Boya Magic review

When it comes to handling, let’s look at who this set of Boya Magic mics is aimed at. With flexible use, the handheld, the clip-on, as well as camera-mounted options, it’s squarely aimed at mobile content creators who need the flexibility to use the mics in a variety of different ways.

Checking over the unit and, as ever, the Boya mic build quality is good. Although these are among the cheaper mics on the market, there’s little to fear about the plastic design or the actual build quality. For the money, it’s a really decent investment.

The first thing that stands out is that they arrive in a very nice fabric case, similar to the ones we see from DJI and some of the more premium manufacturers. Inside, when you remove the main handset, it actually has a decent weight as well, weighing in at 89 g for the entire unit, including Windjammer.

With the set, there were also a couple of extras. First of all, the desktop stand, which is extremely useful, and a small ball head that enables you to mount the mic directly onto your camera or onto the stand. There’s also a receiver, which enables you to plug directly into a 3.5 mm audio or USB port on your camera for wireless audio transmission.

So far, all pretty standard, but where everything starts to change is with the main unit. First and foremost, that unit does feel really well-made, and there’s a small, clear plastic door on the front which flips open to the right to reveal two very small clip-on mics. These also feature magnets, so you can either clip to a lapel or, if there’s no lapel clip, then you can use the magnets to clip through a T-shirt.

This is a two-mic system, so it’s great for interview situations. One of the things I really like here is that the base of the handheld part of the system actually pulls away and reveals a USB-C connector. This connector can then be plugged directly into a mobile phone or computer and enables wireless transmission so that you can record on your mobile or desktop computer directly. If not, then you can utilise the separate wireless receiver that’s plugged in the more traditional fashion.

One of the clever pieces of design is around the handle, which holds the two wireless mics, as it also doubles as a more traditional shotgun-style mic. It can be handheld or placed on a desktop stand or on a camera, and completely changes how you record audio. So, from one simple device, you have a more traditional shotgun mic that you can use on camera or on desktop, or you can flip it open and remove the two wireless mics and use those as lavaliers. This gives plenty of options and also means that one microphone system gives you two very different microphone options.

One point on the build quality is that whilst it is all very good and solid, I did feel that the magnetic clasp that holds the wireless receiver you can use with your mobile phone or laptop can quite easily be dislodged when handling, so something to watch out for. Otherwise, once again, considering the price, this all feels really good and high quality.

One point to note is that these wireless mics are incredibly small, making them some of the smallest on the market, measuring roughly 35 mm in length, 12 mm in width, and 15 mm in depth, including the small magnet and each one weighs in at just 10 g.

The Boya Magic is a mic system designed for content creators who film in a variety of different situations, be that in the studio under controlled conditions where wireless lavalier mics can easily be used and attached to your subjects, or out in the field where you have to be a little more impromptu with your mic use, in which case it can be handheld and directed as needed.

The mics can also be used in much more open situations, so if you’ve got a group of people having a discussion and you want to record the audio, then simply pop it on a stand, place it in front of the group, and off you go. The flexibility of its use is way beyond what you normally expect from any microphone at any price.

There are several big features that really stand out. First and foremost, the four-in-one design offers clip-on, handheld, desktop, and on-camera use. Then there’s true AI noise cancellation of up to -40 dB reduction.

The audio quality is also good considering the size: 48 kHz with 24-bit, 20 Hz – 20 kHz gives you a good depth. One of the things that did surprise me was that the app is actually fully featured. Although it isn’t the best designed, and trying to find some of the features can take a little working out, and as I previously mentioned, the documentation isn’t the best.

However, spend an hour with the app and you’ll find all the ins and outs, including how to quickly switch on the AI noise cancellation, how to switch between recording modes, and how to activate the safety track.

One of the most impressive features is the ability to monitor the audio levels so that you can ensure you get the best possible vocal capture.

One of the features I expect to see on most mid- and definitely premium wireless mic systems is the ability to split the audio between mono (which is set as standard) and stereo, so you can adjust the mics individually.

Here it’s really nicely thought out. Although there’s no ability through the app to actually adjust the input volume of each mic individually, at least you’ve got each of the audio recordings on a separate channel, so you can adjust them in post later.

As I mentioned, the Boya Magic has been designed for creators looking for a really quick and easy way to record decent-quality audio. One of the things I really like about the design is just how quick and easy it is to use.

Starting out, it’s just a case of charging up the main unit and the receiver, then you’re pretty much set to go. It’s just about selecting how you’re going to use the mics and how you’re going to receive the wireless audio on whatever device you’re recording with.

In this test, I’ve used the mic in several different ways: firstly, using the full handle as a handheld shotgun-style mic, then I’ve mounted it on top of my camera again as a shotgun-style mic, and I’ve also used the two wireless mics from the main unit, transmitting to my camera.

With each way you use the mics, you also have a selection of different transmission options. So if I want to record directly to my mobile phone or USB-C audio-enabled device, then I can just pull off the small receiver from the base of the handle and pop it into the USB-C port on my mobile phone or laptop. As soon as that’s done, the small receiver actually draws power from whatever device it’s plugged into, and you’ll see two small flashing blue lights highlighting that power is being drawn and the device is ready to connect.

Then, if you pop out the two small wireless mics, hold down the power button for a couple of seconds, the small status LED will flash blue and then green, showing that it’s connected to the transmitter. It’s extremely quick and easy. At that point, you can then talk using the two wireless mics or the handle if you want to go through and use it as a shotgun mic, and the audio will transfer directly over to your smartphone.

If you want to be a little bit more professional or record the audio straight to your camera, that’s also possible with the small receiver included. Again, with this receiver, there are two blue lights. Once you push the power button, clip it onto your camera’s hot shoe and feed the 3.5 mm audio cable from the receiver into your camera’s audio port. Once again, connect the two wireless mics, and the process is quick and easy. Once the mic and receiver units are connected, those blue lights go from flashing to solid.

Essentially, however you want to use the mic, it’s quick and easy to swap between modes. One slight issue is that when you first start out, there’s no real documentation in the box, and you do have to do a bit of a search online to figure out how to connect each configuration. But a little bit of trial and error is really all that’s needed. While some manual pairing is required, it’s simple enough to do.

Once connected, using just the wireless mics to begin with, the audio quality is actually surprisingly good for a unit at this price, with clear, crisp audio. It might not quite have the depth of some more premium microphones, but it’s still incredibly good.

A couple of the features that really mark this out, and explain the price point, are the lack of internal storage. So if, for whatever reason, you can’t set up the wireless transmission, there’s no ability to use the mic in isolation. The other point is that there’s also no level indicator on any of the devices, so unless you have the app paired with the microphones, there’s no way to monitor or adjust the input audio level.

However, considering the price and the flexibility of the unit, out and about, you just can’t fail to be impressed. With battery life that essentially handles a full day’s shoot without much issue and no charging in between, it’s very good.

If you are a content creator, then there are a huge number of options out there. While options like the Mic 2 and the Rode Go are popular for video content creators, Boya has really innovated to create a product that’s far more flexible than the well-known alternatives. If you’re just starting out or building your reputation, then the Boya Magic is one of the easiest-to-use, best-quality audio recording solutions out there. It ultimately requires far less kit to carry and is also cheaper than many alternatives.

This mic is definitely aimed at content creators who want one mic that can do a multitude of different things, from being a shotgun mic on top of your camera, one that sits on your table when you’re talking to several people, or a straight two-way wireless lavalier mic when you want high quality for only two people speaking.

The fact that this all comes in one unit and it’s very neat and tidy is a real benefit. What I really like about the system is that in the main body of the unit, you have the shotgun mic, the two wireless lavalier mics, and at the base, a magnetic USB-C receiver that plugs into your smartphone or laptop.

My issue with the design is that the camera receiver is external to the rest of the unit. I would’ve loved it if Boya had made a system that integrated this with the rest of the mic system rather than having it separate entirely.

While there is a very nice protective case, for me, from a design perspective, having everything together would’ve really appealed.

However, as it is, it already does more than most, and the fact that it’s an all-in-one solution that offers a shotgun mic and wireless lav mics in one neat and tidy package makes this extremely appealing, especially when you consider the price is only around £70. What’s more, for that money, you get a really good, solid, and robust system. Ultimately, the audio quality is superb, and the AI noise cancellation is definitely far better than I anticipated, making it a great solution.

If you’re a content creator looking for a really cheap but very versatile mic system, then the Boya Magic is definitely worth a look. It’s well-made, works incredibly well, and while there are a few limitations with adjustments, considering what it costs, there’s very little here to complain about.

Of all the mic systems that I’ve tried, this is the one that stands out to me. It’s the most versatile, well-priced and easy to use, making it a superb value for money and a great starting point for pretty much anyone shooting video.