optional) TRS to lighting cable
• Two wind shields
• Cold shoe adapter

Godox Magic XT1 Specs 

Wireless Technology	Digital
Included Transmitters	2x Clip-On with Microphone
Diversity	Non-Diversity
Max Operating Range	656.2′ / 200 m (Line of Sight)
Max Transmitters per Band	2
Built-In Recorder	Yes
Timecode Support	No
Mobile App Compatible	No
Sample Rate/Resolution	48 kHz / 24-Bit
SNR	70 dB
Receiver
Receiver Type	Camera-Mount
Mounting Options	Shoe-Mount (with Included Hardware)
Antenna	Internal
Number of Audio Channels	2
Built-In Microphone	No
Audio I/O	1x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Female Unbalanced Output 1x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Female Unbalanced Headphone Input
Frequency Response	20 Hz to 20 kHz
Network I/O	No
USB/Lightning Connectivity	USB-C Female
USB Class-Compliant	Yes
Power Requirements	Battery
Battery Type	1x Built-In Rechargeable
Internal Battery Capacity	680 mAh
Battery Charging Time	2.5 Hours
Approx. Battery Life	16 Hours
Input Power	5 VDC at 550 mA 5 VDC at 80 mA
Display & Indicators	OLED
Dimensions	0.9 x 0.9 x 0.7″ / 22.9 x 22.9 x 17.8 mm
Weight	1.8 oz / 50 g
Transmitter
Transmitter Type	Clip-On with Microphone
RF Output Power	Not Specified by Manufacturer
Built-In Microphone	Yes
Audio I/O	No
Muting	Off/On Switch
Auto-Level Control	Yes
Frequency Response	20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sync Method	2.4 GHz QPSK
Antenna	Internal
Power Requirements	Battery
Battery Type	1x Built-In Rechargeable
Internal Battery Capacity	80 mAh
Battery Charging Time	2 Hours
Approx. Battery Life	8 Hours
USB/Lightning I/O	No
Display & Indicators	LED
Operating Temperature	14 to 122°F / -10 to 50°C
Dimensions	0.7 x 0.4 x 0.3″ / 17.8 x 10.2 x 7.6 mm
Weight	0.3 oz / 8 g
Microphone
Microphone Type	Built-In (Transmitter)
Sound Field	Mono
Polar Pattern	Omnidirectional
Frequency Range	20 Hz to 20 kHz
SNR	70 dB
Maximum SPL	115 dB SPL
Operating Temperature	14 to 122°F / -10 to 50°C

Conclusion

The Godox Magic XT-1 is a solid option, perfect for beginners and budget videographers who don’t want to spend much but still want good audio quality in a convenient setup. While it lacks some features of more advanced audio systems like the Sennheiser EW-DP ($599), the Godox XT1 still gives the high-end systems a run for their money while costing a fraction of the cost.

Price and availability

The Godox Magic XT-1 is available in B&H for just $109. If you need to connect it to an older iOS device, you can get it with a 3.5mm TRS to Lightning adapter cable for $129.

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