Bietrun WXM22 Review: The Rode Go Competitor That Costs Just $99

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The Bietrun WXM22 costs $99 for its 1 transmitter and 1 receiver, half the price of the big-name Rode Wireless Go. While the price is in Bietrun’s favor, does it cut too many corners as a result?

This will primarily be a microphone system picked up by content creators who are either looking to record themselves or others’ audio wirelessly, but it can also be an extremely useful way to also wirelessly transmit any other audio source with zero latency. This is especially important when you need to listen to a live audio feed without delay, say for example while watching TV or even recording live instruments.

With my experience as a content creator and videographer who has used similar systems as well as other microphone solutions, how does this hold up, and does it get the job done?

Be sure to check out the video review as well to hear the quality of the internal microphone, the included lapel, as well as several comparisons to other solutions. As I’ll share and explain throughout this review, the Bietrun does in fact offer great value, however, there are additional tools and tips I highly recommend also implementing with this setup to maximize its performance and functionality.

What’s Included?

The packaging is pretty minimal but lacks the flashiness we’ve come to expect from other brands trying to copy Apple’s simple, yet sleek box design. That said, the gold product name on the box is rather nice looking and contrasts the otherwise bland box. Opening it up, you’ll find one receiver and one transmitter hidden under the manual and warranty card.

There is a second box inside labeled accessories which includes:

• TRS to TRS cable
• TRRS to TRS cable
• Dual USB-C to USB A charging cable
• Carrying pouch

The included TRRS to TRS cable is very important to highlight as this is necessary to allow for recording and connectivity to most mobile devices. And while these cables are cheap and easy to purchase separately, it’s great to see one already included in the box, especially as this is marketed as a system that works with phones and tablets.

Notably missing, however, is a dead cat windbreak for the internal microphone. This perhaps isn’t as important for indoor use, but as I share in the outdoor examples in the review video, it is especially useful for windy situations.

Setting Them Up

Powering both the transmitter and receiver is quick and within a few moments they both pair to each other automatically (assuming they’re both set to the same channel frequency).

The transmitter and receiver do not actually record any audio on their own, instead, using radio frequencies, they simply send any audio source being heard from the transmitter and the receiver picks it up.

In addition to the internal microphone or the included lapel microphone, you can also choose to connect any other 3.5mm source as your input. From here, you need to connect the receiver to something that can either record or monitor audio via its audio out jack.

Most will likely just directly connect this to their camera’s input jack if they’re recording video as well. This is the most convenient way as you won’t have to sync up your audio later in post-production. I personally choose to go through an external audio recorder (in my case, the Zoom H1n) instead of my camera directly for a few reasons. In addition to giving me a backup audio source, as I always have my trusty Comica VM20 boom mic running, it also provides higher quality audio files and is easier to monitor.

Speaking of monitoring, this might be the biggest downside to the Bietrun receiver. From my tests, I found plugging in headphones directly into the transmitter to monitor your levels could be very misleading. Although the transmitter and receiver offer 15 levels of gain adjustment, five times more than the Rode Wireless Go’s meager three levels, it’s hard to actually hear that difference while monitoring from the transmitter. Audio from the headphone monitoring port is very low and will lead you to think that your overall recording is low too. When I monitor instead from my external recorder or even my camera using their headphone jack, it is drastically louder.

While visually the red indicators shown on the audio levels warn users, the risk with auditory monitoring via the Bietrun receiver is that users won’t realize how loud their volume really is and in turn, they are more likely to be clipping and ruining their entire audio recordings.

If you don’t already have one, my recommendation again, especially if you want the most control and highest possible audio recordings, is to pick an external audio recorder so you can easily adjust and monitor your gain to target the safe -12db to -6db range.

Bietrun WXM22 Specifications

The Bietrun WXM22 has 50 UHF radio bands, giving users ample choices to avoid interference from other audio sources.

 

The range is rated for 50 meters or 164 feet. In the video review, I provide a sample range test in an open field, but as I note, it’s hard to realistically simulate its performance compared to if you were in an area with an abundance of other wireless frequencies while social distancing.

While I was able to get very minimal dropouts even with my back turned to the transmitter at about 100 or so feet away, it’s hard to tell how well this would perform in the presence of other wireless frequencies.

The transmitter and receiver each have a 650mAh rechargeable battery, which is rated to last about five hours long. This is about average for this category of device, but still two hours less than what the Rode Wireless Go offers. Charging is simple with the included dual-USB-C cable that is included. It’s great to see more companies ditching micro USB and even worse, proprietary charging/connectivity ports.

USB-C is far more convenient and becoming a standard for most devices. When you consider that the transmitter and receiver are likely going to drain their battery at about the same rate, it makes sense to include a USB-C cable that can charge both at the same time.

That said, despite their smaller battery sizes, charging times are a little slow at about three hours each. Unfortunately, faster PD (power direct) chargers are not supported and won’t charge the devices at all.

On the other hand, charging from power banks is possible and adds to the convenience of this system.

Wireless microphone systems have come a long way in the past few years. When I first began my videography career, I relied heavily on a big and clunky system by Saramonic to record audio for weddings. These were about the size and weight of walkie-talkies and felt just as dated too.  Today’s systems, including the WXM22, are significantly more convenient. In addition to having built-in rechargeable batteries and a screen to monitor and adjust your settings, they are significantly lighter and smaller too. At about 40 grams each, the receiver and transmitter are collectively smaller than the one old Saramonic I once used.

Likewise, you’ll notice that you don’t need to attach an antenna, nor do you need a separate volume preamp. That said, these are still about seven grams heavier than the Rode Wireless Go. You’ll be hard-pressed to notice that weight difference, but it’s a testament to how much more compact and lightweight a premium price tag gets you.

Functionality

No Dead Cats…

Like I noted earlier, a dead cat was not included in the box, nor has the internal microphone really been designed to accept a 3rd party one. The dead cat works to minimize the low-frequency hiss and harsh sounds from wind passing against the microphone. Indoors and under more controlled environments that lack wind will be fine, however, if you plan on using the internal microphone specifically outdoors a lot, this may not be the best choice.

Changing channels is a simple three-step process. Just click the settings button and use the volume + or – buttons to select the new desired channel. Confirm the selection on each by once again clicking the settings button. Complete this process on both the transmitter and receiver to select the same channel. Aside from the transmitter having its internal mic and external mic port at the top, they also differ in the location of the power button as well as the side of the USB C port. The transmitter and receiver have the same volume and dual settings/mute button layout at the bottom. It would have been nice for the similarities to also include the placement of the power button too. When you’re in a rush or muscle memory kicks in, you’ll tend to look for the power button at the top of each, as that’s the most intuitive location.

The monitors display your gain, audio levels, channel, and signal strength. They seem to be bright enough for most indoor and outdoor situations. It would be nice to be able to change or completely disable the screen dimming time-out, though. Especially if you are using these outdoors and are monitoring your levels and status frequently, it can be a little annoying to have to press a button each time you want to brighten up the screen so it’s more readable.

Build quality is alright but definitely not impressive. The all-plastic build isn’t necessarily bad, however, it does feel rather cheap. In my few weeks of use, they have both been picked up scratches on the front. What’s worse and rather annoying is the glossy finish, including on the front and display. The receiver and transmitter are fingerprint magnets. Funny enough, filming the B-roll and taking the photos for this review were made especially difficult because of how easily this picked up my prints.

2-in-1 Clips

Now, this is a great design choice. The same rear clips which allow you to attach the transmitter to a shirt waistband also doubles as a hot shoe mount. This eliminates the need for additional adapters when you want to mount both to your camera or other compatible hot shoe gear.

Best Uses for the Bietrun WXM22

What are the best and most practical uses for this system? Whether you’re looking to record your own tech or YouTube videos, producing a podcast, or conducting an interview, when wireless and latency-free audio recording is a priority, this system is the way to go.

Furthermore, while this system won’t necessarily yield the best audio quality, it takes the lead with convenience first. Especially if you are a one-person crew in charge of BOTH video and audio recording, the simplicity and ease of setup to get your audio reliably transmitted is great. In terms of why this isn’t the “best” quality, it comes down to two main reasons.

First off, there is a persistent low volume hiss when wireless transmitting your audio. This was present in all my tests including indoors, outdoors, switching channels, recording through the Zoom H1n as well as through my Sony a7siii. Noise reduction clean-up in Adobe Audition was able to minimize it, however not completely eliminate it. In addition to this being an extra and time-consuming step, not all users have access or experience with these software tools.

The second reason is that the internal microphone and included lapel are not going to be able to compete in terms of sound quality compared to a dedicated $100 microphone that is JUST a microphone. The internal microphone isn’t the best choice for recording individual voices as it picks up more external noises compared to a lapel or a super-cardioid boom mic which is designed to focus on just the sounds it is pointing at.

Surprisingly, I found the internal microphone to actually sound much better than the lapel. The lapel sounded too warm and a tad muffled for my liking. While the internal microphone did pick up more unwanted room noise, it sounded the most natural. That all said, those two points do not suggest that this Bietrun system is a bad choice, but rather that the convenience and cost savings it offers come with some disadvantages.

Luckily, with the exception of the slight hiss sound, you can easily improve the quality of the mics themselves by connecting and using any other one that is compatible with the transmitter’s 3.5mm jack.

Beyond Recording Audio

Going back to a point I shared near the beginning of this review, this is also a very useful tool for recording or transmitting any other audio source without latency. The best examples of this include watching TV and even playing instruments. Compared to even the best APT-X Bluetooth headsets and transmitters, they simply can’t compete with the latency-free experience offered by these radio transmissions.

Using the Bieitrun WXM22, I can now record keys, drums and guitar live and monitor it wirelessly with great quality, something I’ve never experienced before. This dramatically adds to the value and functionality of this system.

Too Many Corners?

My experience with the Bietrun WXM22 has been pretty good. With its low price, I was a little skeptical at first and thought it would cut too many corners making it more of a hassle to use than it was worth.

Its $99 price does come with some drawbacks, however, if you’re on a tighter budget many of its issues have workarounds that may make it the better value choice for you. With the savings compared to its big-name competitors you can invest in a better microphone to connect to and a dedicated external audio recorder as well. Pairing these three purchases will give you an overall more complete and even better recording and monitoring experience.

Source: makeuseof.com