LibreWave is a Linux application for Elgato Wave audio hardware. It aims to provide the device controls, software mixer, monitor mix, and stream mix that Wave Link provides on its supported systems.
The project is written in Rust. It starts with the Wave:3 on Linux and keeps the shared device and mixer code separate from Linux audio integration. Other operating systems may be supported later, but the repository will not contain placeholder platform crates.
LibreWave has three user-facing programs:
librewavedis the user-session daemon. It owns the device, audio graph, profiles, and recovery state.librewavectlis the complete command-line interface. Every management operation must be available here.librewaveis the optional GPUI desktop application. It uses the same local interface as the CLI.
The daemon is the only normal writer to Wave hardware. The CLI and UI do not access USB devices directly.
- Control Wave:3 gain, mute, headphone output, direct monitoring, filters, and supported lighting settings.
- Stop the desktop audio service from changing hardware gain or headphone volume behind the user's back.
- Replace the current capture-first workaround with daemon-owned recovery. LibreWave will install the card-disable rule only after the production audio host can take ownership safely.
- Expose stable software endpoints for applications, monitor output, and stream output.
- Match established Wave Link behavior when Windows and macOS handle operating-system volume changes differently from physical controls.
- Provide exact protocol-version checks and refuse unsafe writes to unknown layouts.
- Architecture
- Hardware safety
- Linux audio integration
- Setup, development installs, and removal
- Wave Link behavior parity
- Protocol evidence
- Roadmap
LibreWave does not provide firmware updates, DFU commands, bootloader commands, or device reset tools. Hardware writes must use a reviewed allowlist and readback verification. Unknown firmware remains in read-only diagnostic mode.
Do not use a development build to try undocumented writes on another person's hardware. See AGENTS.md before changing device or audio code.
The first releases will support source builds and GitHub CI. Native RPM, Arch, and Debian packaging may follow. Flatpak and AppImage are outside the project scope.
LibreWave is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Elgato or Corsair. Elgato, Wave, and Wave Link are trademarks of their respective owners.
The project will not copy Wave Link artwork, branding, application binaries, or other proprietary assets.
LibreWave is available under the MIT License.