Looking for good, software only, audio editing program for OSX.

February 1, 2006 8:50 AM

Looking for good, software only, audio editing program for OSX.

I'm a video editor sick of faking stuff in Final Cut. Looking for something similar to Cool Edit Pro / Audition on the PC, but for OSX. I need to be able to manipulate sound as well as mix. No hardware solutions please, but I don't want something really dumbed down either. I'm technically inclined, so I'm pretty sure I can learn whatever the best program out there is. Any suggestions?

posted by nathancaswell to media & arts (12 comments total)

Soundhack, perhaps?
posted by cog_nate at 8:59 AM on February 1, 2006

If you want to go really heavy duty, there's Peak Pro from Bias.

Slightly lighter: Peak LE (also from Bias).

Lighter than that: Sound Studio 3.
posted by Remy at 9:13 AM on February 1, 2006

Peak is lovely. So is Audacity but that might be a little lightweight for what you want. I've been using a combination of Audacity and Soundtrack to get my sound stuff done.
posted by jtron at 9:31 AM on February 1, 2006

DSP-Quattro
posted by Dean King at 9:33 AM on February 1, 2006

We've been using Logic Express, although our needs aren't solely video. Works well enough, but I can't say I'd recommend it.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 9:40 AM on February 1, 2006

Audacity is the open-source editor. it has its annoyances, but works pretty well. Otherwise i'd look at Peak or Logic.
posted by 31d1 at 11:10 AM on February 1, 2006

I think you want to have a look at Ardour. Free software goodness.
posted by rycee at 11:15 AM on February 1, 2006

Actually, SoundStudio is halfway decent for a el-cheapo sound editing tool. But if you want more than that, I'd second the recommendation for Peak. That'll do just about whatever you want.
posted by 40 Watt at 12:05 PM on February 1, 2006

Wow... just looked at Ardour. That looks, well, awesome.
posted by 40 Watt at 12:07 PM on February 1, 2006

OS X isn't well provided for in this regard, in my opinion.

I've personally always found Peak to be horrible. Fiddly, with an ugly interface (an acre of huge brushed-metal buttons at the top of the screen... ugh), not to mention being GIGANTICALLY overpriced (in the UK, Peak Pro costs nearly FOUR TIMES as much as Sound Forge with CD Architect for Windows).

However, Peak is pretty much the only pro/semi pro option for the Mac right now.

Check out the Bias Inc site, and take a look at the comparisons for the various versions of Peak. If you can live without the graphical editing / compiling of redbook CD audio (the thing I'm CRYING OUT FOR on my Mac) and using stacks of VST / AU plugins at once, then one of the stripped down versions may fit the bill for you.

Audacity is indeed free, and fairly powerful. However, I've found the Mac version to be near unusable using a fairly common interface (MOTU 828). YMMV.

And before anyone snarks back about Peak being fantastic - all the moaning above is purely opinion, based on having to use v4 at work for many years. When I come home and have Wavelab at my disposal, it's a blessed relief.

And, yes, I realise that if I used Logic, I could use Waveburner to graphically compile redbook CDs.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 12:23 PM on February 1, 2006

I can second coach_mcguirk's complaints about Peak. I use it, but it's horribly expensive and has a sucky UI. DSP Quattro looks interesting and Ardour looks really cool (I can't wait to get home and download it).
posted by doctor_negative at 12:34 PM on February 1, 2006

Soundtrack Pro, part of the final cut suite?

Has mixing+ looping + waveform editing of audio.
posted by filmgeek at 12:37 PM on February 1, 2006