Comparison of digital audio editors

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

General

Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Digital audio editor	Creator / developer	Software license	Operating system	Network storage	External hardware required
ACID Pro	Sony	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Acoustica	Acon Digital Media	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Ardour	The Ardour Community	GNU GPL	Linux / Mac OS X	NFS
Audacity	Audacity Team	GNU GPL	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X / Linux / BSD	NFS
AudioDesk	Mark of the Unicorn	Proprietary	Mac OS X
Audition	Adobe Systems	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Cubase	Steinberg	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X		Requires hardware dongle
Digital Performer	Mark of the Unicorn	Proprietary	Mac OS X
energyXT	XT Software	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X / Linux
FL Studio	Image Line Software	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Garageband	Apple	Proprietary	Mac OS X
Jokosher	Jokosher	GNU GPL	Linux / Microsoft Windows	NFS
Kristal	Kreatives	Proprietary: Freeware	Microsoft Windows
Live	Ableton	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
LMMS	LMMS	GNU GPL	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X (not native, only through darwin ports) / Linux	NFS
Logic Express/Studio	Apple	Proprietary	Mac OS X / Microsoft Windows (before version 6)
Meteor Multi Track Recorder	4PocketsAudio.com	Proprietary	IOS iPad
Mixcraft	Acoustica	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
MP3 Recorder Studio	ManiacTools	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
MultitrackStudio	MultitrackStudio	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
MusE	MuseE	GNU GPL	Linux	NFS
n-Track	Fasoft	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Nuendo	Steinberg	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Podium	Zynewave	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Podium Free	Zynewave	Freeware	Microsoft Windows
Pro Tools	Avid	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X	MediaNet (proprietary)	Ilok required for all PT9 systems, other systems require a Digidesgin/avid interface, Pro Tools Free was the only exception.
Pyramix	Merging Technologies	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows		Support for USB & Firewire audio interfaces and optional proprietary external hardware
Qtractor	Qtractor	GNU GPL	Linux	NFS
REAPER	Cockos	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Record	Propellerhead Software	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
RiffWorks	Sonoma Wire Works	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Rosegarden	Rosegarden	GNU GPL	Linux	NFS
SADiE	SADiE	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows		DSP hardware required
MAGIX Samplitude	MAGIX	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
MAGIX Sequoia	MAGIX	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
SONAR	Cakewalk	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Sound Forge	Sony	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Soundbooth	Adobe Systems	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Studio One	PreSonus	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Temper	Angry Red Planet	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
Tracktion	Mackie	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X
Traverso DAW	Traverso	GNU GPL	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X / Linux	NFS
Vegas Pro	Sony	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows
WaveLab	Steinberg	Proprietary	Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X

Operating system and plugin support

The operating systems and plugin types the software can run natively (without emulation).

	Microsoft Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	Rewire	JACK	VST	LADSPA	LV2	DSSI	RTAS	AU	DXi	MAS
ACID Pro	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Acoustica	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Ardour	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Audacity	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
AudioDesk	No	Yes	No	Partial (returns only)	No	Partial (via converter)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Audition	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes						Yes
Cubase	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Terminated (SX3.1)	No
Digital Performer	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Partial (via converter)	No	No	No	Yes (with Digi TDM or HD hardware via DAE)	Yes	No	Yes
FL Studio	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Garageband	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Partial (via converter)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Jokosher	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Live	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Logic Express/Studio	Terminated (last version: 5.5.1)	Yes	No	Yes	No	Partial (via converter)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Mixcraft	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes[1]	No
MP3 Recorder Studio	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
MultitrackStudio	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
n-Track	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Pro Tools	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Partial (via Wrapper)	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Pyramix	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Terminated (5.1)	No
Qtractor	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
REAPER	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Record	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RiffWorks	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No|-
Rosegarden	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	No	No	No	No
SADiE	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Samplitude	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
SONAR	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Studio One	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Tracktion	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Traverso	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No

File format support

The various file types the software can read/write.

	OMF	AAF	MIDI	WAV	MP3	AAC	Ogg	REX2	Others
Acoustica	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	AIFF (read only), AU, WMA
Ardour	No[2]	No[3]		Yes			Yes		FLAC, W64
Audacity	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	AIFF, AMR, FLAC, WMA
AudioDesk	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	AIFF (import/export), SDII (native)
Audition				Yes	Yes		Yes	No	WMA
Cubase	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No			Yes
Digital Performer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	AIFF (import/export), SDII (native)
FL Studio	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	XI
GarageBand	No	No	Yes[4]		Yes	Yes
Jokosher	No	No
Live	No	No	Yes	Yes	Template:Only read	Yes	Yes	Yes	Ogg FLAC, FLAC, AIFF, SDII (Mac OSX Only)
Logic Express/Studio	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes			ALAC
Meteor Multi Track Recorder	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Mixcraft	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	AIFF (import only)
MP3 Recorder Studio	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
MultitrackStudio	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	AIFF
N-Track	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	AIFF, FLAC, WMA, EDL, WAV64
Nuendo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	AIFF
Pro Tools	Yes[5]	Yes[5]	Yes	Yes	Yes			Yes ( 7.4)	AIFF, SDII (Mac OSX Only)
Pyramix	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	AIFF, SDII, RIFF64, PMF, BWF, DSD, DXD, MXF, FLAC, DSDIFF, XML, AES31, OpenTL, EDL
Qtractor	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	AIFF, CAF, FLAC, HTK, IFF/8SVX, MAT4/5, PAF, PVF, RAW, SDII, SDS, SF, VOC, W64, XI
REAPER	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	FLAC, WavPack, Monkey's Audio
Record	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	AIFF, SF2, ReFill
RiffWorks	No	No	No	Yes[6]	No	No	Yes[6]	Yes
Rosegarden	No	No
SADiE	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	AIFF, AIFC, IDS, BWF, Lightworks, cartchunk, SDII, WAV64, BWF-WAV64
Samplitude	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	AIFF, FLAC, WMA,Real Audio
SONAR	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial[7]	Yes	W64, CAF, SDII, FLAC, AU
Studio One	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	OpenTL, BWF, RF64, AIFF, FLAC, PreSonus Capture Session, Steinberg Cubase Track Archive, Steinberg Sequel Project, Kristal Audio Engine Project[8]
Tracktion	No[9]	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[10]	Yes[6]	Yes
Traverso	No	No		Yes	Yes		Yes		FLAC, WavPack

Notes

1. ^ DirectX effects support only.
2. ^ What's about OMF support ? | ardour
3. ^ In development
4. ^ Import only, Version 2 or higher.
5. ^ ^{a b} with DV Toolkit or DigiTranslator addons
6. ^ ^{a b c} Export only.
7. ^ Import only
8. ^ Randall, Brent (2009-04-29). "Interview with Jim Odom- President Of Presonus". prorec. http://www.prorec.com/Articles/tabid/109/EntryId/338/Interview-with-Jim-Odom-President-Of-Presonus.aspx. Retrieved 2010-03-02. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Mackie - Tracktion 2 FAQ
10. ^ Apple Loops support (in 3.0)