Are you looking for an all-in-one solution for audio editing? Audio Editing is a very time-consuming, creative, and effort-taking task.
So if you don’t have the right software by your side, what is the point of putting all the effort into something not worth it? That is why we have the list of the best audio editing software to help you choose the best that suits your needs.
Either you are starting as a beginner in music production and editing. Or you are a professional looking for an alternative to your current editing software.
We have got an excellent solution for both. Here in this article, we have listed the best audio editing software for both professionals and beginners.
Not only this, this list includes both free and paid software for Windows and Mac users as well.
List of 10 Best Audio Editing Software
In this article, we have given all the pros and cons, system requirements, and prices for each software so that it is easy to choose the one that works best for you.
1. Audacity
Overview
Audacity is one of the best options for free recording application software and open-source digital audio editor. The Audacity Team developed it.
It has also won the Community Choice Award for the best project for multimedia. We highly recommend Audacity if you are looking for a free tool for assembling and converting audio samples, recording music, and quick audio editing with perfection.
It is undoubtedly a robust and reliable free application with tons of features. We have listed it on top of the best audio editing software.
Price
Audacity is free software that volunteers develop. It does not have any premium or paid version. You can download the software from here.
Compatibility
Audacity is compatible with the following operating systems.
- Windows. Compatible with Windows 10/8/7/Vista (Does not support XP)
- Mac. Compatible with macOS X and macOS 10.7 to macOS 10.14 (Does not support macOS 10.15 and Catalina)
- GNU/Linux. Compatible with GNU/Linux.
Features
Edit. Users can easily cut, copy, paste and delete files on Audacity. There is also an unlimited option for redoing and undoing the last tasks. Another feature is noise reduction.
Add Effects. This software offers a real-time preview of LADSPA/LV2, VST, and audio unit effects. Users can select from a wide range of primary effects in the library section to add to their projects. Users can also easily edit and control the bass and treble and adjust to them. Adding fade-in and fade-out effects or amplifying the sound is also easy.
Record. Users can easily record 16-bit or 24-bit auto files. And then, you can convert and combine those with a smooth result.
Small size. Unlike other programs, Audacity is lightweight and has a small file size to download a distill on the computer. It doesn’t take much space on the hard drive of the computer. And it is also relatively easy to download and install the file.
Drawbacks
Destructive Edits. The main drawback of audacity is that you cannot undo the edits later, you have to use the undo option to go back, but that will delete all the work you have done later to that specific edit.
2. Adobe Audition
Overview
Adobe Audition was developed by Adobe Systems and was initially released on August 18, 2003. This Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is known as Cool Edit Pro. This fully functional audio editing application supports multitrack sound recording (MTR) and a non-linear or non-destructive editing environment that was missing in Audacity Software.
Adobe Audition is one of the best audio editing programs available. It also has video tutorials for guidance and forums users can use to find a solution to any issue. This program also has a wide range of effects, and the results are also outstanding.
Price
Adobe Audition has both free and paid versions.
- The free trial can be downloaded directly from the website and lasts 7 days.
- The paid version has four different plans. The first one is for individuals, the second one for Businesses, the third for Students and Teachers, and the last for Schools and Universities.
Check here for the updated plans for Adobe Audition.
Compatibility
Following are the technical specifications that users’ computers must meet to run Adobe Audition.
- Windows. Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1703 or higher.
- macOS. macOS X version 10.12 or higher
Language Support. French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
Features
Remove Background Noise. With the DeReverb and the DeNoise effect, users can effectively remove any background noise to improve audio quality.
Multitrack Performance. This feature makes it easy to work on large projects. Users can easily zoom out while working on large projects to make changes or edit easily.
Input Monitoring. This is another great feature in Adobe Audition that helps users to preview the input coming without recording to get an idea.
Virtual Keyboard Shortcut Editor. Using this feature, you can see which keys are assigned the shortcuts and which are available for assignments.
Great Playback Performance. Users can playback 128 audio tracks and record over 32 tracks at low latencies. And when recording or playing a track in the multitrack performance, the Adobe Audition enhances the performance.
One Clip Gain and Waveform Scaling. Users can easily set the Gain by dragging it up or down without unknowingly setting a keyframe.
Drawbacks
MIDI Support Not Available. Users have to pay extra to get the MIDI support which is not included in the plan.
Need improvement in User Interface. Adding more customization options for users’ needs would be a great help.
3. FL Studio
Overview
FL Studio, earlier known as FruityLoops, is developed by a Belgium Company, Image-Line Software. It is another excellent software for editing, recording, and producing audio files. This software has four different editions, Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, Signature Bundle, and All Plugins Bundle.
This software is excellent for both small quick projects and extensive professional work.
Price
Free. A free Trial is available by FL Studio. Users can test and install plugins do an unlimited time.
Paid. The following Four Editions are available for purchase. These include lifetime free updates as well.
- Fruity Edition. $99
- Producer Edition. $199
- Signature Bundle. $299
- All Plugins Bundle. $899
Compatibility
Both Full Installer and Trial Installer are available for Desktop:
- Windows. FL Studio Version 20.5.1.1193 (Windows 7,8,10 or later)
- macOS. FL Studio Version 20.5.1.522 (macOS minimum 10.11, recommended 10.13.6 or later)
For Mobile Devices:
- iOS (Apple Devices). iPhone, iPad, and iPod.
- Android. Phone and Tablet.
- Windows. Windows 10 App and Phone.
- FL Studio. Plugin
Features
Fl Studio’s Piano Roll. The primary function of Piano Roll is to send notes and automation data to plugin instruments. It is said to be the best Piano Roll compared to its alternatives.
Plugins. FL Studio has 80 instrument and effect plugins. These cover synthesis, automation, playback delay, equalization filtering, phasing chorus, and many more.
Use Third-Party Plugin. If you want some other instruments and effects while working in FL Studio, you can easily use any third-party plugin. FL Studio supports all VST standards 1,2, and 3.
Mix Music. FL Studio offers excellent tools such as audio sends, side chain controls, advanced automation, plugin delay compensation, effects chain, etc., to help you edit and mix your music more professionally.
Lifetime Free Updates. Once you have purchased the paid version of FL Studio, it offers a lifetime free update to stop its users. So you don’t have to spend a dime on upgrading or updating to the latest version.
Drawbacks
Tough Multitrack Recording. Users have noticed that it is challenging to do multitrack recording. An edit needs a lot of clicks. so that is one feature the company has to work on.
4. Logic Pro X
Overview
Logic Pro X is another excellent Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software in the best audio editing software list. Apple Inc develops this Software. Therefore it is only compatible with macOS computers. Because of its excellent performance, it is trusted and preferred by Apple users worldwide.
This software offers an extensive library, excellent product support, and plug-ins. And it is also light on the pocket. You get great features and performance in budget-friendly software.
We have found it to be the best value for money software in the pick of the best audio editing software, but only for Apple users. And it is said to be the most advanced version of Logic software.
Price
Logic Pro X is priced at $199.99.
It has a file size of 1.5 GB and is available in English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
Compatibility
Logic Pro X is compatible only with Apple computers. It works on macOS 10.13.6 or later and a 64-bit processor.
Features
Powerful. Users can use Track Stacks to create rich, layered instruments and compile multiple tracks. It is also easy to use multiple plugins with the Smart Controls feature in Logic Pro X.
Record, Edit, and Compile. Users can easily record, compile and edit multiple tracks with powerful editors and tools. And with Quick Swipe Comping, another excellent feature, it is super easy to organize folders or build comps quickly. Users can also sixth between different playlists and edit them using the Track alternatives feature.
Plugins. Selection-based processing allows users to use a combination of plugins to select audio. Another regret feature is Flex Pitch which allows users to fix out-of-tone vocals. Such features are offered in high-priced software only.
Drum Production. Drum Kit Designer is a great feature that allows users to create acoustic drum kits using available sample drum music. Next, using the Drum Machine Designer, users can customize sound according to acoustic beats.
Effects. Many creative and production effects are available in Logic Pro X. There is an excellent list of features available to add effects, such as multi-tap, vintage-tap, stereo delays, etc. Some significant modulation effects are also available to add effects to the tracks.
Library. The sound Library of Logic Pro X includes 2800 instruments and effect patches and a thousand sampled instruments. It also includes 7000 Apple Loops in a wide range of genres.
Drawbacks
Only compatible with Mac. Its main drawback is that it is only compatible with Mac computers making it unavailable for Windows users.
5. Acoustica
Overview
Next on our list of the best audio editing software is Acoustica developed by Icon Digital. It is a digital audio editor and is available in two editions. The first one is the Acoustica Standard Edition, and the Second one is the Acoustica Premium Edition. Acoustica Standard Edition is low-cost and powered with processing tools for audio restoration, sound design, and analysis tools for batch processing and CD burning. Next is the Acoustica Premium Edition; this is an advanced edition powered with some extra tools for editing and support for surround audio.
Price
Paid. Acoustica Premium Edition 7. x is the premium and advanced version of Acoustica priced at US$199.90.
Acoustica Standard Edition 7.x is the standard and basic version priced at US$59.90.
There are a lot of other products and plug-ins offered by the software. Click here to check.
Compatibility
Acoustica is available for both Windows and Mac.
Windows (PC Version): Compatible with Windows 7/8.x/10
Mac Version (OS X): Compatible with OS X 10.8 or later.
Features
Audio Quality. To maintain a good quality of work, this software offers support for audio resolutions up to 32-bit and sampling rates up to 384 kHz. The Premium edition goes further and offers multi-channel audio recording and editing.
Spectral Editing. This feature is available for Premium users only. The edition tools include a brush, freehand or magic wand. It also includes a retouch tool that removes noise from selected portions.
Multitrack Editing. Multitrack Editing is a great feature to mix and edit audios from the different tracks and add effects.
Real-Time Analysis. Real-Time Analyzers visualize audio output using spectrogram, spectrum, and wavelet analysis tools.
Audio Restoration. Acoustica has advanced Audio restoration tools with which background noises such as clicks, crackles, and clipping, which deteriorate the audio quality, can be easily removed.
Drawbacks
Limited Effects. If we compare Acoustica with other audio editing software, it has a drawback in having limited editing and effects tools compared to its alternatives.
6. REAPER
Overview
REAPER is another Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and MIDI Sequencer developed by Cockos. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. It is compatible and supports plugin formats and media formats, even video. This software and its plugins are available in 34-bit and 64-bit. This software company captioned itself “Audio Production Without Limits.”
Price
Trial Version. You can use and test REAPER for free for a 60 days evaluation period. No registration or personal details are required for this. Click here to get it.
Paid Version. The paid version has two licenses available. One is the discounted license, and the other is the commercial license. The Discounted License is priced at $60 for personal use only. The commercial license is priced at $225 and is for business use. Click here for more details.
Compatibility
Supported Operating Systems are as follows.
Windows. REAPER is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 (32 or 64-bit)
Mac. It is compatible with macOS X 10.5-10.14
Linux. This is experimental. It requires GTK+3 and ALSA. GTK+2 supported with additional effort. It supports x86_64, i686 armv7l.
Features
Record. Users can record unlimited inputs based on their hardware and overdub audio and MIDI. It is also easy to record directly to stereo, surround, or multichannel audio files. Another feature is to record directly to any of the supported audio formats. Users can also record simultaneously to multiple disks.
Produce. The straightforward interface of RENDER allows users to drag and drop to import and arrange files easily. It is also easy to mix audio, MIDI, video, etc., on any track. Then users can also make use of different tools such as move, split, resize, cross-fade, etc., to edit their files.
Transform. This software is compatible with most third-party audio or MIDI plug-ins such as VST, VST3, VSTi, DX/DXi (for windows only), and AU/AUi (for OS X only).
Customize Easily. It is elementary to change icons, toolbars, colors, and layouts in REAPER. Another great thing is that it allows switching between different layouts quickly. It is deeply extensible, too, and includes an integrated development environment for composing, editing, and testing ReaScripts.
Fast. REAPER is very fast; users can quickly open the program and start working on it instantly without delay. Not only is it fast but is efficient too. The user forum is another great add-on that offers users instant replies from others on any queries.
Drawbacks
Complicated Interface. Although many features are available, they are hard to find. You must go through all the menus and find simple editing features.
MIDI Editor. MIDI editing is not as good as compared to other programs. It also had limited features for editing drum tracks.
7. WaveLab
Overview
Steinberg has developed a digital audio editor and recording computer software called WaveLab. This software is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. It is available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese. It is available in two versions. the first one is the WaveLab Pro 10, and the second one is the WaveLab Elements 10.
Price
- Wavelab Pro 10 is priced at $383.99 and is VAT-free.
2. WaveLab Elements 10 is priced at $99.99 VAT-free.
3. WaveLab Elements 10 upgrades start from $34.99 VAT-free.
Compatibility
System Requirements for Wavelab Pro 10, WaveLab Elements 10, and WaveLab LE 10 are all the same and are as follows.
Windows. Windows 10 (64-bit)
macOS. macOs High Sierra and macOs Mojave.
Features
User Interface. The user interface is fast and intuitive. It also offers both destructive and non-destructive editing. This makes it easy for the user to choose its preferred option. This software also allows users to make effective edits to stereo tracks, adding to creativity.
Audio Analysis. To get a good view of the sound the user is working on, this software powers the user with a range of meters, including peak level, loudness errors, phase, spectrum, and bits. It also gives an excellent spectrogram view, 3-D frequency analysis, and other great tools.
Audio Restoration. The Wavelab’s high-quality audio restoration tools help users correct or improve the old recording. The features included are DeClicker, DeNoiser, DeBuzzer, DeCrackler, etc. These features help to remove the disturbances or noises in the tracks effectively.
Plug-ins. There are a variety of plug-in effects users can choose from to create plugin collections. Another great feature is batch processing. Batch processing is an essential feature for professionals to save time. Users can create watch folders, drag and drop elements like audio files, formats, plugins, etc., and then work on them.
Drawbacks
Limited Multi-Tasking. Wavelab is an excellent software for professionals. It has a lot of practical tools, but users can only record 3 tracks per session when it comes to multitasking.
8. Pro Tools
Overview
Pro Tools is the last on our list of the best audio editing software. Avid Technology developed and released this Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). It is available for both Windows and Mac users. This software is used for sound recording and reproduction.
Price
Pro Tools has three different price plans.
- For Individuals. $299.99 one-year subscription (Click here for details)
- For Students and Teachers. $8.25 one-year subscription.
- Enterprise and Institutions. Click here for details.
Compatibility
Check below for system requirements.
Mac. macOS 10.12.6, 10.13.6, 10.14.6
Windows. Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Enterprise 64-bit Editions.
Features
Powerful Tools. Pro Tools is a powerful audio editing software. It is powered with valuable tools, studio-staple sound processors, and missing automation. It is easy to work on big projects for up to 128 audio tracks, 512 instrument tracks, and 1024 MIDI tracks.
Mix Soundtracks. Mixing tracks quickly with VCA Masters, Track freeze, professional metering, etc., is pretty straightforward.
Plug-ins. Users can add quality to their work with studio staple effects and sound processing plugins. High-quality guitar amp emulators, EQs, and dynamics can easily enhance, improve, and fine-tune soundtracks.
Avid Cloud Collaboration. Pro Tools has an advantage over other software as it offers Avid Cloud Collaboration. Using this, up to 10 collaborators can work on a single project together in the same workspace.
Drawbacks
Limited users on the free version. The free version limits users to 3 for working on a project. Users have opted for the paid version to do so.
Limited library. The sound library is limited compared to other software.
Conclusion
We hope you found this helpful article on the best audio editing software for Windows and macOS. If you have any questions, write to us in the comment section below. You can also send us your feedback if you want us to include any other helpful software on our list.
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