Elgato's NEO range makes it easy to start your streaming journey
by
Mark Harrison
When you shop via links on GamingDeals.com, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Live Streaming has never been bigger, with Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and other spaces pulling in millions of viewers every day. If you're an avid watcher of streams and want to start streaming your own gameplay or podcast or anything else you can think of, it's never been easier to do it.
If you want to start to really build an audience you want your stream to have some quality to it, and thanks to Elgato's Neo range of streaming gear you can have your stream looking professional straight away without it costing you a fortune.
Elgato's Neo line includes a microphone, webcam, key light, capture card, and a Stream Deck to control your stream with the touch of a few buttons. You can jump to each of the products to see more about them using the links down below:
There are lots of different pieces of streaming equipment you can get to help you show off your gameplay online, and having high video and sound quality is important to keeping your viewers engaged and getting them to come back.
Here's four of our favourite reasons why they're worth picking up:
1. Plug-and-play devices
Elgato's Neo devices are all designed to get you streaming straight away without the need for additional software. All the devices use USB-C cables to plug into your laptop or PC, and you just have to plug them in and get started. Each device can be used with Elgato software if you want to customise them further, but if you're a beginner or in a hurry you can stream with them right out of the box
2. High quality output
Elgato's Neo products will give you a high level of quality to your stream, whether it's from the 1080p 60fps capture from the Facecam Neo, high quality audio from the Wave Neo, or the 1080p 60fps output from Game Capture Neo, you'll be streaming at the proper resolution.
3. Easy to take with you
The Elgato Neo devices are compact and streamlined, and because they just need a USB-C cable to get going, they're great for taking with you when you're travelling but you still want to stream or record or need to video call.
4. Work with each other
The Elgato Neo products all work well with each other in different ways. Key Light and Facecam have similar mounts so they easily sit on top of your laptop or monitor, and the Neo devices can be easily operated with Stream Deck too.
Streaming can be a stressful experience, as you end up having to manage lots of different programmes and elements while you're live. To cut down on freeze time and alt-tabbing you can make use of Elgato Stream Deck NEO to help you manage all of your apps, scenes, sounds, whatever you need it to do.
Stream Deck Neo has 8 LCD keys that you can customise to do whatever you want with the Elgato App. Also programmable is the dynamic info bar below the keys that can show you the time, date and more, and you can have as many pages as you want so your customisation options are huge.
Elgato Stream Deck Neo is also nice and compact so it's easy to transport around, and you can use it flat on its back or adjust it at two different angles to suit your setup. Stream Deck Neo is only £99.99 and offers a lot of versatility for that price; Elgato has a detailed video guide for getting started with your Stream Deck Neo that you should check out too:
Elgato Stream Deck Neo at-a-glance:
8 LCD keys
Pages of customisable shortcuts
Customisable dynamic info bar
2 adjustable positions
Use with Elgato app to assign keys to apps and programmes
No matter what you're streaming, you need to have good audio to keep your audience engaged. Whether you're gameplay-focused or starting a podcast, not having good audio is an easy way to turn away viewers so you want to make sure your microphone keeps your voice clear and level.
Wave Neo USB microphone from Elgato can do just that, and it's one of the easiest microphones to set up and use. It comes with an integrated snap-on pop filter to suppressive plosive sounds, and a large button on the front is used to turn on the mute function and let you know when you're being heard.
Wave Neo features an adjustable mount that is raised quite high, so it's closer to your mouth making it easier for you to be heard. If you do want to get more technical, you can pair Wave Neo with the Wave Link app for voice effects, background noise removal and more.
Elgato Wave Neo is a great all-round microphone that you can use with many devices thanks to its USB-C connectivity, and is a great option even if you just want a good microphone for meetings or video calls. Like the other Neo products, it's also easy to take with you if your work space moves around, and it's got an impressive price of £89.99 at Currys. You can see some of Wave Neo's features on display in this guide from Elgato:
When you're streaming or making videos you might want to have a facecam alongside your content to build a more personal connection with your audience. If you do want to have a camera on your stream, you'll want something higher-quality than say a laptop's built-in webcam, and something that's easy to use with more functionality.
Elgato Facecam Neo is a plug-and-play webcam that delivers 1080p video at a smooth 60fps right out of the box so you can look your best on camera right away. It's USB-C like the Wave Neo, and its thin mount means you can even use it on laptops for an upgraded video experience for those long discord calls or work meetings.
Lighting is always important for video, and while the Facecam Neo is well set-up out of the box and supports High Dynamic Range (HDR), you can play around with the exposure, framing, shutter speed and other settings in the Elgato Camera Hub to get it just right for your stream space.
Elgato Facecam Neo is similar to Wave Neo microphone as it's a plug-and-play device that will deliver high quality video for your stream straight out of the box, with the option to customise it further using Elgato's software to get everything right for your stream. As the Facecam Neo is a 1080p, 60fps camera with a small form factor and USB-C connectivity, this is also a great choice for those needing a better camera for your online meetings or discord hangouts. You can check out Elgato's walkthrough for Facecam Neo here:
As mentioned earlier, having proper lighting is so important when you're streaming or recording a video. Most rooms have ceiling lights which shine the light down on top of your head, not on your face, and whether you're facing a window or a wall can impact the shadows that the camera will pick up.
Having a proper light pointed at your face is an easy way to make sure you're not looking too gloomy or washed out on camera, and Elgato Key Light Neo is an easy and affordable way to do that. Keeping with the Elgato Neo style, Key Light Neo is a simple 150 x 150mm white square with a light in the middle that plugs into your device via USB-C so it's easy to get set up.
Elgato Key Light Neo is capable of outputting 800 lumens so your webcam will have plenty of light to work with, and if that's too much light then you can fine-tune the brightness and colour temperature to work with your setup and skin tone.
Elgato Key Light Neo is a simple to use dynamic light that will have you looking your best on stream, and is also great for when you need to be on camera for any meetings. The thin form factor and additional mount mean you can use it on top of your laptop too if you're streaming from one. Elgato has a handy video with some extra tips on how to make the most of your Key Light Neo:
All of the Elgato Neo products we've listed so far keep you looking and sounding great on stream as well as keeping you in control, but what if you need a way to show off your console gameplay? Elgato Game Capture Neo is an affordable and easy-to-use capture card that will get your gameplay from your console onto your stream quickly.
Game Capture Neo sits between your console and your TV/Monitor, so rather than the console outputting to the screen directly, it goes to Game Capture Neo which then passes it through to your TV, while the USB cable sends the video to your preferred streaming or recording app like OBS or Discord. Game Capture Neo is capable of passthrough at 4K 60fps HDR fps, and out of the box outputs at 1080p 60fps which is perfect for streaming.
Elgato Game Capture Neo is a small device with just two HDMI ports and a USB port, so you can take it with you to stream anywhere. You can even connect Game Capture Neo to an iPad and use the Elgato capture app to record or stream on the go without having to carry a full laptop around.
Elgato Game Capture Neo is an impressive capture card for the price, and makes it easy for you to live stream or record your gameplay from your console. Combine the Game Capture Neo with Stream Deck Neo and you'll be able to stream from your console right from your desk. You can see how Game Capture Neo works in more detail in Elgato's explainer video:
Elgato Stream Deck Neo at-a-glance:
Passthrough: 4K at 60 fps in HDR
Capture & stream: 1080p at 60 fps
USB Type-C output to PC/iPad
2 HDMI ports, 1 for input and 1 for output
Weighs just 90 g
Elgato Neo FAQs
Do I need special software to stream with Elgato Neo devices?
No, Elgato Neo streaming devices like the Wave and Key Light are designed to make you look and sound great automatically, so you don’t need to fuss over settings. Others, like Stream Deck Neo and Game Capture Neo, require basic software to run such as Stream Deck app or OBS Studio.
Is my USB setup compatible?
The Elgato Neo range of products use USB-C cables to connect to your PC, so you'll need an appropriate number of USB-C ports or get a separate adapter or USB-C hub to connect them all.
How can I fine-tune Elgato Neo devices further?
Elgato Neo devices are ready to go out of the box, but each device has an appropriate app such as Wave Link, Camera Hub, or Control Center to give you more ways to customise your experience.
Is a warranty included in my purchase?
Yes, when you buy a Neo device in its original packaging, you’re covered by a two-year limited warranty.
Elgato Neo products are easy to use and affordable, so you can pick up the essential pieces you need to get started and then add the other devices to your setup down the line to make streaming even easier. Even if you're not a streamer, Elgato Wave microphone, Facecam and Key Light are all great pieces of tech to have if you want to improve your video or sound quality for video calls.
Will you be getting some of the Elgato Neo devices to help you get started streaming? Have you already got a streaming schedule and you want to improve the quality of your content with these products? Let us know in the comments down below, or join in the discussion on our Discord where you can also get notified if the Elgato Neo devices go on sale.
Regarding new controller colourways and having options, Microsoft is killing it. As a result, we thought you might want to see a round-up of every single controller released since the Xbox Series X and S hit shelves back in November 2020.
Xbox All Access is a subscription plan that lets you buy an Xbox Series S and X console alongside Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with no upfront cost on a 0% interest contract. Here's how it works.
