Microphones turned into essentials during the pandemic. It became impossible — or at least, unprofessional — to hold video calls while sounding like a garbled airport intercom. Personally, I chose the Blue Yeti, an affordable USB mic, for my setup. Times can quickly change, though. A microphone that seems perfect for the pandemic era might not fly as high today. So, when I got the new BOYA Magic, it felt like getting a much-needed patch.

Not a one-hit wonder

The unfortunate aspect of most microphones today is their lack of versatility. A desktop mic, for example, is usually took big to use for an outdoor interview. It’s also too much of a hassle to set up a lapel mic for desktop recording.

That said, the BOYA Magic is a rare specimen. It can be used in four different ways: as a desktop mic, a handheld, a camera accessory, or a clip-on. To be fair, you still need an external accessory to access desktop and camera modes. Still, out of the box, you’re getting a charging case shaped like a handle, a series of receivers, and the mics themselves.

I’ve tried all four modes, and none of them felt like a halfhearted addition. Even the desktop mode, which should look clunky, still feels like it belongs. Both camera and clip-on modes are easy to set up. However, my absolute favorite is the handheld mode. As someone visibly irked at vloggers holding up tiny lapel mics at their interviewee’s faces, the BOYA’s handheld mode feels natural.

All the sleeves you’ll need

Out of the box, the BOYA Magic comes with four sleeves for noise and distortion. The charging case has a foam cover and a furry wind cover. There are also two furry covers for the two transmitters.

These four sleeves are a much-welcome addition to the package. Though they’re not absolute necessities, it’s nice to have windy and noisy situations covered in a pinch.

Besides the sleeves, the package also comes with a series of short cables to cover almost all uses. There’s also three receivers for USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm.

Can you believe that these all come inside a small pouch as big as a pencil case? Of course, the most portable option is still just the single charging case that some other brands have. But, for the accessories available, a small pouch is perfect.

Audio quality perfect for vloggers

One of my favorite places to shoot content is inside a café. For most of the products I review, a café is the most applicable place for real-world uses. Unfortunately, staying at a café has its drawbacks. Most notably, a café can get noisy because of chatty patrons and loud coffee machines.

When I shot a video using the BOYA Magic, the world around me just magically disappeared. The AI noise cancellation easily cuts out earsplitting blenders and outside screams. I conferred with our videographer, and he agrees; the mic needed no postproduction to get rid of noise. My voice was captured flawlessly for a full-length video.

It was also enough for desktop use. I tried the mic on for simple voice calls and multiplayer gaming. Installation was easy. Plus, it’s small enough, so I can replace my clunky Blue Yeti for this.

To be fair, placement is still a factor. There were some angles where the audio quality can dip. Then again, it’s light enough to physically pick up and speak directly into the mic. Just be careful not to blow your friends’ eardrums out. That said, this is more than enough for voice calls, podcasting, and casual recording sessions.

Some trouble connecting

There is one tiny thing to note, though. While I was recording something in clip-on mode, the camera I was using had a hard time connecting to both transmitters. It’s an odd contrast to how the BOYA Magic promises a quick and easy setup for devices.

I wasn’t able to replicate this again, so it might just be a one-off. You just need to note that it’s not immune to the occasional gremlin.

Enough for long shoots

Finally, the BOYA Magic promises six hours on a single charge. The charging case further extends this to 30 hours.

This is definitely a just-in-case thing. Under most scenarios, six hours is more than enough for a shooting session. But, if you do find yourself in that influencer life, the entire pack can last an entire days of being out and about. This is an essential for creators.

Is the BOYA Magic your InfluencerMatch?

I love the BOYA Magic. The 4-in-1 mic is easily the most versatile audio solution for any creator. The number of ways to use the mic easily trumps any other option today. Besides being a great mic, the package is also filled with several just-in-case accessories for the unpredictability of outdoor shoots.

Plus, the price is just right. The base package — with only a USB-C receiver — comes at only US$ 89.99. All three will set you back by US$ 129.99. The tripod, unfortunately, is a separate purchase, costing you US$ 30.00.

Still, just for the sheer flexibility and audio quality, the BOYA Magic is an easy Super Swipe.