Audacity
Best for free multi-track audio editing on any desktop
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Active
- WAV: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MP3: opens and saves, full fidelity
- FLAC: opens and saves, full fidelity
Audacity vs ocenaudio
Two free alternatives to Adobe Audition, side by side.
ocenaudio
Best for quick edits with a live spectrogram
License: Freeware- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Verified- WAV: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MP3: opens and saves, full fidelity
- FLAC: opens and saves, full fidelity
Side by side
| Fact | Audacity | ocenaudio |
|---|---|---|
| License | License: Open sourceGPL-3.0-only | License: Freeware |
| Maintenance | Status: Active | Status: Verified |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
| No account needed | Yes | Yes |
| Parity with Adobe Audition | 43% | 14% |
License classes: Open source and Freeware. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology.
Feature parity with Adobe Audition
| Feature | Audacity | ocenaudio |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | ||
| Waveform and spectral frequency editing | PartialNote 1Spectrogram view where you can select a frequency band; no spectral healing brush | PartialNote 2Real-time spectrogram and multi-selection; no spectral repair tools |
| Mixing | ||
| Multitrack mixing sessions | PartialNote 3Tracks, clips and envelopes; no busses, sends or mixer view | NoNote 4Edits one file at a time |
| Restoration | ||
| Noise reduction and audio repair | PartialNote 5Noise reduction effects; no adaptive noise reduction or spectral repair | NoNote 6Noise reduction is not listed on its features page |
| Effects | ||
| Effects racks and VST plug-ins | YesNote 7VST3 and Nyquist everywhere, plus Audio Units on macOS and LV2 on Linux | PartialNote 8VST plug-ins and real-time effect previews |
| Mastering | ||
| Loudness metering and matching | PartialNote 9Loudness Normalization effect; no matching panel | NoNote 10Loudness tools are not listed on its features page |
| Automation | ||
| Batch processing | NoNote 11Macros and the scripting pipe are missing in Audacity 4; version 3.7 still has them | NoNote 12Batch processing is not listed on its features page |
| Integration | ||
| Round trip with video editors | No | No |
- Audacity, Waveform and spectral frequency editing: Spectrogram view where you can select a frequency band; no spectral healing brush
- ocenaudio, Waveform and spectral frequency editing: Real-time spectrogram and multi-selection; no spectral repair tools
- Audacity, Multitrack mixing sessions: Tracks, clips and envelopes; no busses, sends or mixer view
- ocenaudio, Multitrack mixing sessions: Edits one file at a time
- Audacity, Noise reduction and audio repair: Noise reduction effects; no adaptive noise reduction or spectral repair
- ocenaudio, Noise reduction and audio repair: Noise reduction is not listed on its features page
- Audacity, Effects racks and VST plug-ins: VST3 and Nyquist everywhere, plus Audio Units on macOS and LV2 on Linux
- ocenaudio, Effects racks and VST plug-ins: VST plug-ins and real-time effect previews
- Audacity, Loudness metering and matching: Loudness Normalization effect; no matching panel
- ocenaudio, Loudness metering and matching: Loudness tools are not listed on its features page
- Audacity, Batch processing: Macros and the scripting pipe are missing in Audacity 4; version 3.7 still has them
- ocenaudio, Batch processing: Batch processing is not listed on its features page
File formats
| Format | Audacity | ocenaudio |
|---|---|---|
| .sesx | NoNote 1Audition sessions do not open; export the tracks as WAV | NoNote 2Audition sessions do not open; export the tracks as WAV |
| .wav | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
| .mp3 | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
| .flac | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
- Audacity, .sesx: Audition sessions do not open; export the tracks as WAV
- ocenaudio, .sesx: Audition sessions do not open; export the tracks as WAV