Elgato Wave Link vs RØDE UNIFY
Elgato Wave Link
elgato.com
RØDE UNIFY
rode.comSide by side
| Figure | Elgato Wave Link | RØDE UNIFY |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3.78/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Audio Mixing Software | 7.9 (#9) | 8.7 (#3) |
| Spec score · Audio Enhancement Software | 7.8 (#13) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Independent mixes | Wave Link supports up to five independent output mixes with separate routing and volume levels. | UNIFY provides independent sub-mixes for different outputs. |
| Integrations | Wave Link can send mixes to OBS Studio, MS Teams, or any application that accepts audio input. | UNIFY can output directly to OBS and supports audio sources such as Spotify, Discord and gameplay. |
| Purpose | Wave Link provides broadcast-level audio routing and effects for content creators. | UNIFY is virtual mixing software for streamers and content creators that routes, mixes, processes and records audio. |
| Support | Elgato provides FAQ, contact, and download links for Wave Link support. | RØDE provides a UNIFY support section with setup, routing, sub-mix, recording and troubleshooting articles and a contact option. |
Plans
RØDE UNIFY
- FreeFree
- Free with RØDE X microphoneFree
- Monthly subscription$5.17 a month
- Annual subscription$45.31 a year
In their own words
Elgato Wave Link
Elgato Wave Link is a free audio routing and effects app for streamers, podcasters, professionals, and other content creators. It works with USB and XLR microphones, third-party interfaces, headsets, and capture cards recognized by the computer. A horizontal routing matrix lets users direct audio sources to outputs, with up to five independent mixes and separate routing and volume levels. Users can group multiple applications, such as Zoom, Teams, Discord, Spotify, or Chrome, into one channel. The app supports VST3 effects on Windows and Audio Unit effects on macOS, with unlimited effects per input. Mixes can feed OBS Studio, MS Teams, or any application that accepts audio input. Its Stream Deck plugin can change volume, mute channels, toggle effects, and switch mixes. The Wave Link 3.0 plan lists up to eight software or non-Wave inputs, four Wave-device inputs, and five virtual mixes. Windows requires Windows 11 and 8 GB RAM; macOS requires version 15.0 or newer and 8 GB RAM.
RØDE UNIFY
RØDE UNIFY is free virtual mixing software for streamers and content creators on Windows and macOS. It routes, mixes, processes, and records audio, combining up to four microphones with six virtual audio devices such as Spotify, Discord, and gameplay. Independent sub-mixes support different outputs, and UNIFY can send audio directly to OBS. It records each track as a separate file for multichannel post-production. Processing options include a compressor, noise gate, high-pass filters, equalization, and APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processing. Advanced DSP processing is available only with RØDE USB-C microphones. With compatible RØDE microphones, processing can run on a microphone DSP chip to reduce CPU load and provide zero-latency headphone monitoring. The app requires Windows 10 or later or macOS 12 Monterey or later. RØDE lists compatibility with products including NT-USB Mini, NT-USB+, NT1 5th Gen, VideoMic NTG, Wireless PRO, PodMic USB, and XCM-50. Its support section covers setup, routing, sub-mixes, recording, troubleshooting, and contact options.