Audition or Audacity?

[Dan33185]

I've been using Adobe Audition to master shows as long as I've been recording, but I see a bunch of people here use Audacity as well. Is there an advantage to using one over the other, or does it just come down to personal preference?

[morst]

Is the adobe product free, open source, and runs on mac, linux and pc?


Audacity meets those criteria.

[Dan33185]

Is the adobe product free, open source, and runs on mac, linux and pc?


Audacity meets those criteria.

No, but let's pretend all things are equal as far as price and OS for the sake of this thread. I'm just asking about the actual programs, nothing else.

[wforwumbo]

The correct answer is, use whichever tools and methodologies you find most appropriate. I use Logic, because that's what is the easiest workflow for me and gets me the sound I want. The above comment points out some benefits to using Audacity, but the same argument can be made for Reaper; I don't think one tool is inherently "better" or "worse" than the other, and it isn't necessarily the sole reason why you should or shouldn't use a program. Both are different and have their purposes. I don't think Audition and Audacity are equivocal, both accomplish different skill sets and different work flows. I say use whatever works best for you and gets you the sound you want, just like taper gear.

[Pinky Herman]

Audition, if this is a "which do you like better" thread.
I have a bunch of workflows and filter sets built-out already and it makes life easier

Wavelab also a favorite
Soundforge, and Samplitude-Sequoia are also on my "familiar and like" list

I still use CD-Wave for tracking, yup, I'm a fossil...

[morst]

let's pretend

have fun.

[Dan33185]

Audition, if this is a "which do you like better" thread.
I have a bunch of workflows and filter sets built-out already and it makes life easier

Wavelab also a favorite
Soundforge, and Samplitude-Sequoia are also on my "familiar and like" list

I still use CD-Wave for tracking, yup, I'm a fossil...

Hey, same here! Guess I'm a fossil as well 

[ThePiedPiper]

Audition 3.0 for me is my go to program. Like 108Ω said WaveLab is very good. CDWaveEditor for tracking ... it's still (for me) the best method.  I also use a program called AddAWav for when I need to join (vs splitting) files.

[audBall]

Audition 3.0 was free for a while but that link may have gone away. I like it as I think the multi tracking is more intuitive. It presents as a more mature interface but I haven't seen everything so it may very well be just dated.   

The old Adobe link to access AA3.0 and Photoshop CS2 isn't accessible via the Wayback Machine anymore.

However, there is the following Adobe link below that appears to allow you to download AA3.0 (and others).  Serial numbers are available on the right column.  You must first click the 'Accept' box since the files are no longer supported by Adobe.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs2-product-downloads.html?promoid=19SCDRQK#download-products

[audBall]

^ Click the "I Accept" box, then below click the language of choice.  Once you do that, an entire list of programs is generated, including Audition 3.0 and Photoshop CS2.

edit - I should state that I am still using Audition 3.0 from the old (inactive) link.  However, this newer link appears to offer the same applications. 

Let me know how it works out.

[u2_fly_2]

Audacity is free and have all basic features a sound editor needs.

Adobe is based on the old "Cool Edit"-software and is really good and professional sound editing software which have everything you need in one programme.

[nassau73]

Kind of a HiJack, but one thing I've found with Audition 3.0.1 is that if you ever  have a set of show tracks that you want to work as a single file again, there is an option under FILE to "Open Appended".  Be alert... that first 01 track will invariably be found somewhere after the file that gets inserted in the editing window. Sometimes the last file is "first" then the 01, other times it's a mess. Very frustrating to sort out. I see no way to teach it to do otherwise.

I don't use this tool that much so it's just a warning, not a prohibition towards Audition.

Good Luck

Just to "possibly" help clarify the above -

The option "Open Append" will add/append the new file you are opening to the end of the file or files you already have opened. Append as many files as you like.

You can then "Save As" a new file and all the files will be in the order you appended. Remember to tick the "Save Non Audio Information" box when doing your "Save As" otherwise you will lose all your track markers.

The confusion can arise when once you are done with your editing session and want to - once again - save all the tracks as individual files.

In order to save everything INDIVIDUALLY and in correct order, you need to add a track marker at the very beginning AND at the very end of your saved appended file.

Then go to the "Window > Marker List" dropdown menu item.
Select all your files - don't move anything around. The track markers you added at the end and beginning may look out of sequence but don't worry.
Click the "Merge Button"
Then click the "Save" button

Now you can choose where to save your files. Compose a File Name and choose to start the numbering at 1.

[nassau73]

Audacity has some great functionality. In my opinion, Audition has a more "refined" interface.

Another benefit of Audition is the number of standard plugins that are included. Many of which are from Izotope.

Although I don't recall the Audacity functionality on this ability, I like the Audition "Mastering Rack". Here you can stack the various plugins and turn them on and off to hear how the gamut of the effects you are using affect the final sound. Once you are happy, you can "save" (although other programs say "render").

Over the last several months, I bought Izotope RX7 Standard and added the Ozone 8 Elements plugin. To my ears on my speakers, it seems that the Izotope programs sound a bit "cleaner".

While in the past I alternated between Audacity and Audition (depending on needs), these days I tend to use RX7 first and touch up with Audition (or vice versa depending on plugins needed) if necessary. The difference is that Audition has the "mastering rack" ability while with Izotope you have to render each manipulation before you move on to the next. (from what I've been reading, if you buy the full Izotope suite, you'd be able to approximate the mastering rack capability. However, I'm not studio recording - mixing instruments in separate tracks - all I need is post for a simple stereo live audience capture.

[admkrk]

... with Izotope you have to render each manipulation before you move on to the next. ...

Just open the module chain, the very first module, and add modules to your heart's content.

[anr]

For audio, Sonic Foundry Soundforge 6. Most of the rest could learn a lot from the intuitive interface, especially Wavelab and anything by Magix. Audacity - it's free for a reason.  Each to his own!