What are the best Audio Editors for Mac users?

Question

8

Options
Considered

105

User
Recs.

Oct 14, 2022

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

6 Options Considered

Best Audio Editors for Mac users	Price	Platforms	PRICE
-- Audacity	-	Windows, Linux, Mac	-
-- GarageBand	Free	-	-
-- Adobe Audition	-	-	-
-- DSP-Quattro	99.00	-	-
-- Acoustica	€ 59.90	Windows	-

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score 27 · Answer 1

Audacity

Top Pro

Multi-track recording abilities and a lot of advanced effects

Unlike a lot of free Digital Audio Workstation software, it gives you multi-track recording abilities and a lot of advanced effects, like being able to correct pitch and remove unwanted noise. There is also a large number of third-party plugins available as well as user-scripted plugins. See More

Top Con

Not compatible with 10.15 Catalina. See their downloads page for a note on this.

WorthyPamola's Experience

Easy to use, enables you to work very precisely. Done recording and editing? Export your files into mp3 or wav format and ready you are. I've enjoyed working with Audacity for years! See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Linux, Mac

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

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

Well maintained

Audacity is constantly updated. See More

Top Con

Unable to use Synthesizers / virtual instruments

You can only use effect plugins or record live with this DAW. See More

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 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 Con

Doesn't retain audio integrity

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

See All

score 18 · Answer 2

GarageBand

Top Con

Abandoning and cancelling the app and every file/library since now is not a brilliant idea, being Apple

Top Pro

Extremely easy to use

GarageBand is one of the most basic and user-friendly DAWs, making it very easy to learn. See More

Top Con

Steep learning curve

Simple select-and-cut is not obvious, for example. See More

Top Pro

The sound library is large and continuing to grow

You can use a large variety of electric and acoustic sounds out of the box. See More

See All

score 15 · Answer 3

Adobe Audition

Top Pro

Cross-platform

Top Pro

Great tutorials and helpful community

Top Pro

Interact with other Adobe applications

Top Pro

Creative Cloud support

See All

score 4 · Answer 4

DSP-Quattro

Top Pro

Supports plugins

Top Pro

Professional mastering tools

Top Pro

Multi-track recording and mixing

See All

score 1 · Answer 5

Acoustica

Top Pro

Many tools can be used also as plugins in other apps/daws

Specs

Platforms:Windows

Top Pro

Many functions other apps don´t have

For example extract dialogues or remix tool for isolating stems. See More

Top Pro

High audio quality

See All

score 2 · Answer 6

Soundbug Audio Editor for MacOS

Top Pro

Analysis tools that generate automation lines that can then be linked to effects parameters

Top Con

Pricey

Although it's cheaper than most other editors, except Audacity. See More

ThoroughAlecto's Experience

It's a new app from a small startup company in Boston. the app is pretty cool. It certainly has potential as a substitute for Audacity. See More

Specs

PRICE:$19.99/$9.99 (academic)

Top Pro

Both real-time and offline effects automation

StrongAnubis's Experience

I'm familiar with all MacOS audio applications. Soundbug offers a pro-level mono/stereo editor at a great price. Moreover, Soundbug offers analysis tools that cannot be found in other applications. See More

Top Pro

No proprietary file format

Top Pro

The spectral graph with equal loudness scaling

Top Pro

The granulation tools

The same basic algorithm seems to be used in both tools, but they get at it from slightly different perspectives. Both tools are really flexible and fun to work with. See More

Top Pro

The spectral graph and equal loudness scaling

See All

score 14 · Answer 7

6 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Audacity

My Recommendation for Audacity

Multi-track recording abilities and a lot of advanced effects

Not compatible with 10.15 Catalina. See their downloads page for a note on this.

Free, open source and cross-platform

Not seen as a full DAW

Well maintained

Unable to use Synthesizers / virtual instruments

Great community backing it

No real time effects

No real-time effects

Doesn't retain audio integrity

My Recommendation for GarageBand

My Recommendation for GarageBand

Abandoning and cancelling the app and every file/library since now is not a brilliant idea, being Apple

Extremely easy to use

Steep learning curve

The sound library is large and continuing to grow

My Recommendation for Adobe Audition

My Recommendation for Adobe Audition

Cross-platform

Great tutorials and helpful community

Interact with other Adobe applications

Creative Cloud support

My Recommendation for DSP-Quattro

My Recommendation for DSP-Quattro

Supports plugins

Professional mastering tools

Multi-track recording and mixing

My Recommendation for Acoustica

My Recommendation for Acoustica

Many tools can be used also as plugins in other apps/daws

Many functions other apps don´t have

High audio quality

My Recommendation for Soundbug Audio Editor for MacOS

My Recommendation for Soundbug Audio Editor for MacOS

Analysis tools that generate automation lines that can then be linked to effects parameters

Pricey

Both real-time and offline effects automation

No proprietary file format

The spectral graph with equal loudness scaling

The granulation tools

The spectral graph and equal loudness scaling

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My Recommendation for Macsome Audio Editor

My Recommendation for Macsome Audio Editor

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My Recommendation for Schism Tracker

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