Elgato Wave Link 3.0 — Software Overview

Most audio software is built for music production, not content creation. Wave Link solves that, delivering broadcast-level routing and effects without a steep learning curve or workarounds. It's pro-grade mixing made simple, flexible, and powerful. So powerful, we want everyone to have it. No ecosystem lock-in. No subscription. Free on Mac and Windows.

Download and install Wave Link 3.0 from elgato.com/downloads.

During the first launch, Wave Link will prompt you to install the Wave Link Audio Driver. This is required for Wave Link's virtual audio channels to appear as inputs and outputs in other apps. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

On macOS, you will also be asked to grant Wave Link access to your microphone and system audio. Wave Link will prompt you, and you can approve it in System Settings.

Once the driver is installed and permissions are granted, Wave Link will open to the mix view. Wave Link - Driver Missing v3

Before setting up your microphone in Wave Link, check that Windows is not applying its own audio processing to your microphone.

Windows 11 includes an Audio enhancements setting that can add noise suppression or additional processing to your microphone. When enabled, these enhancements run on top of Wave Link's own audio processing, which can result in compressed, stuttery, or distorted sound.

To turn off audio enhancements:

1. Open Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Input, select your microphone.
3. Click Properties.
4. Scroll to Audio enhancements and set it to Off.

If the dropdown shows Voice Clarity, switch it to Off. Wave Link handles audio routing and effects processing directly, so Windows-level enhancements are not needed.

This applies to any microphone used with Wave Link, including Elgato Wave devices, third-party USB microphones, and XLR microphones connected through an audio interface.

When you connect an Elgato Wave device for the first time, Wave Link launches a setup tour. This walks you through your device's controls and helps you get to a good starting point before you start mixing.

The setup tour works differently depending on which device you have.

The setup tour covers mic positioning, how to set your headphone output volume, and how to manually adjust your input gain using the on-screen meter. You'll set gain yourself by speaking into the mic and watching the level indicator, aiming to keep your voice near the target zone.

The setup tour includes the same mic positioning and headphone steps, but replaces manual gain setting with Auto Gain Wizard. Speak at your normal volume for a few seconds and Wave Link sets your gain automatically.

When you connect an Elgato Wave device, you have a dedicated page in Wave Link. Settings will vary, depending on the Wave device you're using.

Input & monitoring:

• Input gain slider and Gain Lock toggle
• Clipguard toggle — reduces loud transients to help prevent distortion
• Output volume and Mic/PC mix slider for headphone monitoring balance

Effects

• Enhanced lowcut

VST/AU effects can be added per channel after your mic is assigned to a mix.

Settings

• You can rename the device
• View the serial number
• Firmware version
• Set LED direction (left-to-right or right-to-left, useful if the mic is mounted inverted).

Input & monitoring:

• Input gain slider and Gain Lock toggle
• 48V phantom power toggle — enable for condenser microphones
• Clipguard toggle and Display Clipguard indicator option — shows gain reduction activity on the LED ring
• Output volume and Mic/PC mix slider
• Low Impedance Mode toggle

Effects

• Lowcut Filter, with a choice of 80 Hz or 120 Hz cutoff frequency.

Software effects can be added per channel in the mix view.

Settings

• You can rename the device
• View the serial number
• Firmware version
• Customize LED indicator colors for general, mute, and gain reduction states

Input & monitoring:

• Input gain slider and Gain Lock toggle
• 48V phantom power toggle — enable for condenser microphones
• Clipguard toggle
• Output volume and Mic/PC mix slider
• Low Impedance Mode toggle

Effects:

• Lowcut filter with a choice of 80 Hz or 120 Hz frequency.

Software effects can be added per channel in the mix view.

Under Settings, you can rename the device and view the serial number and firmware version.

As an example, we will set up Wave:3 MK.2 with Wave Link.

If you are using an Elgato microphone, you will be given a diagram of your microphone. You can click on the "+" signs to find out more about certain parts of your device.

Plug your headphones into the 3.5 mm port on the back of your Wave:3, then use the audio sample playback control to fine-tune your output volume.

There are ideal ways that you can position your mic. For the best sound:

• Speak into the front of your mic. For example, when using the Wave:3, make sure the Elgato logo is facing you.
• Keep the right distance. For example, when using the Wave:3, use your hand to measure the ideal distance, with your thumb at your mouth, and pinky finger pointing toward the mic.

When setting your gain:

• Speak at your normal volume while watching the on-screen meter.
• Aim to keep your voice mostly in the green, near the target zone (around -12 dB).
• Use the slider to adjust your input gain until you're in the safe range.

With Wave devices, real-time voice monitoring lets you hear your own voice as you speak. It plays your voice back through your headphones with zero delay.

To test Real-time voice monitoring:

• First, connect your headphones directly to your Wave Device.
• Click the on-screen speaker icon to hear a simulated PC sound alongside your mic.

Your mic is fully setup and optimized. Tweak settings anytime in Wave Link.

Each Elgato microphone will have slightly different settings when used with Wave Link 3.0. For example, here are the settings for Wave:3.

Input

• Input Gain - A - and + slider to change gain in dB
• Gain lock - Prevents other apps from changing your mic gain
• Clipguard - Tames loud bursts like excited reactions to keep audio clean and distortion-free

Monitoring

• Output volume - A slider from 0% to 100%
• Mic/PC mix - A slider controlling how much of the audio is monitored on the Mic (left slide of the slider) or the PC (right slide of the slider)

Sound Check

• Record your voice to test effects and adjust your audio before going live

Hardware Effects

• Enhanced lowcut - Cuts low-end noise like typing and rumble. Turn off if you want a deeper vocal sound.

Software Effects

You can add audio effects after adding your mic to a mix.

Sound Check

• Record your voice to test effects and adjust your audio before going live

Voice Focus

• Wave devices have Voice Focus as an option.
• You can turn it on in the Effects settings.
• Voice Focus cleans up your audio using AI-powered noise and echo reduction.

General

• Name - Product name by default, but you can change it
• Serial Number
• Firmware Version
• LED Direction - Left to right (default), Right to left (inverted mounting)
• Start Setup Tour - Press to re-do the Elgato Mic setup

This is the Wave Link Mixes view. Along the left, you’ll see Inputs. At the top are your Mixes. Above the Mixes, the monitor device selection is where you choose your main Output.

You will start out with just one Mix - whatever microphone is first attached and set up.

At the top of the Mix view you’ll see the output Mixes. Each Mix can contain its own inputs.

To add a new Mix, simply click the "+" button on the right side.

By default, you can add Personal, Chat and Stream Mixes.

To add a Channel to a Mix, click the "+" button below a Mix.

Each Mix will show separate volume levels.

Mixes can be configured in a variety of ways - each Mix can be renamed and a custom icon can be applied to it.

You add monitor outputs to the Mix. Each Mix can be played out through any number of physical (Or virtual) output devices like headphones, speakers, and more.

To shrink the Mixes view, you can press a button at the top right corner of the window - it has an icon showing two vertical arrows.

While the Mixes view is shrunk, you can still choose a specific channel.

To expand the Mixes view, press a similar button at the top of that window.

Inputs are found on the left side of the mix view.

When creating a Channel, you’ll see a list of all available Input devices first, followed by apps.

Inputs include apps, games, microphones, capture cards, and any other audio inputs you can think of.

You can also add a Virtual Channel. These work as they did in Wave Link 2.0. The Virtual Channel appears in games or apps, and you can output sound to that Channel.

You can organize your Channels in a way that works best for you.

Each Input can have Audio Effects added to it. For example, you might add a compressor to a mic, an EQ with a slight bass boost to Music, or a voice changer to Discord so your friends sound like chipmunks.

To add an Effect, click on the effect button.

Then choose your Effects from the list.

Once added you can configure the Effect.

Elgato Marketplace is directly integrated into Wave Link for Windows users. For macOS users, the Marketplace link will bring you to Marketplace in your default browser.

Once signed in, you can browse and install new Audio Effect plugins. The VST3 format is used for Windows, and the Audio Unit (AU) format is used for macOS.

If Marketplace appears too large or too small in the Wave Link window, you can change the size by using the scroll wheel on your mouse while holding the "CTRL" key. This is the same as any other website.

Go to the Audio Effects section to search for Effects.

To acquire an item, hover over your choice and:

• Press the blue "Get" button for the immediate download of free items
• Press the blue "Buy now" button to purchase items with a price
• Press the Cart icon to place the item into your shopping cart for later purchase.

You can click on the graphic for that Audio Effect to find out more about it.

When acquiring an Audio Effect, make sure to download the correct one for your operating system.

There will be a drop down menu to select Windows or macOS.

Route your mic, game audio, Discord, and music to separate mixes—one for your stream with perfect balance, another for your headphones so you hear exactly what you need. Apply voice effects that make you sound pro, adjust levels on the fly, and group chat apps together for instant control. Wave Link keeps your audience hearing your best while you stay focused on the game.

Create dedicated mixes for your recording, your co-host's monitoring, and your own headphones—all independently controlled. Route guest audio from Zoom or Riverside, apply compression and EQ to your mic, and group all your music sources into one channel. Whether you're solo or multi-tracking, Wave Link gives you broadcast-level routing without the broadcast-level learning curve.

Route your mic to Teams with noise suppression and voice enhancement, while keeping Slack notifications and email alerts in a separate channel you can mute during presentations. Create a monitoring mix that lets you hear yourself clearly without distractions. Group all your communication apps for quick level adjustments. Wave Link turns chaotic work-from-home audio into a controlled, professional setup.

Keep your game loud, Discord clear, and music in the background—exactly how you want it. Route everything to your headphones in one perfectly balanced mix, then tweak levels without alt-tabbing. Mute Discord during clutch moments, mute music when callouts matter, or quickly trigger soundboard clips through Stream Deck to mess with your squad. Wave Link makes managing your gaming audio as easy as playing the game itself—no streaming setup required.

With years of experience, our team rethought the Wave Link plugin entirely, and the new Wave Link plugin features beautiful new designs and tight integration. It feels like a seamless extension of Wave Link for perfect control. Adjust volume, toggle channels in mix, turn on effects at just the right moment.

Get the Wave Link 3.0 for Stream Deck from Elgato Marketplace here.

To adjust the Settings of Wave Link 3.0, select the button at the bottom left corner of the main Wave Link window.

Here are the General Settings:

1) Personalization

• Color Theme - Same as System, Dark, or Light
• Language - English

2) Window Settings

• Start app at login - On, Off
• Lock default input device - On, Off
• Lock default output device - On, Off

Here are the Updates Settings:

1) Check for updates

• Pressing this button will automatically search for the latest software update.

2) Automatically install updates

• You can turn this option On or Off

3) Release channel

• Stable, or Beta.
• Beta versions can be unstable.
• If no update is available, changes won't take effect until the next release.

Here are the Effects Settings:

1) Plugin Paths

• VST3 Folder - By Default, C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
• VST2 Folder - There is no Default location; optionally set it to a folder of your choosing

2) Manage Plugins

• Auto-scale plugin windows - On, Off
• Show new plugins at startup - On, Off

Here are the Help Settings:

1) Ask the community

• Reddit - A link to the r/elgato subreddit
• Discord - A link to the Discord invite page for Elgato

2) Find an answer

• Go to help center - Access Elgato Knowledgebase and Chat Help

3) Additional resources

• View log files
• View third-party licenses

Inputs (Hardware and software)

• Software or non-Wave audio input channels: Up to 8
• Wave Device inputs: Up to 4
• App/Software inputs per channel: Unlimited

Hardware Audio inputs:

• Elgato Wave devices
• 3rd-party audio inputs (Microphones, audio interfaces, etc)
• Capture cards

Mixes
Virtual Mixes: Up to 5
Mix outputs (Monitoring or playback): Unlimited devices

Audio engine
Sample rate: 48KHz
Bit depth: 24
Channel layout: Stereo

• Mono inputs are converted to stereo

Audio effects

• Windows: VST3
• macOS: Audio Unit (AU)

Maximum audio effects per input: Unlimited

• Effects may add additional latency

ASIO: Not supported

Windows

• Windows 11 (x64 or ARM)
• 8GB Ram (Recommended: 16GB+)
• CPU: Intel Core 10th Gen, AMD Ryzen 4000 series or higher recommended

macOS

• macOS 15.0 or newer
• 8GB Ram (Recommended: 16GB+)
• Intel or Apple Silicon (Recommended: Apple M1 CPU or better)