Underneath the steel grille of the Elgato Wave:1 is a 17-millimeter electret condenser capsule protected by a multi-layered internal pop filter. From what I can tell after a lot of A-B testing, it is the very same capsule Elgato is using with the more expensive Wave:3 microphone. That’s a pretty handy feature if you ask me. Once you enable it, you don’t have to worry about getting any sudden spikes or (extremely) loud audio anymore. Pricing and Availability Clipguard: Enable or disable Clipguard, the anti-clipping technology built into Wave. It is recommended to keep Clipguard enabled at all times.

Now, when chatting with friends, or doing anything in Discord, that sound will play through the Voice Chat input in Wave Link. These two samples demonstrate the excellent dynamics of the Elgato Wave:1 microphone, but also show off one of its best features, the aforementioned Clipguard technology. This isn't just a slapped-on, half-baked feature; it actually works, and works really well. With the gain set to a normal, usable level, it's next to impossible to distort the microphone by shouting. While this might not be as important to someone who's constantly calm and doesn't tend to get emotional in the heat of battle, most users will love the safety Clipguard provides. You can pretty much forget about clipping and focus on other aspects of your stream, and that is a nice peace of mind to have. The Elgato Wave 1 is a broadcast-quality USB microphone for PC. It’s compatible with Windows 10 (64-bit) and macOS 10.15 or newer. Inside the Wave 1 is a “premium” condenser capsule in a cardioid polar pattern that is fine-tuned for speech. It also features a 24-bit / 48kHZ analog-to-digital converter that is said to produce “broadcast-grade” detail and clarity.

Why is Elgato Wave:1 better than Elgato Wave:3?

The Elgato Wave 1 also features a proprietary Clipguard anti-distortion technology. This tech is developed with LEWITT Audio and is made specifically for Elgato Wave microphones. The anti-distortion feature works by rerouting sudden peaks through a secondary signal path that runs at a lower volume. The process is automatic and there is no need to constantly monitor or adjust the input levels.

NVIDIA’s Broadcast app is a powerful tool that has several features and functions attached to it. Though you do need an RTX graphics card for it to work properly. Elgato Wave 1 Testing and ExperienceIf you’re using Windows, the operating system that’s compatible with the Elgato Wave: 1 is Windows 10 (64-bit). You’ll also need to have 4GB for your RAM, and an integrated USB 2.0 port. If you’ve decided to get one of the Wave microphones, the next question you may be asking is what’s the difference between Wave 1 and Wave 3. Both the Wave 1 and 3 feature the same condenser, audio recording capability and quality, and overall build quality. Make sure the app that plays music has recently played sound. Only then will it appear in the Windows sound settings

Elgato equipped Wave:1 with LEWITT’s audio technology. LEWITT Audio is a company in Vienna, Austria that produces thoroughly calibrated microphones in world-class testing facilities. This is why the company’s microphones are used in top recording studios. Amplification without Clipping The ADC is equipped with a technology Elgato calls "Clipguard," which aims to remove any traces of clipping (distortion caused by shouting). According to the manufacturer, a second audio channel runs inside the microphone at a reduced volume. If peaking occurs—you get overly excited and start shouting, for example—the microphone instantly switches to that second channel, where the recorded sound is quieter, and delivers that to your audience. As you'll see in the following microphone samples, the Clipguard technology works great and proves really useful in everyday usage. Fear not if you want your audience to experience the full range of your emotions, though; Clipguard can be toggled off in the Wave Link app. The Stream Mix is the output mix that is added to streaming or recording software. This mix will show up as a microphone input in the streaming software. For its sounds, it produced excellent output, and everything was clear and crisp. We didn’t have any problems when using it, and everything went smoothly as well. Voice recording was fantastic and it would be perfect for streaming on Twitch and YouTube.Technically, the USB isn’t optional, though it provides both data and power between the PC and the Wave: 1. It also means that it can only be utilised with a computer. The reason for this is because the mic doesn’t come with an analogue output/input option.

The microphone has a solid build quality and is reflected in its weight of 555g. It comes with huge rubberised pads underneath its 100mm base, which aids in keeping the mic set firmly in place.We consider this as a highly brief but excellent introduction to the mic. However, it’s good to note that Elgato designed this product specifically for streamers and content creators. With that, you can imagine all the whistles and bells that this company has tossed into their latest product line. WAVE Link also lets you filter sounds via specific channels. Plus, you can choose the audio input you want to hear via speakers/headphones. It can be done by deselecting or selecting the headphone icon in any available channel.