Last Updated on May 27, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
With macOS making audio production more accessible and affordable than ever, choosing the right digital audio workstation (DAW) is an important decision for musicians, podcasters and other audio creators. This article reviews 8 of the top macOS apps for audio editing across a range of price points and specialties.
Whether you’re a bedroom producer, professional studio engineer or podcast host, macOS offers a wealth of options for recording, editing and mixing audio. From free and open-source apps to powerful integrated environments, there’s a DAW suited to every budget and workflow. This comprehensive guide compares the features and suitability of 8 top macOS audio editing apps, covering recording, editing, effects, mixing and more. By the end, you’ll be well equipped to choose the right tool for your audio production needs.
Table of Content
GarageBand
As Apple’s free entry-level DAW, GarageBand is hard to beat for basic audio editing on a budget. While light on advanced features, it packs an impressive punch for beginners with an intuitive interface and dozens of virtual instruments and effects. Record multiple audio and MIDI tracks simultaneously with no limits on project size. Basic editing tools like trim, fade and pan are complemented by a full digital mixer. For those just starting out with audio production, GarageBand removes any barriers to getting hands-on experience. A great starting point before graduating to a more fully-featured DAW.
Logic Pro
As the big brother to GarageBand, Logic takes Apple’s pro audio software to the next level. While pricier than most at $199, it’s great value compared to competitors and rivals DAWs costing twice as much. At its heart is a full-fledged digital audio workstation with unlimited tracks, advanced MIDI and plugin capabilities. Record and edit audio in multiple formats while taking advantage of Logic’s intuitive arrangement view. Powerful mixing and effects options include the Studio plugin bundle, Alchemy synth and Drum Machine Designer. Beyond just editing, Logic is a swiss army knife for full-fledged music production and mastering.
Reaper
For straightforward audio editing at an unbeatable price, Reaper takes some beating. The 60-day trial never expires, and at just $60 for a personal license it’s an utter steal. Simple but flexible multi-track recording handles all your editing needs. Reaper won’t win on flashy features, but all the core tools are there – trimming, fades, normalization and more. Plugins are supported through VST and AudioUnit formats for effects and virtual instruments. Advanced users will appreciate Reaper’s highly customizable workflow. While basic, it’s perfect for simple podcast, audio book or musician projects on a budget.
Adobe Audition
As the studio standard audio editing tool, Audition lives up to Adobe’s premium software pedigree. It offers a fully-integrated environment for recording, editing, restoring and mixing any audio file type. Powerful selection and editing tools enable precision sound design. The robust effects library includes industry-leading noise reduction and restoration tools. Mix with 32-bit internal processing headroom across unlimited tracks and busses. Audition excels at advanced tasks like dialogue editing, sound design, restoration and forensic audio work. It will push your Mac’s resources but remains the tool of choice for professional audio post and mastering studios.
Ableton Live
While more associated with music production than pure editing, Ableton’s unique workflow makes it applicable to any audio task. Record session clips across unlimited audio and MIDI tracks while viewing tempo-linked waveform overviews. Cut, splice and rearrange clips with ease using the intuitive Session view. For complex editing, switch to Arrangement view for linear editing and mixing. As a hybrid DAW/sampler, Ableton shines for live performance and remixing, aided by powerful effects and instruments. With macOS versions starting around $99, it offers strong value whether mixing tracks or stage production.
Avid Pro Tools First
As the free tier of Pro Tools, First offers a taste of the full experience without breaking the bank. While limited to just 16 tracks and basic effects, it’s still lightyears beyond many paid DAWs for tracking and editing multi-track audio. The Session view interface retains Pro Tools’ powerful workflow great for tracking live bands. Basic yet high-quality tools handle alignment, filtering and clean-up. With Cloud Collaboration, share sessions remotely for feedback. A limited but very capable free option excellent for smaller hobbyist projects or experimenting with Pro Tools’ workflow.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Though best known as a video editor, Premiere Pro is a surprisingly capable audio workstation too. Record directly into sequences with waveforms displayed in the timeline. Tweak volume levels by clip with keyframe animation. Multi-track audio mixing handles bass management, EQ and effects inserts on any track or bus. Advanced tools empower precisely-edited sound design and dialogue cleanup. Integrate audio and video edits painlessly to produce polished soundtrack mixes. As part of Creative Cloud, it delivers stellar value for any multimedia project combining audio and video.
Apple Logic Remote
For basic audio editing on the go, Logic Remote turns your iPad or iPhone into a powerful portable DAW. Control playback and mixing from any Logic session with intuitive touch gestures. Trim clips, add fades and adjust volumes from your mobile device when away from the studio. Remotely record armed tracks and customize the interface for your specific workflow. For musicians tracking live takes or engineers mixing on the move, it removes the Mac from the equation, making basic audio editing truly mobile. Integrates seamlessly with Logic Pro for a second screen editing companion.
Conclusion
Whether you need a basic audio editor, full-fledged DAW or portable mixing solution, macOS offers outstanding options. GarageBand and Logic Pro provide accessible yet powerful recording and editing on a budget. Reaper, Ableton and Pro Tools First excel on value and feature-set. And industry mainstays like Audition, Pro Tools and Premiere deliver professional-grade quality when quality is mission-critical. With intuitive, flexible tools on Mac, you’re empowered to realize your audio production vision however ambitious.