Wave Go vs Wave:3 MK.2: Which Mic for Which Job?

Choosing a microphone comes down to where you record. If you film on your phone, interview people, or stream while you move around, Wave Go is a wireless mic that clips to your shirt or fits in a handheld Smart Handle, with a USB-C receiver that plugs into your phone. If you record at your desk, Wave:3 MK.2 is a USB microphone for streaming, gaming, podcasting, and calls.

A small transmitter sends your voice wirelessly to a USB-C receiver plugged into your phone, tablet, or computer, with up to about 30 meters (100 feet) of range.

Wave Go sets your level automatically with Auto Gain. It turns the gain down when you get louder or closer and back up when you get quieter or move away. If you’d rather keep a fixed level, the Wave Go app for iOS and Android lets you adjust gain manually.

Clip the transmitter to your shirt with the magnetic clip or magnetic plate, plug the receiver into your phone, and start recording. At 7 grams, the transmitter is light enough to wear on a T-shirt.

A few more features:

• Furry windscreen: Attach the included windscreen outdoors to reduce wind noise.
• Remote Camera Control: Double-press the transmitter button to start or stop recording on your phone.
• Battery: Up to 8 hours per charge. About 10 minutes of charging gives roughly an hour of recording.

Slot the transmitter into the Smart Handle and Wave Go becomes a handheld reporter-style microphone you can hold or pass to a guest. EQ Shift adjusts the sound for handheld use, since a voice sounds different right in front of a mic than it does from a shirt. Twist the handle head until it locks in place to get the handheld sound.

A handheld mic is visible in the shot, which suits street interviews and on-location segments where viewers expect to see one. The Smart Handle has its own battery that recharges the transmitter while it’s docked, for up to 48 hours of total recording time.

Pair a second Wave Go mic (sold separately, $29.99) with your receiver to record two people on one phone, for an interview or a co-hosted video.

Both voices are recorded together on one audio track. For even levels, clip both mics at the same height on each person.

With Wave Go, you can stream without staying at your desk. Plug the receiver into your streaming PC or phone, clip on the transmitter, and move around while your voice stays at the same level.

For background noise like a fan or air conditioning, press the receiver button to turn on noise cancellation. You can fine-tune it and your gain from the Wave Go app on your phone, even while the receiver is plugged into your computer.

Wave:3 MK.2 is made for streaming, gaming, podcasting, and calls at your desk. Its cardioid pickup focuses on what’s in front of the mic, so a PC fan behind it is quieter in your recording.

The controls are on the mic itself. The dial adjusts gain, headphone volume, and your monitor mix, and you tap the top to mute. You can also adjust these settings in Wave Link, a free app for PC and Mac that mixes your mic, game, music, and chat audio. Plug headphones into the 3.5 mm jack to hear yourself with no delay while you talk.

Wave:3 MK.2 also processes your voice inside the microphone, before it reaches your computer. Wave FX Processor handles this with three parts:

• Clipguard 2.0: Clipping is the harsh distortion you hear when your voice is too loud for the mic, and it can’t be removed after recording. Clipguard 2.0 prevents it.
• Onboard effects: Low-Cut Filter, Expander, Voice Tune, Compressor, and Equalizer run on the mic, so your processed voice reaches every app.
• VST Insert: Run audio plugins directly on the mic.

Wave Go can connect to your computer for calls, podcasting, and AI dictation. Plug the USB-C receiver into your PC or Mac, then select it as your microphone in your call, recording, or dictation app. It’s a practical choice if you stand up or walk around while you talk, or if you want one microphone for both your phone and your desk.

On a computer, Wave Go also works with Wave Link and unlocks Elgato Voice Focus, an AI effect in Wave Link that reduces background noise and room echo.

Pick Wave Go ($99.99) if you record on your phone, film outdoors, interview people, or stream while you move around. It’s a voice microphone for USB-C phones, tablets, and computers.

Pick Wave:3 MK.2 ($169.99) if you stream, game, podcast, or take calls from your desk, and want a dial for hands-on control, headphone monitoring, and Wave FX Processor.

Prices are US MSRP and vary by region.

If Wave Go fits how you record, our Wave Go overview covers its features, battery life, and compatibility. If you’re leaning toward the desk, the Wave:3 MK.2 overview walks through its sound and controls.