Editing Sounds Like a Pro – 10 Best Audio Editors for Mac

Home-based music production used to be incredibly expensive a decade or two ago, with most quality audio creations being done in professional recording studios and by expert sound engineers.

Today, that situation is vastly different, as the rise of powerful DAWs, user-friendly music editing apps, and professional-focused Macs has allowed users to create professional-sounding tracks from the comfort of their homes.

That's why today's article will delve deeper into the best audio editing software for Mac. We'll explore the tools, highlight their best features, and look into their strengths, weaknesses, and unique selling points so you can find the one that best suits your Mac audio edit needs.

Before we probe further into each Mac audio editor, here's a quick comparison table so you know what to expect from each tool, even before our in-depth review.

Best Audio Editors for Mac in 2024

Now that you know which Mac audio editors made our list of 2024's best audio editing software for Mac, it's time to dive into each tool and look into what it offers. Let's jump right in.

1.Filmora

Filmora

Overall best Mac audio editor

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 10.12 and newer, Windows, Android, iOS

Free trial & Pricing: 7 days; $9.99/month - $49.99 (one time)

Top features: AI audio effects, Beat detection, Music visualizer

Best for: Audio recording and editing, Seamless audio effects, AI Music

Reasons to buy

• AI-powered audio editing tools
• Extensive library of audio effects
• Remarkably intuitive user interface

Reasons to avoid

• Primarily a video editing tool

Why We Picked It

Despite primarily being a cross-platform video editing tool, Filmora packs a heavy punch in the audio editing category. The app's remarkably user-friendly interface is jam-packed with audio editing tools and AI-powered features that can make Mac audio edits quick and seamless, regardless of your skill.

The app's beginner-first approach to audio editing makes Filmora one of the most straightforward Mac audio editors to master, allowing even complete novices to find their way around Filmora's numerous audio editing tools and AI-powered features like Music Generator, Vocal Remover, Auto Beat Sync, Audio Denoise, etc.

2.Riverside

Riverside

Top Mac audio editor for podcasts and interviews

Specifications

Supported OS: Online platform (Mac OS X 10.7 or newer; Windows, iOS, Android)

Free trial & Pricing: No free trial; $19/month - $288/year

Top features: AI-powered background noise removal, Support for studio-quality audio recording

Best for: Recording podcasts and cleaning up your audio

Reasons to buy

• Studio-quality audio recording
• Locally saved recordings
• Affordable pricing for premium plans

Reasons to avoid

• Occasional echo issues
• Limited free plan

Why We Picked It

With podcasts becoming all the rage in recent years, Riverside took it upon themselves to create a platform that offers everything you'll ever need to record discussions and stories.

If that's what you're after, there's no need to look further than Riverside, as you'll have a great time interviewing guests and cleaning up your audio with the platform's AI-powered tools.

There are, however, a few drawbacks that those looking for a Mac audio editor should be aware of. The platform is focused on podcasting, so you'll be missing a few audio-editing tools that are present even in free Mac audio editors like GarageBand or Audacity.

3.GarageBand

GarageBand

Best Mac audio editor for beginners

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 13.5 or later, iOS

Free trial & Pricing: Free to use

Top features: Built-in lessons for piano and guitar, Plugins, Royalty-free music packs

Best for: Free Mac audio editing and recording music for novices

Reasons to buy

• Accessible and intuitive interface
• Built-in loops and producer packs
• Support for MIDI interfaces

Reasons to avoid

• Limited advanced features
• Lacks a mixing console view

Why We Picked It

If you're looking for a high-end program with a proper mixer and detailed audio level controls, GarageBand isn't the Mac audio editor you're looking for. However, for someone who wants to start recording and making music on a budget and enjoys a simplified user interface, GarageBand can be the perfect free audio editing software for Macs.

It offers tremendous flexibility, various plugins, preset loops and packs, enjoyable instrument lessons, and a simple and streamlined interface that you'll have no issues using regardless of your skill level or editing experience.

4.Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition

Best professional Mac audio editor

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 12 or later, Windows

Free trial & Pricing: 7 days; $22.99/month

Top features: Waveform and spectral editing, Multi-track mixing, Extensive sound effects assets

Best for: Professional-grade audio editing projects and speech enhancement

Reasons to buy

• Highly customizable and intuitive interface
• Great at recording in loud environments
• Professional-grade tools

Reasons to avoid

• Expensive subscription-only model
• Steep learning curve

Why We Picked It

Whether you're recording in noisy environments and need a capable background noise and echo removal tool or want to create studio-quality audio edits, Adobe Audition is the way to go. Often hailed as the best music editing software for Mac, Audition offers numerous advanced features that'll grant outstanding audio editing results.

While its interface can be confusing for beginners and the app doesn't support MIDI, Adobe Audition still stands as a terrific Mac audio editor thanks to its waveform and spectral editing features, multi-track mixing capabilities, and plenty of sound effects to go around, albeit at a steep price.

5.Audacity

Audacity

Best free Mac audio editing software

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 1.13 (with older versions supporting Mac OS X 10.4 and up), Windows, Linux

Free trial & Pricing: Open source and free to use

Top features: Extensive plugin compatibility, Enormous library of free audio effects, Batch processing

Best for: Multi-track audio editing on a budget

Reasons to buy

• Free Mac audio editor
• Extensive plugin library
• Support for almost all audio formats

Reasons to avoid

• Unintuitive user interface
• Overwhelming for beginners

Why We Picked It

Despite being an open-source and free-to-use Mac audio editor, Audacity can easily be compared to even the most expensive Mac audio editing software. While its interface can feel outdated, it packs a heavy punch in the audio editing game.

The app is loaded with tremendous audio editing tools, has an extensive library of plugins, and supports most audio formats, making it an all-around fantastic choice for any budget-conscious user.

6.FL Studio

FL Studio

Best for professional music producers

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 10.12 and later, Windows, Android, iOS

Free trial & Pricing: 30 days; $9.$539 (one time)

Top features: Comprehensive plugin library, Easy-to-adjust automation clips, Pattern-based MIDI tools

Best for: Producers seeking customization and MIDI compositions

Reasons to buy

• Lifetime free updates
• Fully-fledged DAW with a fantastic interface
• Excellent MIDI composition tools

Reasons to avoid

• Unintuitive multi-track recording
• No notation editor

Why We Picked It

While there are a few limitations in FL Studio, this fully built and colorful DAW is one of the best audio editing software for Mac available today. It's jam-packed with preloaded demo songs, has excellent audio recording and mixer routing features, and has a unique interface you'll love.

Even if it's not a native app, its implementation, performance, and DAW capabilities are on par with those of Apple's Logic Pro. Its workflow and interface are customizable, and there are tons of plugins to create with, making FL Studio a fantastic option for both beginners and professionals.

7.WavePad

WavePad

Best for casual Mac audio editors

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 10.5 and later, Windows, Android, iOS, ChromeOS

Free trial & Pricing: 14 days; $39.9.$69.95 (one time)

Top features: Multi-view interface, Great audio file support, Batch processing

Best for: Mac audio editors who want to customize their workflow and learn as they go

Reasons to buy

• Linear and logarithmic Spectral Analysis
• Excellent batch editing tools
• Supports for most audio file formats

Reasons to avoid

• Single-track recording
• Limited preset library

Why We Picked It

Developed by NCH Software, WavePad is a professional audio editing software for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS. This Mac OS X audio editor offers a streamlined and attractive user interface, customizable menus, varying track views, and more.

Although it has limited audio effects and presets and an annoying popup asking you to buy the full version, WavePad supports most audio file formats and is capable of batch audio editing operations, making it a worthy competitor in our book.

8.Logic Pro

Logic Pro

Best native Mac OS X audio editor

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 13.5 or later

Free trial & Pricing: 90 days; $199.99 (one time)

Top features: Live loops, MIDI editing, Virtual instruments

Best for: Apple enthusiasts looking for a native and feature-rich DAW

Reasons to buy

• Native Mac app made by Apple
• Fully-fledged DAW with a simple user interface
• A vast library of virtual instruments and audio effects

Reasons to avoid

• Challenging for beginners to master
• High upfront cost

Why We Picked It

What GarageBand is for simplified music production, Logic Pro is for professional-grade audio editing on Macs. While its upfront cost of $199.99 is expensive for most beginners, it's undeniably a worthwhile investment for professional musicians, producers, or audio engineers looking for high-quality Mac audio editing software for the long run.

The native app seamlessly integrates with Apple hardware and software, creating a music editor for Mac that's both fast and robust. It also packs a heavy punch when it comes to DAW features and has an extensive audio effects library.

9.Cubase

Cubase

Best professional DAW with MIDI capabilities

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 10.12 and later, Windows, Android, iOS

Free trial & Pricing: 60 days; $99.9.$579.99

Top features: Wave plugin and VST integration, Fantastic audio mastering tools, Multi-track recording

Best for: Professional-grade music production and MIDI editing

Reasons to buy

• Responsive audio engine
• Excellent instrument bundle
• Support for all VST3 plugins

Reasons to avoid

• Slow updates and confusing documentation
• Challenging audio environment setup

Why We Picked It

Packing a fantastic audio engine, a robust plugin and instrument library, a well-designed MixConsole, and powerful audio editing and automation tools, Cubase is one of the best DAWs on the market. It has a long history, with its first appearance in 1989. While its development has been slow at times, when the tools finally get there, they're excellent.

Although it's an incredibly potent DAW, Cubase isn't as popular as its competitors due to its unintuitive design. Many of its features are hidden deep inside menus and aren't as well implemented as with other DAWs, making it challenging to master.

10.Ableton Live

Ableton Live

Best Mac audio editor for live music performances

Specifications

Supported OS: macOS 11 or higher, Windows

Free trial & Pricing: 30 days; $9.$749

Top features: Meld and Roar presets, Automation tools, Audio warping

Best for: Recording multiple musicians, composing from scratch, and performing live

Reasons to buy

• Generative MIDI tools and effects
• Flexible user interface and workflow
• Terrific preset packs

Reasons to avoid

• Features have a steep learning curve
• MIDI tools don't have the best implementation

Why We Picked It

Effortless and speedy sampling and resampling, tremendous live functionality, MIDI macros, fantastic presets, etc. These are just a handful of features packed into Ableton Live, a professional-grade Mac audio editor made with live performances and quick music composition in mind.

Yet, a few drawbacks must also be mentioned. Despite the pricing and what marketing says, Ableton Live still isn't a fully-fledged DAW. While it has excellent automation, MIDI support, and great music creation tools, you should be aware that Ableton lacks a pitch correction tool and notation view.

How to Pick the Right Audio Editing Software for Your Needs

While user ratings and features do tell a lot about a particular Mac audio editor, finding the right software for your specific also requires considering a few key aspects, such as these:

• Budget - Let's face it. Money plays a crucial role in deciding on a particular Mac audio editor. While fully-fledged DAWs like FL Studio and Cubase undoubtedly offer robust audio editing tools, they come with a hefty price tag. For a budget-conscious user, free tools like Audacity and GarageBand or inexpensive Mac audio editors like Filmora can be an excellent choice.
• Editing Needs - Are you a hobbyist looking for audio editing software for Mac to occasionally experiment with? Do you need a fully-fledged DAW for a music production studio? Considering the features you need from a Mac audio editor can significantly simplify your decision.
• Skill Level - Regarding Mac audio editing software, expert musicians and professional sound engineers might not care about a tool's interface or ease of use. However, for someone without experience, these factors should be vital in deciding on a particular Mac audio editor.

It's worth noting that, for some users, compatibility is another vital aspect worth considering. Your Mac might not be running the latest version of macOS, which will limit your choices in the Mac audio editing software category.

How We Picked the Best Audio Editing Software for Mac

Creating the list of 2024's best audio editing software for Mac was no easy task. To keep things fair, we tested numerous Mac audio editors on the same computer system and looked into several key aspects. Here's what the testing process entailed:

Note: Premium Plan Value refers to a particular Mac audio editor's pro version and its pricing. That includes the length of the free trial, subscription costs, and the availability of one-time fees.