The following tables compare general and technical information among a number of digital audio editors and multitrack recording software.
Digital Audio Workstations
Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc.
Digital audio editor | Creator / developer | Software license | Microsoft Windows | MacOS | Linux | iOS | Android | Network storage | External hardware |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACID Pro | Magix | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | |||
Ardour | The Ardour Community | GNU GPL | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | NFS | ||
AudioDesk | Mark of the Unicorn | Proprietary | No | Yes | No | No | |||
Audition | Adobe Systems | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
BandLab | BandLab Technologies | Proprietary (Freeware) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Bitwig Studio | Bitwig | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |||
Cakewalk by BandLab | BandLab Technologies | Proprietary (Freeware) | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
Cubase | Steinberg | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, as Cubasis | Yes, as Cubasis | Requires hardware dongle | |
Digital Performer | Mark of the Unicorn | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
Fairlight | Blackmagic Design | Proprietary Freeware | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
FL Studio | Image-Line | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ||
GarageBand | Apple | Proprietary | No | Yes | No | Yes | |||
Harrison Mixbus | Harrison Consoles | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | NFS | ||
Kristal | Kreatives | Proprietary (Freeware) | Yes | No | No | No | |||
Live | Ableton | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
LMMS | Tobias Doerffel | GNU GPL | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | NFS | ||
Logic Pro | Apple | Proprietary | Discontinued (last version: 5.5.1) | Yes | No | Yes, iPad only | |||
Magix Music Maker | Magix | Proprietary / Freemium | Yes | No | No | No | |||
Mixcraft | Acoustica | Proprietary | Yes | No | Wine[1] | Remote only[2] | Remote only[2] | ||
mp3DirectCut | Martin Pesch | Proprietary Freeware | Yes | No | No | No | |||
MuLab | MuTools | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
MultitrackStudio | Bremmers Audio Design | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |||
MusE | MuseE | GNU GPL | No | No | Yes | No | NFS | ||
n-Track | Fasoft | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ||
Nuendo | Steinberg | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
Podium | Zynewave | Proprietary / Freemium | Yes | No | No | No | |||
Pro Tools | Avid | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | MediaNet (proprietary) | Yes | |
Pyramix_DAW | Merging Technologies | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
Qtractor | Qtractor | GNU GPL | No | No | Yes | No | NFS | ||
REAPER | Cockos | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Yes (after version 6.0) | No | |||
Reason | Propellerhead Software | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
Record | Propellerhead Software | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
Renoise | Renoise Team | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |||
Rosegarden | Rosegarden | GNU GPL | No | No | Yes | No | NFS | ||
Samplitude/Sequoia | Magix | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | |||
Soundscape 32 | Mackie | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | External 2U rack unit | ||
Studio One | PreSonus | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | SoundCloud | ||
Waveform | Tracktion Software Inc | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |||
Digital audio editor | Creator / developer | Software license | Microsoft Windows | MacOS | Linux | iOS | Android | Network storage | External hardware |
Wave editors
Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc.
Digital audio editor | Creator / developer | Software license | Microsoft Windows | MacOS | iOS | Linux | BSD | Online | Network storage | External hardware |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acoustica | Acon Digital | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
Audacity | Audacity Team | GNU GPLv2 | Yes | Yes | No[3] | Yes | Yes | No | NFS | |
Audiotool | Hobnox | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | Not officially supported | Yes | No | Yes | NFS | Optional MIDI support |
BIAS Peak | BIAS | Proprietary | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
Diamond Cut ART | Diamond Cut Productions | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
Ecasound | Kai Vehmanen | GNU GPL | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Unknown | Unknown |
Goldwave | Goldwave Inc. | Proprietary Shareware | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ||
Jokosher | Jokosher | GNU GPL | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | NFS | |
NU-Tech | Leaff Engineering | Proprietary | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ||
RiffWorks | Sonoma Wire Works | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
Sound Forge | Magix | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
Soundbooth | Adobe Systems | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
SoX | Chris Bagwell, et al. | GNU GPL | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ||
SpectraLayers | Steinberg | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
Sweep | Conrad Parker | GNU GPL | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | ||
Total Recorder | HighCriteria | Proprietary Shareware | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ||
Traverso DAW | Traverso | GNU GPL | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | NFS | |
WaveLab | Steinberg | Proprietary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | External gear, MIDI | |
WavePad | NCH Software | Proprietary / Freemium | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ||
WaveSurfer | Centre for Speech Technology at KTH | BSD-like | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ||
Digital audio editor | Creator / developer | Software license | Microsoft Windows | MacOS | iOS | Linux | BSD | Online | Network storage | External 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 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Acoustica | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Ardour | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Audacity | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (3.2.0 and newer) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Only on OS X[4] | No | No |
AudioDesk | Returns only | No | Via converter | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Audiotool | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Audition | Partial (Pre CS5.5 - Yes, CS5.5 - No) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Partial (Pre CS5.5 - Yes, CS5.5 - No) | No |
BIAS Peak | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bitwig Studio | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Cakewalk by BandLab | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Cubase | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Terminated (SX3.1) | No |
Diamond Cut ART | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Digital Performer | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes (with Digi TDM or HD hardware via DAE) | Yes | No | Yes |
Ecasound | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
FL Studio | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
GarageBand | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Goldwave | No | No | Beta | Unknown | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
ReWire | JACK | VST | VST3 | LADSPA | LV2 | DSSI | RTAS | AU | DXi | MAS | |
Harrison Mixbus | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Jokosher | No | No | No | Unknown | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Kristal | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Live | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Live 10.1 and newer) | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
LMMS | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Logic Express/Studio | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Mixcraft | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | DirectX effects only | No |
mp3DirectCut | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
MuLab | Yes | Unknown | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
MusE | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
n-Track | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Nuendo | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
NU-Tech | No | No | Yes | Unknown | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Podium | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Pro Tools | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Before version 11 | No | No | No |
Qtractor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
ReWire | JACK | VST | VST3 | LADSPA | LV2 | DSSI | RTAS | AU | DXi | MAS | |
REAPER | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Reason | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Record | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Renoise | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
RiffWorks | Yes | No | Yes | Unknown | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Rosegarden | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Samplitude | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Sound Forge | No | No | Yes | Unknown | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Soundbooth | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Soundscape 32 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
SoX | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
SpectraLayers | No | No | Yes | Unknown | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Studio One | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Sweep | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Total Recorder | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Waveform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Traverso | No | Yes | No | Unknown | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
WaveLab | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
WavePad | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
WaveSurfer | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
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 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | W64 |
Ardour | No[5] | No[6] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | W64, libsndfile library formats[7] |
Audacity | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | AMR |
AudioDesk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | SDII (native) |
Audiotool | No | No | No | Import | Export | No | Export | No | No | No | |
Audition | Yes | Unknown | No (unsupported since CS5) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | AU, IFF, RAW/PCM, SMP, VOC, VOX, WMA |
BIAS Peak | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bitwig Studio | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | WMA |
Cakewalk by BandLab | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Import | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | W64, CAF, SDII, AU, SND, DSF, DFF, RCY, ASF, WMA, WMV |
Cubase | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | WMA, W64 |
Diamond Cut ART | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Digital Performer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | SDII (native) |
Ecasound | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
FL Studio | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Import | Yes | XI, REX |
GarageBand | No | No | Yes[lower-alpha 1] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | No | |
Goldwave | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Windows Media Audio, AU, Monkey's Audio, VOX, mat, snd, voc |
Harrison Mixbus | No | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | No | Yes | AIFC, 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 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
Kristal | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Live | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDII (Mac OS X Only) |
LMMS | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | AU, DS, RAW, SPX, VOC. Can also open .flp files |
Logic Pro | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Mixcraft | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
mp3DirectCut | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | |
MuLab | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
MusE | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
N-Track | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | WMA, EDL, WAV64 |
Nuendo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
NU-Tech | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Podium | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Pro Tools | Yes[lower-alpha 2] | Yes[lower-alpha 2] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Import | Import | Yes (7.4) | Yes | No | SDII (Mac OS X Only) |
Qtractor | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | CAF, HTK, IFF/8SVX, MAT4/5, PAF, PVF, RAW, SDII, SDS, SF, VOC, W64, XI |
REAPER | Partial | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | APE, BWF, MOOG, W64, WavPack |
Reason | No | No | Yes | Yes | Import | Import | No | Yes | Yes | No | SF2, ReFill |
Record | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | SF2, ReFill |
OMF | AAF | MIDI | WAV | MP3 | AAC | Ogg | REX2 | AIFF | FLAC | Others | |
Renoise | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | MP4, MP4A, CAF, SFZ |
RiffWorks | No | No | No | Export | No | No | Export | Yes | No | No | |
Rosegarden | No | No | Yes[8] | Yes[9] | Import[9] | Unknown | Import[9] | Unknown | Unknown | Import[9] | Csound, Mup, MuxicXML, h2song[10] |
Samplitude | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | WMA, RealAudio |
Sound Forge | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | SWF (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 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Soundscape 32 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
SoX | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | External LAME | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | AU and other audio file formats |
SpectraLayers | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes | .caf, .alac, RAW/PCM, .rm, .au, .snd, AVI, MXF, MP1, MP2, MP4, MKV, Quicktime, .vob, .wmv, WMA |
Studio One | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | OpenTL, BWF, RF64, PreSonus Capture Session, Steinberg Cubase Track Archive, Steinberg Sequel Project, Kristal Audio Engine Project[11] |
Sweep | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Various 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 | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | PCM (uncompressed), WMA, Monkey's Audio (APE). |
Waveform | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Traverso | No | No | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Unknown | No | Yes | WavPack |
WaveLab | No | No | Controllers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | AU, MP2, RAW |
WavePad | No | No | Import | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | import midi, Sun AU, MPEG4 audio, GSM, RAW, Dialogic VOX, AMR Narrowband, Musepack, Monkey's Audio Codec, others |
WaveSurfer | No | No | No | Yes | Import | No | With plugin | No | Yes | No | Import: AU, CSL, SD Export: AU |
OMF | AAF | MIDI | WAV | MP3 | AAC | Ogg | REX2 | AIFF | FLAC | Others |
Notes
See also
Notes
- ↑ "Can I run Mixcraft on a Linux computer using Wine?".
- 1 2 "Free Remote Control App for Mixcraft (IOS or Android) | Acoustica".
- ↑ "Download".
- ↑ Audacity: Plug-Ins and Libraries Archived 2015-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "What's about OMF support ? - ardour". 7 January 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ↑ In development Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Supported File Formats". Ardour Manual. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ↑ "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "doc:audiomanager-en - Rosegarden Wiki". Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ↑ 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.
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