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

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4

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15

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May 18, 2020

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Updated

Here’s the Deal

4 Options Considered

Best audio editing tools for creating podcasts on Mac	Price	Compatibility	Max number of tracks
-- Logic Pro X	$199	Mac	Unlimited
-- Reaper	-	Mac, Windows, 64-bit Linux (beta)	Unlimited
-- Audacity	GET IT HERE FOR FREE	-	-
-- GarageBand	-	-	-

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score 9 · Answer 1

Logic Pro X

Top Pro

High quality instruments and effects

Good range of high quality synths: analog, FM, wavetable, string modulation, sampler, organ, clarinet, epiano. See More

Top Con

No support for 32-bit plugins

Specs

Compatibility:Mac

Max number of tracks:Unlimited

MIDI?:Yes

Processing type:64 Bit

See All Specs

Top 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. See More

Top Con

Only compatible with Mac

No Windows or Linux versions are available. See More

Top Pro

Uses minimum amount of CPU

Logic Pro X is optimized for CPU usage, which makes the program more stable. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Allows users to program their own tools

Locig Pro X lets users make their own effects using Javascript API. See More

Top Pro

Cheaper than similar programs

This program costs $200 and must be bought from the app store. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

See All

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score 4 · Answer 2

Reaper

Top 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. See More

Top Con

No groove quantize feature

Straight quantization is available, but Reaper 4 is still missing groove integration. See More

Specs

Compatibility:Mac, Windows, 64-bit Linux (beta)

Max number of tracks:Unlimited

MIDI?:Yes

Processing type:32-bit, 64-bit, ARM (32/64-bit, beta, Linux Only)

See All Specs

Top Pro

Easy to install

No complex activation shenanigans. No dongle and such. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Add an unlimited number of tracks to each session

Each track can be equipped with different effects. See More

Top Pro

Multi-level freezing

A freeze can be applied to a group, and then picked apart track by track. See More

Top Pro

Comes with 300 free plugins

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Highly customizable

This program lets users change to different themes and has a lot of options when it comes to rendering. See More

Top Pro

Rarely crashes

Most DAWs have a tendency to crash constantly, reaper crashes very rarely. See More

Top Pro

Constantly updated

This DAW pays attention to user feedback, so they are constantly adding new features and updates. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 3

Audacity

Top Pro

Great for vocal track editing

Top Con

Doesn't retain audio integrity

Audacity uses destructive editing, meaning applying effects, cutting, etc is non-reversable after you've saved a project. See More

Specs

Platforms:Mac, Linux, Windows

Top Pro

Great community backing it

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Well maintained

Audacity is constantly updated. See More

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Free, open source and cross-platform

Audacity is available for free on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux with source code available here. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

GarageBand

Top Pro

Beginner-friendly

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

4 Options Considered

Logic Pro X

My Recommendation for Logic Pro X

My Recommendation for Logic Pro X

High quality instruments and effects

No support for 32-bit plugins

Studio standard

Only compatible with Mac

Uses minimum amount of CPU

Free update from Logic

Free corresponding iPad app

Allows users to program their own tools

Cheaper than similar programs

Comes with 30gb of free content

UI designed for ease of use

Reaper

My Recommendation for Reaper

My Recommendation for Reaper

Extremely cheap

No groove quantize feature

Easy to install

No PFL metering

Very low cpu usage

Portable

Offers a discounted license

Simplified workflow

Add an unlimited number of tracks to each session

Multi-level freezing

Comes with 300 free plugins

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

Highly customizable

Rarely crashes

Constantly updated

Audacity

My Recommendation for Audacity

My Recommendation for Audacity

Great for vocal track editing

Doesn't retain audio integrity

Great community backing it

No real time effects

Well maintained

Not seen as a full DAW

Free, open source and cross-platform

GarageBand

My Recommendation for GarageBand

My Recommendation for GarageBand

Beginner-friendly

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