Elgato - Wave:3 MK.2 – USB Condenser Microphone for Streaming & Podcasting w/Wave FX Processor - Works on PC and Mac

The Wave:3 MK.2 is a plug-and-play microphone that uses built-in hardware to produce top-notch audio that can be further refined with Elgato’s downloadable software. The mic is robust, sleek, and built intuitively. It provides a push-and-turn button that can toggle through settings, has an LED light to show changes in setting without the need for software, and has a highly responsive tap-to-mute touch button at the top of the mic. The mic comes with built-in DSP that can be controlled directly from the mic itself, no software needed. This means I can plug it in basically to any device and use it right away, including my phone (it will use the phone for power though). I tested it out on my phone and the mic managed to keep my voice steady and level despite my rapid voice fluctuations between high and low plus distance changes. The only downside to having used it without the software was that background noise was captured too. The Elgato Wave Link software is simple and streamlined, while easy beginners to grasp. As someone who is not versed in the technical aspects of using a mic, Elgato makes it very easy to learn the terms and how effects are applied. The app includes quick-info pop-ups plus links to their articles that explain very clearly what purpose each effect is for, and I feel a lot more confident tinkering and finding the right adjustments with the knowledge I gained from them. For reference, I downloaded the app onto my iMac with 26.3.1 OS. Installation was quick and simple. I had to disconnect and reconnect the mic after I installed the app for it to find it but once I did that, it took me swiftly through the mic set-up process. You can easily re-do the “Setup Tour” at any time afterwards under the device’s setting tab. On of the main benefits of using the mic with the software is the Voice Focus feature, an AI-powered effect that can omit background noise. I did a sound check with and without this effect on and the difference was palpable. I recorded in a noisy environment – kids loudly chattering close by, fan blowing, water cooler loudly humming – and without it, I can hear everything, but with it – nothing but my voice. I tested this mic’s abilities in several environments and with a variety of vocal highs and lows. It will capture even nearly inaudible whispers and bring them up to par with loud, exited, boisterous exclamations. It’s perfect for any creative from ASMR to sport’s commentator. That said, I did notice clipping when using the Voice Focus on the strongest setting. It may be user error, and perhaps I have to figure out how to tweak my settings better, but this happened when I rapidly changed my vocal tone and did not happen when I tested it on my phone under similar circumstances, so it definitely was something to do with the software. The mic has an audio jack in the back for plugging in headphones and hearing one’s voice without notable latency. This monitors the input in real time, allowing me to gauge just how well sound is getting picked up and ensuring the gain is just right for my desired volume. One downside is that, if the input gain is high, every sound will be heightened. I can even hear my mouse swipe on the mousepad which can be distracting when I know voice focus is on and this will not be heard in what is actually being produced. Secondly, since it involves a wired headphone, some may find the extra wire hanging around them to be bothersome. I personally have no issue with it though. Overall, this is a great mic that will even out your vocals and add a professional quality to your creative work. It is immensely fun to play around with, and I know it will boost the quality of the videos I help a creator record and produce, whilst giving me less work during the editing process. It is highly intuitive and easy on beginners while requiring very little set-up time.

This is simply a great microphone for streams, gaming with friends, video calls or any other time when you’re sharing your voice. I’ve gotten by with pretty decent built-in microphones, usually as part of headsets, but this blows those out of the water… and it should. Choosing a dedicated microphone like this should be more than just translating your voice in higher quality, it should provide better quality of life features and I think this one does this well. __ Design & Sound __ After a quick download of Elgato’s Wave Link desktop app and a firmware update, I was up and running with great sounding input. A built in pop filter prevents sharp sounds, leading to some nice sound capture at a natural distance. The dial on the front conveniently displays a monitor of your incoming volume (in green), as well as the cap you’ve set (in white). The dial’s button allows multi-selection between basic recording and other things, like headphone mix or monitor mix, as indicated by small icons molded into the front. Pressing it once, for example. turns on Voice Tune, a feature to easily adjust your voice to have more warmth for a more professional sound. On the top, a subtle capacitive mute button can be triggered by softly tapping the top of the mic. When you do, the LED light around the dial turns red. It’s a very convenient toggle. I also like how well it’s built. The base is weighty and cast metal with a screw mount that attached to the wings of the microphone. On the bottom, a silicone pad helps with vibration isolation and protects my desk from any scratches. When it’s on my desk, it feel like it’s quite sturdy, with no chance of toppling over. The microphone itself is black plastic with a metal screen, but it all has a good, premium feel to it. A headphone port on the back allows for headphone monitoring of your voice in near-real time (no latency) __ Software __ Through Wave Link, you can do all sorts of professional adjustments to your input. Here you can adjust hardware and software effects. The Lowcut filter can cut off lower sounds and prevent your recording from getting too bass-y, or use the Expander to help softly drop the sound when not speaking. Equalizer allows you to set a natural curve to ensure you capture a natural sound. Just about anything you’d want to adjust to avoid poor playback, it’s here, and it does the processing right on the microphone. The software also gives you quick access in your task bar for mixing your various computer audio volumes, so if you need to turn down your voice, or others, it's simple. __ Summary __ The combination of a solidly built microphone, and great, easy to use software goes a long way here. With onboard processing of your sound, plus pretty much all of the controls you want over it thanks to the easy to use Wave Link companion app (as well as some quick features from the mic itself) - it’s a well-rounded, professional mic that I would easily choose again in the future.

Having a good microphone is important for anyone who streams, podcasts, games, or joins online meetings. Bad sound can really hurt the experience, and laptop microphones often don't provide good quality. Investing in better audio can significantly improve communication. I know this is true for me. Online meetings can be brutal when audio is disrupted or sounds poor. The Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 is a high-quality USB microphone made for streaming, podcasting, gaming, and recording. It connects to your computer via USB-C and delivers clear audio at 24-bit/48 kHz. A key feature is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which lets you hear your voice and computer sounds together, ensuring a smooth experience. You can easily adjust sound levels with knobs and LED lights that let you control microphone gain, headphone volume, and mix your voice with computer audio. It also has a mute button that lets you silence quickly when needed. Elgato offers the Wave Link app, which helps you manage up to 9 audio input channels on Mac and Windows. This app lets you combine game audio, voice chat, music, and alerts into a single audio stream, making everything easier to control. The microphone comes with a sturdy desktop stand that can be adjusted for optimal audio capture while reducing background noise. The stand's padded base reduces vibrations, and you can detach it to use with boom arms or suspension systems if you want. A durable steel grille protects the microphone and minimizes breath and popping sounds. There are additional accessories and stands specifically built for the MK.2 that you can purchase, depending on your needs. For example, there's a Wave Pop Filter or a tripod stand for studio use. I'm an amateur musician who loves the idea of recording at home, so the tripod may be something I'll consider in the future. For $170, I'd say this microphone performs well beyond its price. Sure, there are more expensive "premium" mics you can purchase. Still, if you're starting out streaming or recording, or want to upgrade the sound for your online meetings, this mic will do all that and more.

I’ve been looking for another stream friendly USB Microphone, mainly needing it to just work and sound great. I’ve always wanted to try out the Elgato Wave microphones, so when I saw the Wave:3 MK.2 was just releasing I decided to pick one up. Pros: - Easy to use. - Multi-function dial control. - Easy to see Mute Light. - Comes with adapter for monitor arms. Cons: - None. Out of the Box: I always appreciate when an accessory for the PC is simply Plug-&-Play, which the Wave:3 Mk.2 does just that. I was able to plug it in and start using it without any extra downloads, the multi-function dials on the front allows for complete control and calibration without the need for additional software. But to get the most out of the microphone, and because I’ve used it before with great success, I installed the Wave Link to manage the audio output channels. Software: Wave Link is a powerful tool that helps you configure the Wave 3 Mk.2, setting up virtual audio channels that helps make managing audio output simple and easy. On the device page for the Wave:3 Mk.2 there are 3 tabs: Input & Monitoring, Effects, and Settings. On Input & Monitoring, the gain and monitoring levels can be set through the app, but also can be adjust on the front of the microphone with the dial. The Gain Lock prevents other applications from taking control of the gain levels. The Clipguard tames loud bursts, think of an over excited reaction or scream, so that the audio doesn’t distort. Direct self-monitoring can be enabled, which removes all post processing effects from the feed to reduce latency, so you can catch and adjust your input sound immediately. Effects offers voice effects from both Hardware and Software enhancements. For Hardware effects there is a Lowcut Filter (cuts low-end noise like typing & rumbling but can impact depth of voice), Expander (Reduces ambient noise without impacting your voice), Voice Tune (Adds Analog Compression based), Compressor (Smooths out the highs and lows), and Equalizer (Add’s EQ effect). There is only one Software Effect, Voice Focus which uses AI to remove background noise and echoes. Each effect is easily managed with a toggle on button, if there are additional options then a little settings option will display to the right which can be clicked to bring up an additional settings page with more options. Additionally, at the bottom of the device page, you can perform a sound check with the built-in recording tool to check out the impact of each of the related sound effects. On the Mixes tab by default, Wave Link by default will have a System Audio (first column), Personal Mix, Stream Mix, and Chat Mix. These can all be customized to your specific uses and setup, allowing for endless customization. The best part is you can configure all these audio mixes then manage them in OBS or even switch between them with a hot key or additional stream deck. It can easily become the most powerful tool on your stream, without any hardware needed. Build: One of my favorite features of the Elgato hardware is their simplicity and build quality, they just feel premium. The Wave:3 Mk.2 is no different, the microphone is well built and sturdy, you don’t have to worry about where you grab it. The stand is heavy enough to keep it in place on most surfaces, even Solid and quality build. Base stand is heavy enough that it will not easily fall over, though you might want to attach it to a mic arm for better positioning. Included with the microphone is a thread adapter for most microphone mounts. Buttons: There are only 2 buttons on the Wave:3 Mk.2: on top there is a touch to mute button and the Dial on the front is a push button to select different effects. The simplified buttons help make using the microphone easy. The effects that can be changed on the multi-function dial are Microphone Gain, Voice Tune, Monitoring Output Volume, and Self-Monitoring mix. You can check each of these by selecting the icon on the microphone and turning the dial while checking in Wave Link to see the corresponding option change. This doesn’t cover all the features, but most of the settings you’d want to quickly check during a stream. Quality: I found the Wave:3 Mk.2 was great for streaming and general vocal recording. Clear, crisp, and easy to adjust. The default settings were good enough to get started, though I did need to tweak the effects to help clean up the background sounds like HVAC and cars from outside. There is an obvious difference between the Wave:3 Mk.2 and say a headset microphone, the volume of sound and clarity is obvious. When you start to compare two similar USB condenser style microphones, the differences will become more nuanced. I was very impressed by the depth and range of sound I was able to capture, one of my biggest comments while using a headset microphone is that I’m too quiet, so being able to up to gain and capture everything I say clearly was a huge improvement. I did need to up the Microphone Gain quite a bit, though with the noise filtering effects on like Voice Focus, I was able to filter out all the background noises. One trick I did find helpful for fixing any audio quality issues was to disable all other audio software while recording, using only the Wave Link to make the adjustments. This made it easier to just open up OBS or the recording tool and just use it without having to adjust microphone settings in the recording tool as well. Conclusion: If you’re looking for an easy to use yet great quality USB microphone for Streaming or recording, Elgato has you covered with the Wave:3 Mk.2. It’s a great step up in quality and features from a headset microphone while keeping all of it simple to use. I’m very glad I picked it up and look forward to using it!

The Wave 3 Mk 2 is a great microphone that’s a noticeable step up in quality compared to even the best headset mics I’ve used. It’s very easy to use and setup and while I’ve had some problems with the software crashing this is one of the most plug and play microphones I’ve used. The Wave 3 is around the same general size and envelope as the Yeti Nano that I’ve had for a while, meaning it’s relatively compact and doesn’t take up a lot of space. A weighted base is included, but it can also be mounted to a mic arm via the ¼” threaded mount or ⅝” / ⅜” with the included adapter. The front of the microphone has a control knob surrounded by an LED ring for monitoring. The knob is just a touch too shallow for me and I have a hard time getting my fingers around it - if it was just a little bigger or had some type of grippier material around the edges it would help it a lot. At the back is a USB-C connection and headphone port. Up top there is a capacitive mute switch. The build quality feels good and without the base it’s fairly lightweight and shouldn't put much stress on whatever it’s mounted to. The cable included is USB-C to USB-C and is made of a nice flexible braided material at a total length of 2.5 meters, which should be enough to feed down most mic arms with length left to connect to a PC. Setting up the Wave 3 via the Wave Link software was about straightforward as it gets. The initial setup guides you through the the on-device controls and has a step to help auto-set the gain. The auto-gain function was extremely helpful to me as I do have an ideal setup for a condenser mic and have struggled to find the sweet spot for this in the past. With the mic positioned at around 15-18 inches from my mouth, it set my gain at 30 dB. Getting to the actual quality of the Wave 3, it’s fantastic. My voice sounds full and clear in a way that you just can’t get on a headset mic, even positioned farther away. The software gives you a lot of options for tuning the sound from this microphone and they’re presented in a way that makes them easy to use and understand. The Sound Check is handy as well as it lets you play back something you’ve recorded and add or take away effects in real time to understand how they’re affecting your sound. Most of the effects reside on the microphone itself too and don’t require anything running in the background to use them once they’re set. The one software effect I did use was voice focus which is an AI tool that is supposed to help reduce echo and background noise and it made a noticeable difference for me in my space where the microphone is farther away and I do get some echo with it turned off. The only problem I’ve had with the Wave 3 wasn’t with the Wave 3 itself, but the Wave Link software. Version 3.1 that I was using crashed a lot on me in the course of enabling/disabling and adjusting various settings. It was hard to pin down any one thing I did that would cause it - it felt almost cumulative. It was never a show stopper and once I got my settings dialed in it was fine. Something to be aware of, but fortunately software can be updated, so I’m hopeful it won’t be an issue for long. Overall I’ve been impressed with the Wave 3. It’s a great-sounding microphone that doesn’t require a lot of setup to get there.