Elgato Wave Link

Overview

Elgato Wave Link is audio-routing and effects software for Windows and macOS. It suits creators who need distinct microphone and application mixes for streams, podcasts, or calls. Its central appeal is flexible routing and processing at no cost.

Key features

Routing and mix control

A horizontal matrix routes recognized audio sources to output mixes, and Wave Link supports up to five mixes with their own routing and volume levels. That gives creators room to prepare different balances for different destinations rather than continually changing a single shared mix. Applications such as Zoom, Teams, Discord, Spotify, and Chrome can be grouped into one channel, which can keep a multi-app setup easier to manage. Wave Link 3.0 allows up to eight software or non-Wave input channels and four inputs from Wave devices.

Effects and connections

Wave Link supports VST3 effects on Windows and Audio Unit effects on macOS, with unlimited effects per input. It also includes noise reduction and equalizer features; plugins can come from Elgato Marketplace or third parties. The breadth of processing is useful for shaping sources, but effects may add latency, making heavy processing a less suitable choice when timing is critical.

Mixes can be sent to OBS Studio, MS Teams, or any application that accepts audio input. Its Stream Deck plugin can adjust volume, mute channels, toggle effects, and switch mixes, giving Stream Deck users direct control over common mixing tasks. The app works with USB and XLR microphones, third-party interfaces, headsets, and capture cards recognized by the computer, so an Elgato microphone is not required.

Pricing

Wave Link is free: its Free plan costs nothing, with no subscription or feature gates. It is available on Windows and macOS and works with any microphone or audio interface. Wave Link 3.0 also costs nothing and sets out the current channel and mix limits: up to eight software or non-Wave inputs, four Wave-device inputs, and five virtual mixes. There is no paid tier to unlock, though those input caps matter for unusually large setups.

Platforms

Wave Link runs on Windows 11 with 8 GB RAM or more, and macOS 15.0 or newer with 8 GB RAM or more. It does not support ASIO, which rules it out for workflows that depend on that audio driver standard. Effects may add latency as well, another consideration for timing-sensitive use.

Who it's for

Streamers, podcasters, and other creators who need to split microphone and application audio across several output mixes will get the clearest benefit. It is also a practical fit for people who want to apply plugins and send controlled mixes to streaming, meeting, or other audio-input applications without a recurring software charge. It is a weaker fit for ASIO-dependent systems, computers below the stated requirements, or setups where added effects latency is unacceptable.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Up to five independently routed mixes make it possible to keep different destinations on separate balances.
• Pros: USB and XLR microphones, interfaces, headsets, and recognized capture cards are supported, so the app is not limited to Wave hardware.
• Pros: Unlimited effects per input, noise reduction, and equalizer features offer substantial processing flexibility without a subscription.
• Cons: ASIO is unsupported, so users whose workflow requires it need another option.
• Cons: Windows 11 or macOS 15.0+, plus 8 GB RAM, excludes older operating systems and lower-memory machines.
• Cons: Effects can add latency, which can undermine timing-sensitive audio workflows.

Alternatives

• RØDE UNIFY is another free streaming-software option for Windows and macOS, but its stated compatibility is with RØDE X microphones.
• FxSound is a free Windows-PC option; its maker says it became free in 2022 and open-source in 2023.
• Voicemeeter is worth considering for Windows users seeking a donationware mixer: Standard is $15, paid once for three inputs and three outputs, while Banana is $30, paid once.
• eqMac is a macOS alternative with a free tier that excludes Pro features.
• NVIDIA Broadcast is a free Windows option for AI audio and video effects on RTX PCs and workstations.
• EasyEffects is a free Linux alternative that requires the PipeWire audio server; some effects also need separately installed plugin packages.
• Splitwave is another free option for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
• Patchd is a freemium Windows alternative.

For more options, browse Audio Enhancement Software and Audio Mixing Software.

Verdict

Choose Elgato Wave Link if you want a free, flexible way to route microphone and app audio into separate mixes and control processing without paying for feature access. Its support for varied recognized audio hardware is a particular advantage. Look elsewhere if you rely on ASIO, cannot meet its operating-system and memory requirements, or cannot accept the latency effects may introduce.