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We’ve seen a lot of new mini microphone systems released over the last few years. You can see some of them here in our vlogging microphone buyers guide. One thing that’s stuck out about a lot of the systems so far, though, is that they only come in single or dual microphone setups. This is fine for most people, but what if you want to record a group of people simultaneously?
Well, that’s where the new Comica BoomX-U Qua UHF microphone system comes in, with four transmitters going to a single receiver, you’re able to record up to four people at once having a conversation with real-time monitoring, 24 channels to choose from and up to 120 metres of range in open areas.
The Comica BoomX-U QUA kit includes four transmitters, each with both a built-in microphone and the ability to plug in an external one, four lavalier microphones that you can plug into them and a single receiver, along with a cold shoe mount, various cables and a carry case to fit it all into. All four microphones can transmit at once for recording up to 4 people simultaneously to a single receiver, with the connectivity status of each shown on the receiver’s display.
What Comica doesn’t fully specify, though, is exactly how those four channels are recorded. Unlike the Comica BoomX-D Pro, there’s no internal recording on the transmitters, and while the receiver does have 3.5mm TRS Channel A/B and C/D outputs, there aren’t enough cables supplied with it to really connect it up to a field recorder across four channels. And you’d need a field recorder to get all four, because you’re not going to be able to send and record four separate audio signals through a single 3.5mm TRS socket on a camera.
But the above image on the product page for the microphone on Comica’s website shows both a fully mixed down mode with all four microphones going to a single track – although why you’d ever want to do this is beyond me – as well as a full four-channel multitrack session running in some software or other on a computer. The specifications don’t list any kind of USB connectivity beyond using the Type-C socket to charge up its internal battery.
Comica does have digital USB audio device support in the BoomX-D Pro, though. Perhaps the BoomX-U QUA receiver also acts this way, too, allowing you to bring four digital tracks straight into your DAW over USB? This is purely speculation, though. I’ve no idea how it actually works in reality as the specs and marketing materials don’t really mention it at all. So, we’ll just have to wait until Comica releases more details or the reviews start to pop up on YouTube.
If you are forced to use a computer to record all four channels separately – there is the marketing imaging above showing it going into a field recorder, but it’s all to a single mixed down channel, with an obviously mismatched display vs the input reality – then that should make it excellent for live streamers and podcasters who regularly record conversations with multiple people. But for more run & gun production at a random location where you may not even be able to set up a computer or laptop to record, then that is potentially challenging. It does seem to be specifically marketed towards podcasters, YouTubers, live streamers, etc. despite the 120-metre max range claim.
Of course, you can just use it as a one or two mic system going straight into your camera, too, and then life is easy. But if one or two mics is going to be your primary use, I think there are probably better options out there, like Comica’s own BoomX-D Pro or Rode Wireless GO II. Then if you need more, just expand with another pair. Then you’ve definitely got four separate tracks, each recorded internally in its respective transmitter. Of course, that solution does work out a little more expensive.
It comes with a 16 step level adjustment, low cut filter to take out rumble noise, as well as a mute button for when your subject wants a little privacy without having to turn off the unit completely. The display on the receiver lets you monitor the volume of all four microphones simultaneously, and according to the video above, it looks like the volume of each can be adjusted from the receiver, too. Each unit also has around six and a half hours of use on a full charge.
Overall, it looks like a fairly basic system – which you’d kind of expect for four transmitters at this price point. But if you’re budget-conscious and need more than two microphones, especially if you get a lot of 2.4Ghz interference in your area, then the Comica BoomX-U QUA looks like a potentially decent low budget option.
I’d probably hold out for clarification on how you can record multiple tracks to separate channels/files, though. You really don’t want all those mixed down into a single track at the recording stage. But if you’re a bit of a risk-taker and want to take the chance it’ll work the way you need right now, even if you might have to buy extra cables to do it, the Comica Boom-U QUA is available to buy now for $359.
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