Audio

What are the best audio editing tools for creating podcasts on Mac?

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Reaper vs Logic Pro X vs GarageBand

 vs Audacity

Specs

Compatibility

Windows , Mac, Linux

Max number of tracks

Unlimited

MIDI?

Yes

Processing type

32-bit, 64-bit, ARM (32/64-bit, Linux Only)

Included sounds

None

Included plugins

Yes (also available as a separate free plugin package for both 32 and 64 bit on Windows)

Plugin Compatibility

VST, VST2, VST3, VSTi, AU, DX (Windows Only), DXi (Windows Only), LV2/LV2i (Linux)

Interface & Keyboard Shortcut Customization

Yes

Installer size

10-25 MB (depending on OS)

Minimum install

-

Full sound library

-

Platforms

-

Compatibility

Mac

Max number of tracks

Unlimited

MIDI?

Yes

Processing type

64 Bit

Included sounds

-

Included plugins

-

Plugin Compatibility

-

Interface & Keyboard Shortcut Customization

-

Installer size

-

Minimum install

6GB

Full sound library

63GB

Platforms

-

Compatibility

-

Max number of tracks

-

MIDI?

-

Processing type

-

Included sounds

-

Included plugins

-

Plugin Compatibility

-

Interface & Keyboard Shortcut Customization

-

Installer size

-

Minimum install

-

Full sound library

-

Platforms

-

Compatibility

-

Max number of tracks

-

MIDI?

-

Processing type

-

Included sounds

-

Included plugins

-

Plugin Compatibility

-

Interface & Keyboard Shortcut Customization

-

Installer size

-

Minimum install

-

Full sound library

-

Platforms

Windows, Linux, Mac

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Extremely cheap

With the same capabilities as its competitors, Reaper 4 costs only $60, which is a fraction of the price of other DAWS. Reaper also offers an indefinite free trial with no limitations.
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Pro
 Easy to install

No complex activation shenanigans. No dongle and such.
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Pro
 Very low cpu usage

Reaper's will tailor itself to fit your computer's processing power by automatically using the "anticipative FX processing" feature.
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Pro
 Portable

Reaper is lightweight enough to be run off of a flash drive; the installer weights less than 20 MB and the portable installation option is included in it.
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Pro
 Offers a discounted license

If you make under $20,000, use the program for personal use, are a non profit or educational program, you qualify for the discounted license.
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Pro
 Simplified workflow

In Reaper, a track is a track is a track. There is no distinction among MIDI, stereo, mono, surround, etc. tracks, and that means you can put clips of all kinds on the same track. Just create the track and go.
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Pro
 Add an unlimited number of tracks to each session

Each track can be equipped with different effects.
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Pro
 Multi-level freezing

A freeze can be applied to a group, and then picked apart track by track.
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Pro
 Comes with 300 free plugins

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Pro
 Auto-bridges 32-bit plugins in a 64-bit environment

When using a 64-bit installation of Reaper, all of your 32-bit plugins will still work alongside your 64-bit plugins.
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Pro
 Highly customizable

This program lets users change to different themes and has a lot of options when it comes to rendering.
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Pro
 Rarely crashes

Most DAWs have a tendency to crash constantly, reaper crashes very rarely.
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Pro
 Constantly updated

This DAW pays attention to user feedback, so they are constantly adding new features and updates.
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Con
 No groove quantize feature

Straight quantization is available, but Reaper 4 is still missing groove integration.
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Con
 No PFL metering

If you want to meter your input levels before your FX and volume fader, you'll need to insert a metering plugin as the first part of the chain, since there is no option for PFL metering.
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Pro
 High quality instruments and effects

Good range of high quality synths: analog, FM, wavetable, string modulation, sampler, organ, clarinet, epiano.
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Pro
 Studio standard

If you take music production seriously then one day maybe you'll enter professional studio, where you will most likely find the Logic DAW along with Pro Tools.
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Con
 No support for 32-bit plugins

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Con
 Only compatible with Mac

No Windows or Linux versions are available.
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Pro
 Uses minimum amount of CPU

Logic Pro X is optimized for CPU usage, which makes the program more stable.
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Pro
 Free update from Logic

As of 1/21/2015, Apple has released an update that allows users to upgrade from Logic to Logic Pro X.
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Pro
 Free corresponding iPad app

In order to allow more control, Logic Pro X has added a free iPad app called Logic Remote. Logic Remote is available in several different views, and is capable of MIDI input and parameter adjustment. It comes with a full library and browser. Navigation is easy as well via the navigation bar along the top of the screen. Many interesting views are available, such as chord strips. This view allows users to play a series of preset chords that are already in the right key. Gestures are supported with this app, so loop speed and other properties can quickly be adjusted. This app connects to Logic through WiFi, so the app and program should be running on the same network.
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Pro
 Allows users to program their own tools

Locig Pro X lets users make their own effects using Javascript API.
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Pro
 Cheaper than similar programs

This program costs $200 and must be bought from the app store.
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Pro
 Comes with 30gb of free content

The initial download of Logic Pro X gives users 2gb of samples, but the program automatically downloads 30gb of samples once Logic Pro X is installed.
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Pro
 UI designed for ease of use

Logic Pro X has made an effort to keep clutter out of the equation so producers can focus on the music.
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Pro
 Beginner-friendly

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Pro
 Great for vocal track editing

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Pro
 Great community backing it

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Pro
 Well maintained

Audacity is constantly updated.
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Pro
 Free, open source and cross-platform

Audacity is available for free on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux with source code available here.
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Con
 Doesn't retain audio integrity

Audacity uses destructive editing, meaning applying effects, cutting, etc is non-reversable after you've saved a project.
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Con
 No real time effects

Users are unable to change effects in real time with Audacity. If effects are to be changed, no sound can be playing or recording.
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Con
 Not seen as a full DAW

Audacity doesn't have the capabilities of popular DAWs and generally isn't considered to be good option.
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