Comparison of digital audio editors

The following tables compare general and technical information among a number of digital audio editors and multitrack recording software. Please see the individual products articles for further information.

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
Bitwig Studio Bitwig Proprietary Yes Yes Yes No
Cakewalk by BandLab[1] BandLab Technologies Proprietary (Freeware) Yes No No No
Cubase Steinberg Proprietary Yes Yes No Yes Yes Requires hardware dongle
Digital Performer Mark of the Unicorn Proprietary Yes Yes No No
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 No
Mixcraft Acoustica Proprietary Yes No No No
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
Qtractor Qtractor GNU GPL No No Yes No NFS
REAPER Cockos Proprietary Yes Yes Yes (pre-beta) 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
Tracktion 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 GPL Yes Yes Yes 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 Sony 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

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 Unknown Yes Yes No No Yes No No
Audacity No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Only on OS X[2] 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 No 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 Unknown Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No
ReWire JACK VST VST3 LADSPA LV2 DSSI RTAS AU DXi MAS
REAPER Yes No Yes Yes No No 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
Tracktion 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[3] No[4] Yes Yes No[5] No Yes Unknown No Yes W64, libsndfile library formats[6]
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 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
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, REX2
GarageBand No No Yes[7] Unknown 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 Import 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 Express/Studio 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 No No 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[8] Yes[8] 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 No 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[9] Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 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 No 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).
Tracktion 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

See also

Notes
  1. Previously Sonar by Cakewalk, relaunched by Bandlab Technologies.
  2. Audacity: Plug-Ins and Libraries Archived 2015-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "What's about OMF support ? - ardour". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  4. In development Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Ardour and MP3". Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  6. "Supported File Formats". Ardour Manual. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  7. Import only, Version 2 or higher.
  8. with DV Toolkit or DigiTranslator addons
  9. "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  10. "doc:manual-en - Rosegarden Wiki". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  11. 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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