Comparison of digital audio editors

Last updated

The following tables compare general and technical information among a number of digital audio editors and multitrack recording software.

Contents

(Note: HP-UX, IBM-DB2U, FreeBSD and other Unixes omitted)

Digital Audio Workstations

Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc.

Digital audio editorCreator / developer Software license Microsoft Windows MacOS Linux iOS AndroidNetwork storageExternal hardware
ACID Pro Magix Proprietary YesNoNoNo
Ardour The Ardour Community GNU GPL (Pay-what-you-want)YesYesYesNoNFS
AudioDesk Mark of the Unicorn Proprietary NoYesNoNo
Audition Adobe Systems Proprietary YesYesNoNo
BandLab BandLab Technologies Proprietary (Freeware)YesYesYesYesYes
Bitwig Studio Bitwig Proprietary YesYesYesNo
Cakewalk by BandLab BandLab Technologies Proprietary YesNoNoNoNo
Cubase Steinberg Proprietary YesYesNoYes, as CubasisYes, as Cubasis
Digital Performer Mark of the Unicorn Proprietary YesYesNoNo
Fairlight Blackmagic Design Proprietary Freeware YesYesYes
FL Studio Image-Line Proprietary YesYesNoYesYes
GarageBand Apple Proprietary NoYesNoYes
Harrison Mixbus Harrison Consoles Proprietary YesYesYesNoNFS
Kristal Kreatives Proprietary (Freeware)YesNoNoNo
Live Ableton Proprietary YesYesNoNo
LMMS Tobias Doerffel GNU GPL YesYesYesNoNFS
Logic Pro Apple Proprietary Discontinued (last version: 5.5.1)YesNoYes, iPad only
Luna Universal Audio Proprietary / needs UAD/Universal Audio audio interface to runBetaYesNoNo
Magix Music Maker Magix Proprietary / FreemiumYesNoNoNo
Mixcraft Acoustica Proprietary YesNoWine [1] Remote only [2] Remote only [2]
mp3DirectCut Martin Pesch Proprietary Freeware YesNoNoNo
MuLab MuTools Proprietary YesYesNoNo
MultitrackStudio Bremmers Audio Design Proprietary YesYesNoYes
MusE MuseE GNU GPL NoNoYesNoNFS
n-Track Fasoft Proprietary YesYesNoYesYes
Nuendo Steinberg Proprietary YesYesNoNo
Podium Zynewave Proprietary / FreemiumYesNoNoNo
Pro Tools Avid Proprietary YesYesNoNoMediaNet (proprietary)Yes
Pyramix_DAW Merging Technologies Proprietary YesNoNoNoYesYes
Qtractor Qtractor GNU GPL NoNoYesNoNFS
REAPER Cockos Proprietary YesYesYes (after version 6.0)No
Reason Propellerhead Software Proprietary YesYesNoNo
Record Propellerhead Software Proprietary YesYesNoNo
Renoise Renoise Team Proprietary YesYesYesNo
Rosegarden Rosegarden GNU GPL NoNoYesNoNFS
Samplitude/Sequoia Magix Proprietary YesNoNoNo
SADiE Prism Sound Proprietary YesNoNoNo
Sonoma Sony Proprietary / only works on dedicated Sonoma PC Windows XP and Windows Vista onlyNoNoNo8x8 Meitner audio interface
Soundscape 32 Mackie Proprietary YesNoNoNoExternal 2U rack unit
Studio One PreSonus Proprietary YesYesYesNo SoundCloud
Waveform Tracktion Software Inc Proprietary YesYesYesNo
Digital audio editorCreator / developer Software license Microsoft Windows MacOS Linux iOS AndroidNetwork storageExternal hardware

Wave editors

Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc.

Digital audio editorCreator / developer Software license Microsoft Windows MacOS iOS Linux BSD Online Network storageExternal hardware
Acoustica Acon Digital Proprietary YesYesNoNoNoNoUn­knownUn­known
Audacity Audacity Team GNU GPLv2 YesYesNo [3] YesYesNoNFS
Audiotool Hobnox Proprietary YesYesNot officially supportedYesNoYesNFSOptional MIDI support
BIAS Peak BIAS Proprietary NoYesNoNoNoNo
Diamond Cut ART Diamond Cut Productions Proprietary YesNoNoNoNoNoUn­knownUn­known
Ecasound Kai Vehmanen GNU GPL NoYesNoYesYesNoUn­knownUn­known
Goldwave Goldwave Inc. Proprietary Shareware YesNoNoNoNoNo
Jokosher Jokosher GNU GPL YesNoNoYesNoNoNFS
NU-Tech Leaff Engineering Proprietary YesNoNoNoNoNo
RiffWorks Sonoma Wire Works Proprietary YesYesNoNoNoNo
Sound Forge Magix Proprietary YesDiscontinued (last version: 3)NoNoNoNo
Soundbooth Adobe Systems Proprietary YesYesNoNoNoNo
Sound Studio Felt Tip Inc. Proprietary NoYesNoNoNoNo
SoX Chris Bagwell, et al. GNU GPL YesYesNoYesYesNo
SpectraLayers Steinberg Proprietary YesYesNoNoNoNo
Sweep Conrad Parker GNU GPL NoNoNoYesYesNo
Total Recorder HighCriteria Proprietary Shareware YesNoNoNoNoNo
Traverso DAW Traverso GNU GPL YesYesNoYesNoNoNFS
WaveLab Steinberg Proprietary YesYesNoNoNoNoExternal gear, MIDI
WavePad NCH Software Proprietary / FreemiumYesYesYesNoNoNo
WaveSurfer Centre for Speech Technology at KTH BSD-likeYesYesNoYesYesNo
Digital audio editorCreator / developer Software license Microsoft Windows MacOS iOS Linux BSD Online Network storageExternal hardware

Support

Plugin support

The plugin types the software can run natively (without emulation).

ReWire JACK VST VST3 LADSPA LV2 DSSI RTAS AU DXi MAS
ACID Pro YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
Acoustica NoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Ardour NoYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoNo
Audacity NoYesYesYes (3.2.0 and newer)YesYesNoNoOnly on OS X [4] NoNo
AudioDesk Returns onlyNoVia converterNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYes
Audiotool NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Audition Partial (Pre CS5.5 - Yes, CS5.5 - No)YesYesYesNoNoNoNoYesPartial (Pre CS5.5 - Yes, CS5.5 - No)No
BIAS Peak Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Bitwig Studio NoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Cakewalk by BandLab YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
Cubase YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoTerminated (SX3.1)No
Diamond Cut ART Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Digital Performer YesNoYesYesNoNoNoYes (with Digi TDM or HD hardware via DAE)YesNoYes
Ecasound NoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
FL Studio YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesYesNo
GarageBand YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Goldwave NoNoBetaUn­knownNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
ReWire JACK VST VST3 LADSPA LV2 DSSI RTAS AU DXi MAS
Harrison Mixbus NoYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoNo
Jokosher NoNoNoUn­knownYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Kristal Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Live YesNoYesYes (Live 10.1 and newer)NoNoNoNoYesNoNo
LMMS NoYesYesUn­knownYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Logic Express/Studio YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Mixcraft YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoDirectX effects onlyNo
mp3DirectCut NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
MuLab YesUn­knownYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
MusE NoYesYesUn­knownYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
n-Track YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesYesNo
Nuendo YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
NU-Tech NoNoYesUn­knownNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Podium YesNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Pro Tools YesNoNoNoNoNoNoBefore version 11NoNoNo
Qtractor NoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoNo
ReWire JACK VST VST3 LADSPA LV2 DSSI RTAS AU DXi MAS
REAPER YesYesYesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesNo
Reason YesNoYesYes [5] NoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Record YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Renoise YesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNo
RiffWorks YesNoYesUn­knownNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Rosegarden NoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNo
Samplitude YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
Sound Forge NoNoYesUn­knownNoNoNoNoYesYesNo
Soundbooth Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Soundscape 32 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
SoX NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
SpectraLayers NoNoYesUn­knownNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Studio One YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Sweep NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Total Recorder NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Waveform YesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYesNoNo
Traverso NoYesNoUn­knownNoYesNoNoNoNoNo
WaveLab NoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
WavePad NoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
WaveSurfer NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
ReWire JACK VST VST3 LADSPA LV2 DSSI RTAS AU DXi MAS

File format support

The various file types the software can read/write.

OMF AAF MIDI WAV MP3 AAC Ogg REX2 AIFF FLAC Others
Acoustica NoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesW64
Ardour No [6] No [7] YesYesYesNoYesUn­knownYesYesW64, libsndfile library formats [8]
Audacity NoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesAMR
AudioDesk YesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo SDII (native)
Audiotool NoNoNoImportExportNoExportNoNoNo
Audition YesUn­knownNo (unsupported since CS5)YesYesYesYesNoYesYesAU, IFF, RAW/PCM, SMP, VOC, VOX, WMA
BIAS Peak Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Bitwig Studio NoNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesWMA
Cakewalk by BandLab YesNoYesYesYesImportYesYesYesYesW64, CAF, SDII, AU, SND, DSF, DFF, RCY, ASF, WMA, WMV
Cubase YesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesWMA, W64
Diamond Cut ART Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Digital Performer YesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoSDII (native)
Ecasound Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
FL Studio NoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesImportYesXI, REX
GarageBand NoNoYes [a] YesYesYesUn­knownUn­knownNoNo
Goldwave Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownYesYesUn­knownYesUn­knownYesYesWindows Media Audio, AU, Monkey's Audio, VOX, mat, snd, voc
Harrison Mixbus NoNoYesYesUn­knownUn­knownYesUn­knownNoYesAIFC, NeXT AU/SND, Headerless RAW, PAF, IFF/SVX, Sphere Nist WAV, IRCAM SF, VOC, W64, MAT4, MAT5, PVF, Fasttracker 2 XI, HMM Tool Kit HTK, CAF, SD2
OMF AAF MIDI WAV MP3 AAC Ogg REX2 AIFF FLAC Others
Jokosher NoNoNoYesYesUn­knownYesUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Kristal Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Live NoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesSDII (Mac OS X Only)
LMMS Un­knownUn­knownYesYesYesUn­knownYesUn­knownYesYesAU, DS, RAW, SPX, VOC. Can also open .flp files
Logic Pro PartialYesYesYesYesYesUn­knownYesYesYes
Mixcraft NoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYes
mp3DirectCut NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNo
MuLab NoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNo
MusE Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
N-Track YesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesWMA, EDL, WAV64
Nuendo YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
NU-Tech Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Podium Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Pro Tools Yes [b] Yes [b] YesYesYesImportImportYes (7.4)YesNoSDII (Mac OS X Only)
Qtractor NoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesCAF, HTK, IFF/8SVX, MAT4/5, PAF, PVF, RAW, SDII, SDS, SF, VOC, W64, XI
REAPER PartialNoYesYesYesPartialYesYesYesYesAPE, BWF, MOOG, W64, WavPack
Reason NoNoYesYesImportImportNoYesYesNoSF2, ReFill
Record NoNoYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNoSF2, ReFill
OMF AAF MIDI WAV MP3 AAC Ogg REX2 AIFF FLAC Others
Renoise NoNoYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesMP4, MP4A, CAF, SFZ
RiffWorks NoNoNoExportNoNoExportYesNoNo
Rosegarden NoNoYes [9] Yes [10] Import [10] Un­knownImport [10] Un­knownUn­knownImport [10] Csound, Mup, MuxicXML, h2song [11]
Samplitude YesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYes WMA, RealAudio
Sound Forge Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownYesYesYesYesUn­knownYesYesSWF (open only), RealAudio & RealVideo (export only), WMA and WMV, AVI, AIF, SND, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, AU, DIG, IVC, PCA, W64, FRG, VOX, AA3, OMA, CDA, AC-3 studio (save only), RAW
Soundbooth Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
Soundscape 32 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
SoX Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownYesExternal LAMEUn­knownYesUn­knownYesYesAU and other audio file formats
SpectraLayers Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownYesYesYesYesUn­knownYesYes.caf, .alac, RAW/PCM, .rm, .au, .snd, AVI, MXF, MP1, MP2, MP4, MKV, Quicktime, .vob, .wmv, WMA
Studio One NoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes OpenTL, BWF, RF64, PreSonus Capture Session, Steinberg Cubase Track Archive, Steinberg Sequel Project, Kristal Audio Engine Project [12]
Sweep NoNoNoYesYesNoYesNoYesYesVarious versions of WAV (integer, floating point, GSM, and compressed formats); Microsoft PCM, A-law and u-law formats; AIFC and RIFX; various AU/SND formats (Sun/NeXT, Dec AU, G721 and G723 ADPCM); RAW header-less PCM files; Amiga IFF/8SVX/16SV PCM files; Ensoniq PARIS (.PAF); Apple's Core Audio Format (CAF) and others.
Total Recorder NoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoYes PCM (uncompressed), WMA, Monkey's Audio (APE).
Waveform NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Traverso NoNoUn­knownYesYesUn­knownYesUn­knownNoYesWavPack
WaveLab NoNoControllersYesYesYesYesNoYesYesAU, MP2, RAW
WavePad NoNoImportYesYesYesYesNoYesYesimport midi, Sun AU, MPEG4 audio, GSM, RAW, Dialogic VOX, AMR Narrowband, Musepack, Monkey's Audio Codec, others
WaveSurfer NoNoNoYesImportNoWith pluginNoYesNoImport: AU, CSL, SD
Export: AU
OMF AAF MIDI WAV MP3 AAC Ogg REX2 AIFF FLAC Others

Notes

  1. Import only, Version 2 or higher.
  2. 1 2 With DV Toolkit or DigiTranslator add-ons.

See also

Notes

  1. "Can I run Mixcraft on a Linux computer using Wine?".
  2. 1 2 "Free Remote Control App for Mixcraft (IOS or Android) | Acoustica".
  3. "Download".
  4. Audacity: Plug-Ins and Libraries Archived 2015-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Reason 12.5 with VST3 support released!". 15 December 2022.
  6. "What's about OMF support ? - ardour". 7 January 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  7. In development Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Supported File Formats". Ardour Manual. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  9. "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki" . Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "doc:audiomanager-en - Rosegarden Wiki" . Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  11. "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki" . Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  12. Randall, Brent (2006-01-31). "Interview with Jim Odom- President Of Presonus". prorec. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-02.