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Creative & Media

Audio Editing & Mastering

Editors, repair tools and mastering suites for audio that already exists, as a standalone app or as a plugin in a DAW. Every tool below is measured against the same criteria, in the same order. Repair and mastering are separate jobs, and few tools do both well.

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38tools

  • ocenaudio

    AI features

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    Free, fast audio editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, with real-time effect preview, multi-selection and a full spectrogram.

    Strengths

    • Free on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Native and VST effects can be previewed in real time while adjusting them
    • Multi-selection applies an edit or effect to several excerpts at once
    • Copy, cut and paste stay almost instant on files several hours long

    Limitations

    • Version 3.14 dropped the 32-bit builds and several older platforms
    • The current macOS build needs macOS 14.4 or later
    Visit site

  • iZotope Ozone

    AI features

    Price Elements $55

    Not rated yet

    Mastering suite whose AI assistant builds a starting chain from your track, then hands you twenty modules to edit it.

    Strengths

    • Master Assistant builds a chain from the audio and leaves every step editable
    • Twenty mastering modules in Advanced, usable inside Ozone or as individual plugins
    • Genre targets, LUFS loudness targets and Codec Preview for checking streaming delivery

    Limitations

    • Advanced at $499 is a professional-level price
    • Elements gives the assistant but no access to the individual modules
    • Desktop plugin for a DAW, not a browser service
    Visit site

  • Digital Performer

    AI features

    Price $499

    Not rated yet

    MOTU's digital audio workstation for recording, writing, scoring and mixing, up to Dolby Atmos.

    Strengths

    • Unlimited tracks and audio voices
    • Dolby Atmos renderer and ADM BWF export are built in
    • AI stem separation developed in-house by MOTU
    • Runs on both macOS and Windows and hosts AU, VST2, VST3, MAS and ARA plug-ins

    Limitations

    • Upgrade and competitive upgrade prices require a login to check eligibility
    • Windows support starts at Windows 11 (24H2) on AMD or Intel only
    Visit site

  • sonible

    AI features

    Price Free plug-in available; paid plug-ins from $39

    Not rated yet

    Austrian maker of AI-assisted mixing and mastering plug-ins that analyse a track and set themselves up.

    Strengths

    • Analysis step proposes settings, which is a faster start than a flat processor
    • Perpetual licences rather than a subscription
    • A free plug-in and a cheaper pure series for one-control decisions
    • Native Apple Silicon support, in VST, VST3, AU and AAX

    Limitations

    • Priced per plug-in, so a full set adds up and the smart and pure tiers overlap
    • Mixing and mastering only, not repair of damaged recordings
    • Desktop plug-ins with no API or browser version
    Visit site

  • GarageBand

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    Apple's free music creation studio for recording, editing and mixing songs on the Mac.

    Strengths

    • Free on the Mac App Store
    • Records up to 255 audio tracks
    • Virtual session drummers play along with your song
    • Built-in piano and guitar lessons with real-time feedback

    Limitations

    • Runs only on Apple devices, with no Windows version
    • Requires macOS 15.6 or later
    Visit site

  • Universal Audio LUNA

    AI features

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    Universal Audio's DAW for macOS and Windows, with built-in tape and console emulation, UAD plug-ins and a free version.

    Strengths

    • LUNA Free has no track limit, watermark or time limit
    • Tape, console and summing emulation sit in the mixer instead of on plug-in slots
    • Works with any audio interface, not only UA hardware
    • LUNA Studio bundles SpectraLayers Go, WaveLab Go and Melodyne Essential as ARA tools

    Limitations

    • Console and tape Extensions, ARA tools and hardware inserts need LUNA Studio
    • Realtime UAD tracking at near-zero latency needs an Apollo or Volt interface
    • LUNA Free includes Oxide Tape as its only Extension
    Visit site

  • Fender Studio Pro

    Price $19.99 / month

    Not rated yet

    Fender's digital audio workstation, built on PreSonus Studio One, for recording, mixing, mastering and live shows.

    Strengths

    • Mastering page sequences Sessions and burns Red Book CDs and DDP images in the same application
    • Melodyne Essential 5 licence is bundled for pitch and timing correction
    • Imports and exports DAWproject, AAF and Dolby Atmos ADM files
    • Upgrade from an earlier Studio One Pro licence costs $99.99

    Limitations

    • The Linux version is a public beta
    • A subscription needs an online activation check every 30 days, a perpetual licence once a year
    • Support for macOS 13 and Windows 10 ends on 31 December 2026
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  • Riverside

    AI features

    Price Free tier; Pro from $24 / month

    Not rated yet

    Remote studio for recording high-quality audio and video, with AI editing, transcription and noise removal.

    Strengths

    • Records each guest locally rather than through the call stream
    • AI editor, transcription and Magic Audio noise removal built in
    • Up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio on paid tiers

    Limitations

    • Free tier includes only a one-time 2 hours of multitrack recording
    • API access only on the Business tier
    Visit site

  • FabFilter

    Price From $35

    Not rated yet

    Audio plug-ins for mixing and mastering, from the Pro-Q equaliser to the Pro-L limiter, bought once and used in any DAW.

    Strengths

    • Pro-L 2 pairs true peak limiting with EBU R128, ITU-R BS.1770-4 and ATSC A/85 loudness metering
    • Perpetual licences that cover up to three computers
    • Available in VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX Native and AudioSuite formats
    • 30-day fully functional trial without an account

    Limitations

    • No noise removal or restoration plug-in in the range
    • New major versions need a paid upgrade licence
    • Needs a host DAW; there is no standalone editor
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  • REAPER

    Price $60

    Not rated yet

    Cockos' digital audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing and mastering, in one version for every buyer.

    Strengths

    • One full version for every buyer, with free upgrades through version 8.99
    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, including ARM processors
    • Thousands of actions can be mapped to keys, toolbars or controllers
    • Loudness normalisation and true peak limiting are built into the render options

    Limitations

    • The $225 commercial licence applies once yearly gross revenue exceeds $20,000
    • One licence may be installed on several computers but used on only one at a time
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  • FL Studio

    AI features

    Price $99

    Not rated yet

    Image-Line's pattern-based digital audio workstation for producing music, with lifetime free updates.

    Strengths

    • Lifetime free updates for every edition
    • The free trial has no time limit
    • Hosts VST, VST3 and CLAP on Windows and macOS, plus Audio Units on macOS
    • Upgrades between editions are pro-rated

    Limitations

    • Fruity Edition cannot record audio and has no stem separation
    • Splitting mixer tracks into stems exports WAV only
    • AI mastering needs the separate FL Cloud subscription
    Visit site

  • Waves

    AI features

    Price From $14.99 / month

    Not rated yet

    Waves Audio's catalogue of mixing, mastering and vocal plug-ins, by subscription or as individual licences.

    Strengths

    • Over 240 plug-ins in Waves Ultimate, with new plug-ins added at no extra cost
    • Noise, click, crackle and hum removal alongside the L-series limiters in one catalogue
    • Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time and switched between the two tiers
    • 7-day free trial of both subscriptions

    Limitations

    • The X-series restoration plug-ins and L3 limiters need Waves Ultimate
    • On Mac only M-series Apple Silicon processors are officially supported
    • Needs a host DAW; there is no standalone editor
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  • Avid Pro Tools

    AI features

    Price From $9.99 / month

    Not rated yet

    Avid's digital audio workstation for recording, editing and mixing music and audio post, up to Dolby Atmos.

    Strengths

    • Built-in Dolby Atmos renderer in Studio and Ultimate, with native Audio Vivid mixing
    • iZotope RX Spectral Editor included via ARA 2 for noise reduction and dialogue repair
    • Local Speech-to-Text makes sessions searchable for speech and lyrics
    • Ultimate carries up to 2,048 audio tracks and 64 video tracks with editing

    Limitations

    • Artist has no video track and no immersive mixing
    • Artist is capped at 32 audio tracks
    • Speech-to-Text and the Atmos renderer are reserved for Studio and Ultimate
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  • Acoustica

    AI features

    Price From $149

    Not rated yet

    Acon Digital's audio editor for spectral repair, restoration and mastering, sold as a perpetual licence and usable inside DAWs through ARA2.

    Strengths

    • Bought once, with no subscription and no cloud licensing
    • ARA2 lets clips be edited inside Pro Tools and other compatible DAWs without transferring files
    • Spectral editing and machine-learning restoration in every edition
    • A full 30-day trial without a credit card

    Limitations

    • Standard handles stereo only and ships no plug-ins for use in a DAW
    • The Linux version is still in public beta
    • Full DeNoise 3 and the Dialogue Cleaning Suite need Premium
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  • Zencastr

    AI features

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    Browser studio that records every guest locally in 4K, then edits, transcribes and publishes the episode with AI.

    Strengths

    • Each participant is recorded locally at up to 4K and 48 kHz WAV, with automatic cloud backups
    • Recording, AI editing, transcription, hosting, distribution and live streaming sit in one product
    • The free tier is unusually broad: six participants, four seats, five shows and unlimited tracks, storage and transcription hours

    Limitations

    • Only two plans are published, the free tier and a quoted Enterprise tier, with no paid step between them
    • The plan comparison lists web and iOS apps and no Android app
    • Free-tier distribution is capped at 6,000 video RSS and 60,000 video views a month, and streaming at 1080p
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  • Steinberg Nuendo

    AI features

    Not rated yet

    Steinberg's audio post-production workstation for film, TV, games and immersive sound, built on the same engine as Cubase.

    Strengths

    • Dolby Atmos renderer, ADM authoring and ADM export built in
    • ADR, reconforming and Field Recorder import cover the post workflow without add-ons
    • Game Audio Connect links projects directly to Wwise and CRIWARE ADX2
    • Includes every Cubase music production feature

    Limitations

    • Desktop only, with no browser or mobile version
    • The post and game audio toolset adds a lot to learn for music-only work
    Visit site

  • Audacity

    AI features

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    The free, open-source audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS and Linux, with AI effects through optional OpenVINO plugins.

    Strengths

    • Free and open source under GPL v3, with no subscription
    • Builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, including ARM64
    • Hosts VST3, LV2 and Audio Units plugins
    • Loudness Normalization to broadcast targets is built in

    Limitations

    • The AI effects depend on Intel's separate OpenVINO plugins, which are not yet compatible with the latest version
    • No OpenVINO plugin download for Linux
    • Time tracks, MIDI tracks, the mixer and the macro manager from Audacity 3 are not yet in 4.0
    • Help comes from the forum and the manual rather than a vendor helpdesk
    Visit site

  • CrumplePop

    AI features

    Price From $14.58 / month

    Not rated yet

    Boris FX's local AI audio cleanup and stem separation, as one-slider plugins and the SoundApp desktop app.

    Strengths

    • Processes locally on the GPU, with no uploads, no credits and no upload limits
    • One licence covers the standalone SoundApp, the ARA plugin and the VST, AU and AAX plugins
    • Single-slider plugins aimed at specific problems such as wind, traffic, lavalier rustle and echo
    • Stem separation for music, voice and finished film mixes

    Limitations

    • SoundApp on a Mac requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14 or later
    • SoundApp needs 16 GB of RAM and around 10 GB of free disk space
    • No mastering tools beyond automatic levelling
    • One slider per problem leaves less control than a full spectral repair suite
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  • Samplitude

    AI features

    Price From $25 / month

    Not rated yet

    Boris FX's Windows DAW for recording, editing, mixing and mastering, in two editions.

    Strengths

    • Up to 999 tracks with sample rates up to 384 kHz
    • Suite bundles Sound Forge, Acoustica 7 Premium and Melodyne 5 Essential
    • Choice of subscription or perpetual licence in both editions
    • DDP master export for the pressing plant in Suite

    Limitations

    • Windows only, with no macOS version
    • Dolby Atmos, spectral editing and EBU R128 loudness metering are reserved for Suite
    • The base edition's surround mixing stops at 5.1
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  • Sound Forge

    AI features

    Price From $24.95 / month

    Not rated yet

    Boris FX's single-file audio editor for recording, sample-level editing, repair and mastering on Windows.

    Strengths

    • Records up to 32 channels at once into a single file
    • Recording starts automatically on an input threshold or at a set time, with a prerecord buffer
    • An event-based mode allows non-destructive editing beside the default destructive mode
    • Hosts VST2, VST3 and ARA plug-ins

    Limitations

    • Windows 11 only
    • No multitrack session for arranging several files
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  • Melodyne

    Price From €99

    Not rated yet

    Celemony's note-based audio editor for pitch, timing and tone, from single vocals to chords and whole choirs.

    Strengths

    • DNA algorithm edits single notes inside chords from piano, guitar and samples
    • ARA integration in Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Studio Pro, Reaper and other DAWs
    • Projects open in every edition, and upgrades cost only the difference in list price
    • 30-day trial with every function of the largest edition

    Limitations

    • Polyphonic editing needs editor or studio, and multitrack editing needs studio
    • Melodyne essential cannot use an iLok dongle, only computer-based activation
    • The trial needs an Internet connection each time the program starts
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  • Harrison Mixbus

    Price $29.99

    Not rated yet

    Harrison's console-modelled digital audio workstation for recording, editing and mixing on Windows, macOS and Linux.

    Strengths

    • Runs natively on Linux as well as Windows and macOS
    • Entry tier costs $29.99 and includes all 19 Harrison XT plug-ins
    • Channel EQ and compressor are pre-allocated, so enabling them adds no CPU load
    • Lua scripting automates editing and session tasks

    Limitations

    • Major version updates carry an upgrade fee
    • SSL 9000J channel processing and the Dolby Atmos tools require Mixbus Pro
    • The bundled x42 EQ, Whirl and Meter plug-ins need a separately purchased licence
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  • Cakewalk Sonar

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    BandLab's Windows DAW for recording, MIDI, mixing and mastering, the successor to Cakewalk by BandLab, with a free tier.

    Strengths

    • The free tier is a full DAW for music production
    • ProChannel console emulation on every track and bus
    • Native support for ARM64 Windows PCs
    • Opens existing Cakewalk by BandLab projects

    Limitations

    • Windows only
    • Track Manager, Elastique Pro, plugin oversampling and multiple Arranger tracks need BandLab Membership
    • Free and paid licences both need periodic activation
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  • Reason

    Price $299

    Not rated yet

    Reason Studios' rack-based music production software, used as a standalone DAW or as a plugin inside another DAW.

    Strengths

    • The Rack plays inside other DAWs as a VST3, AU or AAX plugin
    • Point updates are included with a one-time licence
    • More than 30,000 patches, loops and samples are included
    • Every sampler device can record live input directly

    Limitations

    • No Linux version
    • The one-time licences include 68 of the 93 Rack devices; the rest need a subscription
    • AI mastering, stem separation and distribution come only with Reason+
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  • Ardour

    Price From $1

    Not rated yet

    Open-source digital audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing and mastering on Linux, macOS and Windows.

    Strengths

    • Free and open source under the GPL, with no activation or licence keys
    • No limits on tracks, busses or plugins per track
    • Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows
    • The Loudness Assistant adjusts gain to streaming platform requirements

    Limitations

    • Ready-to-run builds are paid; using it free means building from source
    • Windows builds are unsigned, so Windows 10 and later flag them as damaged although they are not
    • Older releases are not offered for download
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  • Soundtrap

    Price Free

    Not rated yet

    Browser-based music and podcast studio for recording, editing, mixing and mastering, with real-time collaboration.

    Strengths

    • Nothing to install, projects open on any device with a browser
    • Real-time collaboration with chat and video in the studio
    • Podcast tools with transcript-based editing in the same app
    • Dedicated education edition with LMS integrations

    Limitations

    • WAV downloads need a paid plan
    • Vocal tuning and automation need a paid plan
    • Needs an internet connection to work on projects
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  • Steinberg WaveLab

    Price From $99.99

    Not rated yet

    Steinberg's mastering and editing suite, with an audio editor, a multitrack montage and a batch processor in one app.

    Strengths

    • Audio Montage assembles albums and programmes non-destructively on more than 1,000 tracks in Pro
    • Watch Folders apply batch jobs such as R-128 normalising and MP3 conversion to any file dropped in
    • Pro handles up to 384 kHz and multichannel files up to 22.2
    • Bought once per edition, with no subscription

    Limitations

    • Spectral editing, Audio Inpainting, DDP and EBU loudness processing are reserved for Pro
    • Elements caps the montage at 8 tracks and 96 kHz and has no EBU loudness meter
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  • Logic Pro

    AI features

    Price $199.99

    Not rated yet

    Apple's digital audio workstation for recording, producing, mixing and mastering music on Mac and iPad.

    Strengths

    • The Mac app is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription
    • Projects move between Mac and iPad
    • Integrated Dolby Atmos tools export ADM files ready for streaming services
    • Session Players and Stem Splitter are built in

    Limitations

    • Runs only on Apple devices, with no Windows version
    • Requires a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 15.6 or later, so Intel Macs are excluded
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  • Mixcraft

    AI features

    Price From $39 one-time

    Not rated yet

    Windows DAW from Acoustica for recording, mixing and scoring video, sold as a one-time licence in three editions.

    Strengths

    • Perpetual licence with a rent-to-own option
    • Video editing and scoring built into the DAW
    • Large bundled library of loops, instruments and effects

    Limitations

    • Windows only
    • Home Studio is capped at 16 tracks
    • Stem separation, Melodyne and advanced routing are reserved for Pro Studio
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  • Hindenburg PRO

    Price From $12 / month

    Not rated yet

    Spoken-word audio editor for radio and podcasts that sets broadcast levels, transcribes offline and publishes to several targets.

    Strengths

    • Transcription runs on the computer, so sensitive interviews never leave it
    • Opens Pro Tools, Audition and Final Cut Pro sessions and exports AAF and AES31
    • One export goes to several publish targets, each with its own loudness level
    • Connects to radio playout systems such as ENCO, WideOrbit, Myriad and NPR One

    Limitations

    • Standard includes no monthly transcription hours
    • Personal licences are for one user on up to two computers
    • The macOS version needs Apple silicon
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  • SpectraLayers

    AI features

    Price From $89.99 one-time

    Not rated yet

    Steinberg's spectral audio editor, which unmixes a recording into layers and repairs them.

    Strengths

    • Every unmix and restoration module is in Pro, from song parts to crowd noise
    • Runs as an ARA plugin inside a DAW as well as standalone
    • Three editions, so the entry level is not the full price

    Limitations

    • A spectral, layer-based workflow to learn, not a one-tap cleanup
    • Go and Elements are held to 2 channels, 96 kHz and 8 undo levels
    • Desktop software rather than a service, so it runs over a file
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  • Bitwig Studio

    Price $99

    Not rated yet

    Bitwig's digital audio workstation for arranging, live performance and modular sound design on Windows, macOS and Linux.

    Strengths

    • Runs natively on Linux as well as Windows and macOS
    • Unlimited tracks and plug-ins even in the $99 Essentials edition
    • The Grid builds custom instruments and effects inside the DAW
    • DAWproject import and export moves sessions to other supported DAWs

    Limitations

    • Essentials is limited to a single screen and 4/8 audio I/O busses
    • The Grid, the Spectral Suite and the full modulator set require the $399 edition
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  • Cubase

    AI features

    Price From $99.99

    Not rated yet

    Steinberg's digital audio workstation for composing, recording, mixing and producing music, in three editions.

    Strengths

    • Unlimited audio, MIDI and instrument tracks in Pro and Artist
    • SpectraLayers Go and WaveLab Go are included in Pro and Artist
    • DAWproject shares sessions across all Cubase editions, Cubasis and other supported DAWs
    • Score Editor and MusicXML exchange are part of every edition

    Limitations

    • Stem separation, Dolby Atmos authoring and the Loudness Meter are reserved for Cubase Pro
    • Cubase Elements is capped at 48 audio and 24 instrument tracks
    • VST 2 plug-ins are not officially supported
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  • Ableton Live

    AI features

    Price $99

    Not rated yet

    Ableton's digital audio workstation for producing and performing music, built around a clip-based Session View.

    Strengths

    • Session View launches and recombines clips without committing to a timeline
    • Standard and Suite have unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
    • Stem Separation runs locally without an internet connection
    • Ableton Link syncs tempo wirelessly with other devices

    Limitations

    • Intro is limited to 16 tracks and 2 send and return tracks
    • Stem Separation and Max for Live are reserved for Suite
    • Activating a licence needs an internet connection
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  • iZotope RX

    AI features

    Price Elements $99

    Not rated yet

    The professional standard for AI audio repair and restoration, with surgical spectral editing.

    Strengths

    • Broadcast-grade restoration
    • Surgical spectral control
    • The professional standard for damaged audio

    Limitations

    • Expensive, especially Advanced
    • Steeper learning curve
    • Desktop software, not one-tap
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  • Tracktion Waveform

    AI features

    Price Free; Waveform Pro $249

    Not rated yet

    Tracktion's digital audio workstation for Windows, macOS and Linux, as a free version or a one-time Pro licence.

    Strengths

    • Waveform Free is a no-cost version of the same DAW
    • Runs on Linux, where the Pro features unlock automatically
    • Pro includes Auto-Tune, Melodyne Essential and Elastique Pro
    • Third-party plug-ins run sandboxed, so a crash does not close the host

    Limitations

    • The Waveform Assistant needs your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key
    • Video in Waveform Free needs the paid Pro Video expansion
    • Moving from Waveform 13 to 14 is a paid upgrade
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  • Adobe Audition

    AI features

    Price From $22.99 / month

    Not rated yet

    Adobe's audio workstation for editing, mixing and restoring sound, with spectral repair and automatic Remix.

    Strengths

    • Spectral frequency display and Diagnostics panel for targeted repair
    • Remix fits a music track to any duration automatically
    • Works directly alongside Adobe Premiere
    • Included in Creative Cloud Pro with more than 20 other Adobe apps

    Limitations

    • Subscription only, with the listed prices on annual plans
    • Runs on Windows and macOS only
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  • AutoTune

    AI features

    Price From $250 one-time

    Not rated yet

    Antares' pitch correction plug-ins for vocals, from automatic real-time tuning to note-by-note editing in Graph Mode.

    Strengths

    • Live Mode monitors tuned vocals with under 1 ms latency
    • Graph Mode with ARA2 in Logic, Studio One, Cubase and Nuendo for note-by-note edits
    • Every edition is offered as a perpetual licence as well as a subscription
    • AutoTune Hybrid runs on Avid DSP in Pro Tools

    Limitations

    • Graph Mode and the Harmony Player are limited to AutoTune Pro 11
    • Logic Pro is supported only as AU and Pro Tools only as AAX
    • Noise cleanup and mixing tools need the AutoTune Unlimited subscription
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