At first we would like to thank CORSAIR for offering us their Elgato WAVE:3 Microphone for testing and reviewing.

 

About Corsair:

"Founded in 1994, Corsair has grown from pioneering the high-performance DRAM market to one of the world’s leading providers of enthusiast-grade PC components and peripherals. Our groundbreaking technology and innovation can be found in our high-performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, PC cases, PC and CPU cooling solutions, and solid-state storage devices. Under the Corsair Gaming brand, launched in 2014, we provide gaming keyboards, mice, headsets and mouse mats to eSports professionals and anybody who is passionate about competitive PC gaming.

 

Corsair hardware is regularly featured in showcase “dream systems,” and we have earned the adulation and respect of the press, professional gamers and overclockers, high-end system integrators, and PC enthusiasts worldwide by delivering leading-edge technology backed by renowned service and support.

 

Corsair has developed a global operations infrastructure with extensive marketing and distribution channel relationships, and our products are available through leading distributors and retailers in over sixty countries worldwide."

 

About Elgato Systems:

"Elgato combines software with elegant hardware to create app-powered lifestyle technology defined by comfort, convenience, and control.

 

Since the launch of the award-winning EyeTV collection in 2002, the brand has evolved to embody Eve, an ecosystem of accessories for the connected home – and Elgato Gaming, a series of content creation tools for the connected generation.

 

Designed in Germany and California, Elgato products are distributed by major retailers in over eighty countries around the world."

Product Features:

 

Cardioid Condenser Capsule: capture speech with clarity and detail

Wave Link App: control WAVE:3 and up to seven other audio sources, plus create two independent mixes

24-bit/96kHz Analog-to-Digital Converter: processional broadcast audio quality

Proprietary Clip-guard Technology: makes distortion virtually impossible

Superior Circuitry: seamless sonic transmission throughout the entire signal chain

Switchable Low-Cut Filter: remove unwanted low-frequency noise

Zero-Latency Monitoring: plug headphones into the 3.5mm jack

Capacitive Mute and LED Ring: silence your mic feed upon the lightest touch and see mute status at a glance

Multifunctional Control Dial with LED indicators: adjust input gain, monitor volume and mic / PC mix

Internal Pop Filter: prevents plosive breath noise and moisture accumulation

Custom accessories: shock mount and external pop filter (sold separately)

Ajustable Stand: use the included desktop base or mount on a boom arm (adapter included)

 

Product Specifications:

 

Capsule: 17 mm Electret

Polar Pattern: Cardioid

Resolution: 24-bit

Sample Rate: 48/96 kHz

Frequency Response: 70 - 20000 Hz

Sensitivity: -25 dBFS

Max SPL: 120dB

Dynamic Range: 115 dB (Clipguard Engaged)

Interface: USB-C

Works with: Windows 10 (64-bit), macOS 10.14 or newer

 

Elgato has recently added two new products to their streamer/content creator range and this time we are talking about microphones. The microphones take part of the WAVE line and currently has two members: WAVE:1 and WAVE:3, the main differences being a capacitive mute button on the WAVE:3, control dial adjustment for Input Gain but also Mic/PC monitor crossfade but also a higher, 96kHz maximum sample rate for the WAVE:3.

 

The WAVE:3 has arrived inside a medium-sized cardboard enclosure, sporting the usual Elgato-brand colors:

 

 

 

On one of the box sides, we will learn about some of the main product highlights, in both English and French, but also get a list of the internal contents:

 

 

 

On the opposite side, we will find out about the microphone dimensions, but also its weight:

 

 

 

Further details regarding the product features can be found on the back:

 

 

 

After removing the top packaging layer, we will find another box, with a large Elgato logo in the middle:

 

 

 

Let’s open it up and see what is bundled inside!

 

 

 

The upper layer does hold a separate cardboard enclosure with the WAVE:3 accessories, while the main product is held secure in the lower layer:

 

 

 

The included informational leaflet does explain the main product interfaces, but also how to connect it to the computer:

 

 

 

In the accessory box, we will find another leaflet with Regulatory Information, an USB-A to USB-C cable but also an adapter in order to mount the microphone to a dedicated boom arm:

 

 

 

 

 

The WAVE:3 microphone is also wrapped inside a 100% recyclable bag, for additional protection:

 

 

 

WAVE:3 employs an all-black color scheme and is pre-installed on a desktop stand (with ¼ thread); the Elgato circular logo can be seen near the top:

 

 

 

Here is one lateral view of the product as well:

 

 

 

The upper area of the stand is made of plastic, while the lower area is metallic in order to add more weight to the whole assembly:

 

 

 

The microphone can be easily released from the plastic frame, by removing the two thumbscrews:

 

 

 

 

The mentioned screws do also present rubber grommets on the inside:

 

 

 

The desktop stand does also feature a large rubber foot on the bottom, in order to alleviate and interferences which could be caused by vibrations:

 

 

 

The microphone is measuring 153 x 66 x 40 mm and resembles the look or a studio model; the microphone and the U-Mount do weight only 280 grams:

 

 

 

WAVE:3 is a condenser microphone, as illustrated in the drawing below:

 

 

 

These types of microphones are ideal for recording voices and they were the main choice for recording studios since their invention. Their diaphragm is manufactured of a thin sheet, meaning that it needs less sound to move, so it can more accurately follow the incoming sound waves. Versus dynamic microphones, the condenser types have the widest frequency responses and the best transient response. One other benefit is that condenser microphones do have higher sensitivity and lower noise in the signal, compared to their counterparts.

 

Underside the metallic mesh, the microphone is equipped with a pop filter, in order to keep the plosives under control:

 

 

 

In the lower area of the WAVE:3, we do have an interface composed of multiple LEDs, but also a dial for getting to the desired configuration option, which can be also rotated:

 

 

 

The first mode allows the user to adjust the microphone level of amplification:

 

 

 

Next, we do have the monitor volume, which is basically the headset output volume:

 

 

 

Finally, we do have the microphone / PC mix mode, for leveling between the audio source and the microphone monitoring volume:

 

 

 

On the back of the microphone, we will get to see a similar styling:

 

 

 

A closer look will reveal the USB-C port, along with the analog output for the headphone monitoring (3.5mm Mini Jack):

 

 

 

A look from the side of the WAVE:3 does reveal the mounting points:

 

 

 

On the bottom, we will be able to spot the product serial number, but also the model code name:

 

 

 

The top portion of the chassis presents itself with a capacitive Mute button, which is really easy to activate when needed; the Mute confirmation will be signaled by the lower LED ring, which will turn from white to red:

 

 

 

 

WAVE:3 is operating along with the WAVE Link software solution, which offers quite a bit of control over different sound sources; the benefit of this software is that we can create up to 8 different sound channels for blending in with our vocals and can also have two completely independent output mixes and monitor both at the same time. The software allows the user to link channel levels, so the levels of the monitor and the stream mix are always the same:

 

 

 

The WAVE:3 section does allow separate configuration of the Gain, Output Volume but also Mic/PC Balance, overriding the settings we have set via the hardware dial. From here we can also enable the Enhanced Lowcut Filter but also the Clipguard. Clipguard processes on-the-fly and soothes overdriven sound waves before sending them to the processing software in our computer:

 

 

 

Each separate channel sound source can be named differently, and we can choose from the sound sources list as well:

 

 

 

In order to make sure that configuration is properly set, we will also have to work with the Windows Sound Settings in order to route a specific program audio to a dedicated WAVE Link channel:

 

 

 

The Preferences area will allow the user to check for software updates, but also enable the utility to run after each Windows login:

 

 

 

Stream Deck does now also support integration with the WAVE series of microphones; in order to take advantage of the presets (for a more flexible configuration of the microphone), we have first to navigate to the More Actions button in the lower right corner of the GUI:

 

 

 

This will open up the Stream Deck plugin store and we will have to search for Wave Link option and click on Install:

 

 

 

The plugin will install some preset profiles for making use of in Stream Deck:

 

 

 

If the installation was successful, you will find them in the Wave Link category of the main GUI:

 

 

 

We can easily drag-and-drop it to the button areas in order to access the functions:

 

 

 

Toggle Monitoring

 

 

Mute Input

 

 

Set Input Volume

 

 

Adjust Input Volume

 

 

Mute Output

 

 

Set Output Volume

 

 

Adjust Output Volume

 

 

The Microphone Settings menu button can be set with a multitude of functions as well:

 

Adjust gain

Set gain

Adjust output volume

Set output volume

Adjust Mic/PC mix

Set Mic/PC mix

Toggle Enhanced Low Cut Filter

Toggle Clipguard

 

 

 

WAVE:3 is easy to set up and comes with a long-enough cable for most applications. The manufacturer recommends a maximum distance of two fists between the microphone and your mouth and we have seen that this specification is spot-on while using it: the higher distance you have between you and the microphone, the lower the sound quality will be. To be more exact, if we do not respect the recommendations, the room echo will get amplified and more noise will be picked up from the nearby environment, especially when we will turn up the amplification.

 

The desk stand, while nice to have, does not allow comfortable positioning of the microphone in order to have the recommended distance from your mouth, so a boom arm is pretty much recommended; also, with a dedicated arm we will also be able to put the microphone further away from the mechanical keyboard, so the key actuation won’t be that upsetting for the viewers.

 

We have tested the WAVE:3 at all amplification levels and we can clearly say that the voice is much clearer, natural versus microphones included along with high-end headsets such as the Arctis Pro Wireless. You can find the tests right here, on Google Drive:

 

TESTS

 

If you are a streamer or content creator, the Wave Link application will come to help by providing a lot of virtual sources for you to work with and thanks to the included hardware 3.5mm mini Jack, you can enjoy lag-free monitoring with your favorite headphones. WAVE:3 does also provide a nice white LED display in front, for easily modifying the current settings via the dial, while the Mute button can be accessed in an instant, given its capacitive nature.

 

The WAVE:3 can be found online for about 169.99 Euros. As optional accessories, we can pick up the Shock Mount for about 39.99 Euros, but also the external Pop Filter for about 29.99 Euros.

 

Shock Mount

 

 

Pop Filter

 

Pros:

 

-condenser microphone for optimal voice quality

-possibility for mounting on any boom arm via the included adapter

-internal pop filter

-24-bit / 96 kHz analog to digital conversion

-capacitive mute button for easy access

-WAVE Link software

-integration with Stream Deck

 

Cons:

 

-only via a boom arm you will be able to use the microphone properly, without it interfering between your mouse and keyboard, in order to keep the recommended distance

-price, for the mainstream crowd

 

CORSAIR Elgato WAVE:3 Microphone is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to CORSAIR for making this review possible!