Ultimate Guide: Elgato Wave XLR — Audio Mixer
Let’s face it, someone who isn’t skilled in audio may find it challenging to understand. In recent years, plug-and-play USB microphones have become more popular because traditional high-quality XLR microphones need more complicated audio interfaces to work with. What are your options, though, if you want a microphone that combines the usability of a USB mic with the quality of an XLR? You don’t need anything particularly complex for your at-home production. The Elgato Wave XLR is a simple USB audio interface that makes it easier to use an XLR microphone and eliminates the element of chance. Elgato gave us a Wave XLR so we could test it out in our home office setting. This gadget combines the USB’s practicality with a professional recording studio’s level of quality.
Overview of the Main Features of Elgato Wave XLR
Let’s now discuss the Wave XLR’s most crucial features. What makes it unique and different from anything else?
Comfortable Size
The Wave XLR will make you appreciate your XLR microphone even more if you already do. This microphone interface has a small size so that it can be carried around.
Large Power
If you have the Wave XLR, your microphone will be improved, so you won’t need a separate preamp. It enhances the sound quality of dynamic microphones and makes them both clear and strong. It has a very low noise gain of up to 75 dB. In addition, condenser mics’ characteristic sound is a result of 48V phantom power.
Low-cut Filters with a choice
Dual selectable filters give you the option to select low-cut filters at either 80Hz or 120Hz. This feature helps get rid of low-frequency noises from far away that could mess up your podcast or broadcast.
High output power
More research shows that the Wave XLR does offer monitoring that is both perfect and has no delay. As a result, your headphones are producing a loud sound, increasing the product’s value.
Several-channel Command
Input channels allow for the real-time blending of several audio inputs. These channels might incorporate music, voice chat, notifications, and gaming audio.
Multiple-purpose Control Dial
The Wave XLR has a dial that can be used to change both the input gain and the output volume. You may also crossfade between the PC mix and the microphone and manage the phantom power.
Clipguard Technology
With the Wave XLR, you won’t have to worry about monitoring the levels while performing live or about attempting to repair damaged audio after the fact. The Clipguard technology will reroute the music to follow a second signal line that works at a lower volume when input levels go too high. This means that regardless of how loudly you shout into it, it produces clear audio output.
Design
The Elgato Wave XLR comes in a gorgeous black finish, but you may change it at any time. Faceplates and dials from Elgato's line of products can be bought online through the company's official website.
Specifications
The dynamic range is 100 decibels, and the frequency response is 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz (120dB clip guard engaged).
At a strength of 60dB, the component has an equivalent input noise of -130dBV. The phantom power is set to 48 volts DC at 7 milliamps, and the gain can be changed from 0 to 75 dB.
The highest input and output levels for the Wave XLR are 10 volts at 0 decibels of amplification, or 77 milliwatts. The resolution is 24 bits, and the sample rate is 48 or 96 kHz.
For the Elgato Wave XLR to work, you need at least a PC running Windows 10 in 64-bit mode. On Apple Macintosh systems, it must be installed with macOS 10.15 or later.
Software by Wave Link
That covers the essentials of the Wave XLR’s plug-and-play feature. However, you’ll need to download the Wave Link software if you want to get the most out of it. The Wave XLR and different audio sources on your PC will now have a wider range of audio possibilities and versatility. To use this software, you need to buy an Elgato Wave product. The Wave XLR is a good choice because it also works with Wave Link.
Wave Link's main benefit is that it makes it easy to control many audio sources from one place. Additionally, separate mixes can be sent to your stream using the Wave XLR’s mic monitoring.
In this way, you may listen to the music you want to listen to on Spotify without having to worry about getting in trouble with your channel’s rules, all the while cranking up the copyrighted songs on Spotify through your output and muzzling their output to the stream. However, it is much more than that. By making separate mixes for yourself and your stream, it allows you to manage a range of audio sources, including a mic, a console, a PC game, a browser, Spotify, Discord, system noises, and more, in a single, convenient area.
Takeaway
The Elgato Wave XLR is an affordable, useful, and high-quality option for live streaming and podcasting. Due to its simple design, user-friendly software, and excellent performance, this gadget is a must for everyone who produces material. It has the significant advantage of enabling you to use any XLR microphone with your computer.
It’s easy to recommend this wonderful and pleasant tool to any content developer.
PROS & CONS
- Exceptional materials and construction, with smart design
- There should be more VSTs and EQ adjustments
- The Elgato Wave program is robust and simple to use
- Onboarding straight out of the box could be better
- Excellent clarity is provided by the Wave DX condenser mic
- There is no XLR cable supplied
- Excellent exterior noise absorption
- Feels somewhat lighter and less durable than the opposition
