Elgato Wave:3 - Premium Studio Quality USB Condenser Microphone product image

Elgato Wave:3 - Premium Studio Quality USB Condenser Microphone

Nerd Approved:
(5/5)
Review by Joshua Morris on
View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Review

Wave:3 has lived on my boom arm for 18 months and it’s still my go-to USB mic. The 24-bit/96 kHz capsule sounds clean out of the box, and Elgato’s Clipguard circuit has saved multiple loud laughs from clipping on stream. The capacitive mute pad and multifunction dial make gain, headphone level, and mix adjustments effortless mid-call, and Wave Link gives me virtual faders so OBS, Spotify, Discord, and game audio stay isolated. I routinely switch between macOS and Windows machines and the mic reconnects without driver drama. It does pick up room reflections if you’re in a bare office, so I keep a small foam panel behind my monitor, but the overall sound and software integration outperform other USB mics I’ve owned.

✓ Pros

  • ✓Cardioid condenser delivers broadcast-quality vocals over USB
  • ✓Clipguard and 24-bit/96 kHz capture prevent distortion
  • ✓Capacitive mute pad and multifunction dial simplify on-mic control
  • ✓Wave Link software offers granular virtual mixing for streams and calls

✗ Cons

  • ✗Cardioid pattern still picks up reflections in untreated rooms
  • ✗Shock mount and pop filter are add-on purchases

Specifications

TypeUSB-C cardioid condenser microphone
Sample Rate24-bit/96 kHz
ControlsMultifunction dial, capacitive mute, headphone monitor
SoftwareWave Link virtual mixer
Date First AvailableAugust 24, 2022

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